]()f> NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Loss of a child Fruitless search. 



in quest of him. They entered the woods, whicji 

 they beat over with the most scrupulous atten- 

 tion. A thousand times they called him by 

 name, and were answered only by the echoes of 

 the wilds. They then assembled themselves at 

 the foot of the Mountain of Chatagniers, or 

 chesnut-trees, without being able to bring the 

 least intelligence of the child. After reposing 

 themselves for some minutes, they formed into 

 different bands and night coming on, the pa- 

 yents in despair refused to return home; for their 

 terror was constantly increased by the knowledge 

 they had of the mountain cats, animals so rapa- 

 cious, that the inhabitants cannot always defend 

 themselves against their attack. Then they 

 painted to their imagination the horrid idea of a 

 wolf, or some other dreadful animal, devouring 

 their darling child. " Derick, my poor little 

 Derick ! where art thou?" frequently exclaimed 

 the mother, in the most poignant language; but 

 all was of no avail. As soon as day-light ap- 

 peared, they renewed their search, but as unsuc- 

 cessfully us the preceding day. Fortunately, 

 however, an Indian, laden with furs, coming from 

 an adjacent village, called at the house of Le 

 Fevre, intending to repose himself there as he 

 usually did on his travelling through that part of 

 the country. He was much surprised to find no 

 one at home but an old negress, kept there by 

 her infirmities. ' Where is my brother?' said 

 the Indian. 'Alas!' replied the negro woman, 



