A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



on foot like Indians ; he especially commiserated our young com- 

 panion, and thought, indeed, that we were very cruel. 



" He must learn to use his legs ; that 's the reason why God 

 gave them to him," said Sumichrast, who delighted in an argu- 

 ment with the steward. 



" What good are horses, then ? " 



" To break your neck. Besides, there are plenty of infirmities 

 in life without making one out of the horse." 



" The horse an infirmity ! " cried the Mexican. 



" Yes, certainly, — among your caste at least ; for you could no 

 more do without a horse than a cripple without his crutch." 



Don Antonio whistled without making any reply, and, untying 

 his horse, took Lucien up in front, and accompanied us for more 

 than a league. At last, as his duties called him home, he 

 shook us by the hand, and turned back. Even after we had 

 lost sight of him, we could still hear him wishing us a pleasant 

 journey. 



We had to cross a wide prairie ; the heat was suffocating, and 

 we marched on side by side in dead silence. Lucien's walking 

 was much hindered by his game-pouch and gourd, which, in 

 spite of all his efforts, would work round in front of him. I soon 

 noticed that he had got rid of the troublesome gear. 



" Holloa ! " I cried, " what have you done with your pro- 

 visions ? " 



" L'Encuerado wished to carry them for me." 



" L'Encuerado's load is quite heavy enough now, and you 

 must get accustomed to your own. In a few days you Won't 

 feel it. Habit makes many things easy which at first seem im- 

 possible." 



"Senor," said I'Encuerado, "Chanito (this was the name he 

 gave to Lucien) is tired, and this is his first journey; I'll give 

 him back all his things to-morrow.'' 



" It will be much better for him to get accustomed to them 

 now. Give him back his baggage, it is not too heavy for him ; 

 if you don't, you will be the one to be scolded." 



The Indian grumbled before he obeyed ; then, taking the boy 

 by the hand, dropped behind, muttering to him — 



