28 THE ADVENTURES OF 



" You are quite mistaken," I replied, half supporting him. 

 " You only feel a little tired and stiff; your limbs will very soon 

 work as freely as ever. Go and warm yourself by the fire, where 

 our kind hostess is preparing coffee." 



The little fellow did as he was told ; but he limped sadly. 



" Do your legs feel like minef he asked of I'Encuerado. 



"No, Chanito; we did not walk far enough yesterday for 

 that." 



" You can't mean that we haven't walked far? Papa says that 

 we are now seven leagues from Arizava.'' 



" Yes, that may seem a great deal to you, and perhaps too 

 much ; that is why I wanted to put you up on the top of my pack. 

 Now, come, let me see where you suffer." 



" All over my limbs, but particularly inside my knees." 



" Wait a minute, and I '11 soon cure you." 



L'Encuerado then laid Lucien down in front of the fire, and 

 began to rub him after the Indian method, vigorously shampooing 

 the whole of his body. Next he made him walk and run with 

 the longest strides he could take ; and, after repeating this pro- 

 cess, brought him a cup of boiling cofiFee. Having been revived 

 and strengthened in this way, the lad quite recovered his spright- 

 liness, and soon asked when we were going to start. 



I gave a small present to the old couple who had so kindly 

 accommodated us, and our little party began its second day's 

 work ; Gringalet sniffing the breeze, and evidently enjoying the 

 excursion as much as any of the party. 



When the sun rose, the sky was covered with grayish clouds, 

 driven along quickly by a north wind ; but this weather was cool, 

 and well adapted to walking. A limestone mountain rose right 

 in front of us, the slope of which we had to climb ; but ere we 

 reached the top, we halted at least twenty times to take breath. 

 Our little companion, with his head bent down towards the 

 ground, struggled to retain his place by our side. At last we 

 reached the summit, and felt at liberty to rest. 



Casting a glance on the plain beneath us, the boy surveyed a 

 vast prairie, dotted over with clumps of bushes. He silently 

 contemplated the panorama which was spread out beneath, 



