72 THE ADVENTURES OF 



giving Lucien a gun ; but I was so afraid of an accident 

 that I had decided not to do so. 



" Oh, Chanito ! I pity the poor tigers ; what a number 

 of them you will kill !" exclaimed the old hunter. " What 

 beautiful skins you will be able to take home to mamma ! 

 Come, let me handle your gun ; it looks as if it was made 

 on purpose for you. Oh ! how I pity the poor tigers !" 



And he began to dance about with the energy of de- 

 light. 



It was decided that the gun should always be loaded by 

 us, and that Lucien should only shoot under our directions. 

 I also added that, at the least infringement of these rules, 

 the gun would be taken away, and the little fellow well 

 knew I would keep my word. In vain I advised him to 

 put back his gun into the basket ; but this was almost too 

 much to expect, so I allowed him to carry it, which he did 

 with great pride. 



After a good breakfast, we regulated our compasses. 



