320 THE ADVENTURES OF 



might almost have fancied that they were a hundred-head- 

 ed hydra. 



" We might almost imagine we were in a hot-house full 

 of rich-growing plants and golden- colored flowers," said 

 Sumichrast to me. 



" Yes," I replied ; " but we must also imagine that we are 

 looking at them through the lens of a microscope. "What 

 would a Parisian say if he saw this viznaga ?" 



The plant I was pointing to was at least six feet in height 

 and three times that in circumference. 



" When I was a shepherd," said 1'Encuerado, " I led my 

 goats into one of the plains where the viznagas grow. 

 With my machete I made a cut into one side of the plant, 

 and my goats immediately began to eat the pith with which 

 it was filled. Gradually they hollowed out a hole large 

 enough for two or three of them to enter at once, and this 

 make-shift hut afforded me a first-rate shelter against the 

 rays of the sun and the night breezes." 



" Oh !" cried Lucien, with enthusiasm, " if we have to 

 camp in these fields, we must have such a house." 



I again examined the landscape round us. There was 

 nothing whatever which betrayed the vicinity of man. Ev- 

 erywhere the cacti spread out their variously-shaped flow- 

 ers, which were nearly all yellowish or pink. Above us was 

 a fiery sky, in which nothing seemed to move but a few 

 vultures; on the ground there were hundreds of lizards in 

 constant motion. 



The Indian led the way, followed by Lucien. 



" A footpath !" the boy suddenly cried out. 



" A mimosa !" exclaimed Sumichrast, whose great height 

 towered over us all. 



" A hut !" murmured 1'Encuerado, stopping and holding 

 his finger to his lips. 



We looked at each other; then, bending our steps to- 



