l;>2 THE ADVENTURES OJ? 



and to-day, like yesterday, seemed as if it would be one of 

 the least fatiguing in our journey. We were now in the 

 midst of the Terre- Temperee, and were surrounded by 

 white and black oaks. Ceibas, elm, cedars, and lignum-vitce 

 trees only grew here and there ; and the mosquitoes, so 

 plentiful in the Terre- Chaude, did not trouble us here. 

 The timber, growing widely apart, allowed us to pass easi- 

 ly ; we were in a virgin-forest, but were still too high up 

 above the plains to have to struggle against the inextrica- 

 ble net-work of tropical creepers. 



The tuza made its appearance at our dinner, dressed with 

 rice. Although the appearance of this animal is repulsive, 

 its flesh has an exquisite flavor. I offered a piece of the 

 thigh to Lucien ; he found it so nice, that he soon held out 

 his plate or rather his calabash for more. Sumichrast 

 told him he was eating some of the mole, though not aware 

 of it : he appeared confused at first, but soon boldly began 

 on his second helping. After the meal, PEncuerado took 

 from an aloe-fibre bag a needle and bodkin, and set to 

 work to mend Lucien's breeches, torn a day or two be- 

 fore. Two squirrels' skins were scarcely sufficient for the 

 would-be tailor, who lined the knees also with this impro- 

 vised cloth. Lucien was delighted at this patching, and 

 wanted to try on his mended garment at once. He wad- 

 dled about, ran, and stooped in every posture, quite fasci- 

 nated with the rustling noise produced by the dry skins. 

 Gringalet, who had been asleep, suddenly came up to his 

 young master with visible surprise. With his neck stretch- 

 ed out, his eyes glittering, and his ears drooping, ready to 

 retreat in case of need, the dog ventured to take a sniff at 

 1'Encuerado's work, then shook his head energetically and 

 sneezed. After repeating this operation two or three times 

 he seemed to be lost in thought. 



" He knows all about it, and can see at once that it is 



