CHAPTER IV. 



A DIFFICULT ASCENT. THE GOAT. THE INDIAN GIRLS. 



THE TOBACCO-PLANT. THE BULL-FIGHT. GAME. LU- 



CLEN'S GUN. OUR ENTRY INTO THE WILDERNESS. 



OUR way led through nothing but scrub oaks, for all the 

 larger trees had gradually disappeared from the mount- 

 ain-side, which had for some time been cultivated by the 

 Indians. The path was steep, rugged, and stony ; and 

 seemed, at first, to defy any attempt to scale it. Notwith- 

 standing the measured pace at which we were walking, we 

 were obliged to stop every minute to recover our breath. 

 Lucien followed us so eagerly that I was obliged to check 

 him several times. He was surprised at not seeing any liv- 

 ing creature, not even those beautiful golden flies which, in 



