A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



309 



"While we were looking down over the plateau, and 

 watching the mirage gradually fade away, a distant light 

 suddenly shone out. Loud exclamations hailed the sight 

 of this unknown bivouac ; and, fixing our eyes on it, we all 

 formed endless conjectures. We had not expected to meet 

 with any habitation before the next day ; and the cry of 

 " land !" on board ship after a long voyage could not have 

 made a stronger impression than the sight of this fire. The 

 air was cool ; still PEiicuerado was not allowed to kindle a 

 light, which would perhaps have betrayed us to foes. It 

 was now twenty days since we had met with a human be- 

 ing, and our first feeling, after the instinctive joy at the idea 

 of seeing our fellow-creatures, was, alas ! one of distrust. 



