A YOUNG NATURALIST. 109 



Lncien, being desirous to examine the crosier-shaped 

 stalks, allowed us to get in front of him, then crept under 

 the fern. ' ^ 



As the leaves of this shrub are furnished underneath 

 with long prickles, when he wanted to rejoin us he found 

 himself caught. The more he struggled the worse he be- 

 came entangled. He cried out to me in a most distressed 

 voice, and not knowing what had happened, I lost no time 

 in going back to him. I found him fighting hard ajrainst 

 the thorns which were scratching his face and hands. 

 L'Encuerado and Sumichrast also came to his assistance. 



I disentangled the boy as quickly as I could ; but already 

 he had several scratches over his face and hands. 



" How came you not to think," I said, " that by strug- 

 gling in this way you would only the more entangle your- 

 self?" 



" I saw you all leaving me ; I scarcely knew what held 

 me back, and I got quite frightened ; but I'm not crying, 

 papa, and yet the fern-prickles scratch terribly." 



L'Encuerado turned up his sleeves, and, seizing his ma- 

 chete, rushed at the fern. 



"Are not you ashamed to attack a child?" he cried. 

 " It's all very fine to display your bishop's crosier and then 

 behave in this wav ! Try and tear my coat ! I know you 

 wouldn't dare to do it ! Never mind, though ! I'll punish 

 you for your malice." 



The poor plant, alas ! was soon cut down ; thus the growth 

 of years was destroyed in a few minutes. 



After an hour's walking, the head of our little column 

 suddenly came in front of a whole mountain-side which 

 had slid from its original position. The sight was a mag- 

 nificent one ; the accumulation of rocks, piled one on the 

 other, had crushed down in their fall the trees that im- 

 peded their course. We saw before us an inextricable pile 



