80 THE AD VENTURES OF 



The flesh of the squirrel, both in flavor and color, much 

 resembles that of the hare ; so our little mess-mate ate it 

 with evident enjoyment. Dried maize-cakes, called toto- 

 po, took the place of bread, and each one had his allowance 

 of it. 



We couldn't help feeling uneasy about Gringalet: we 

 had given him about half a squirrel, but instead of eating 

 it, he thought fit to roll himself upon it frantically. The 

 poor beast had consequently only some scraps of totopo. 

 It was, however, highly necessary to accustom him to feed 

 on game, as our maize-cakes were far too valuable to be 

 doled out thus. Each of us poured a little water from his 

 gourd into a calabash, which served for a drinking-vessel. 

 The poor dog, thus allowanced, must have been sorry that 

 he ever joined us. 



The sun was perceptibly sinking. 



" Well, Lucien," asked Sumichrast, " what do you think 

 now of rat's flesh ?" 



" I'll tell you when I have eaten some of it." 



"What! don't you know that the squirrel and the rat 

 are very near relations, and that they both belong to the 

 Rodent family ?" 



" They certainly are a little alike," said the child, making 

 a comical face. 



"Especially the species which we had for our dinner; 

 which, by-the-by, is not yet classed by naturalists. Look ! 

 its coat is black on the back, gray on the flanks, and white 

 under the belly. The ears, too, are bare, instead of having 

 those long points of hair which give such a knowing look 

 to the European squirrels." 



" Do squirrels feed on flesh ?" 



" No ; acorns, buds, nuts, grain, and sometimes grasses, 

 constitute their principal food." 



" Then," replied Lucien, triumphantly, " the flesh of the 



