38 THE ADVENTURES OF 



in the deepest recesses of their hiding-places. As we advanced, 

 our road became much steeper, and we were obliged to cling to 

 the shrubs for support. L'Encuerado, who was impeded by the 

 weight, of his load, pulled himself up with his hands, so had 

 hard work to keep his balance. Soon it became impossible for 

 him to go farther ; but, fortunately, we had foreseen ascents of 

 this kind. So I gave the child into Sumichrast's charge, for if 

 he had been left to climb by himself, he would most likely have 

 rolled over and hurt himself against the stumps or sharp rocks. 



I made my way into a copse, and with my machete I cut 

 down a moderately-sized branch, the end of which I sharpened 

 to a point. Then, going forwards and unrolling a leathern 

 thongs thirty feet in length, and commonly called by us a lasso, 

 I fastened it to the stake, which I drove firmly into the ground. 

 By means of this support, which served as a sort of hand-rail, 

 I'Encuerado could clamber up to me, thanks to the strength of 

 his wrists. Ten times this awkward job had to be repeated, and 

 the path, instead of getting better, became worse. We then 

 shifted our work, and I took charge of the load, whilst the tired 

 Indian fixed the lasso. I was just making my third ascent, when 

 Sumichrast, who had gone on before us to reconnoitre the ground, 

 made his appearance above. When he saw me stumbling and 

 twisting about, falling now on my side, and now on my knees, 

 toiling to advance a single step, my companion burst into a fit of 

 laughter. I had then neither time nor will to do as he did, and 

 his ill-timed mirth vexed me. At last I caught hold of the 

 stake, bruised and exhausted, and ready to wish there was no 

 such thing as travelling. Sumichrast told us that we had scarcely 

 three hundred feet more to ascend, and shouldered the basket 

 himself. Now that I was a mere spectator, I could readily for- 

 give him his fit of merriment. Nothing, in fact, could be more 

 grotesque than the contortions he went through trying to keep . 

 his balance. L'Encuerado was the only one who retained his 

 countenance. As for Lucien, he seemed to feel the efforts of 

 Sumichrast as much as if they were his own. 



" You see," I said to my son, " that in countries where there 

 are no beaten roads a walk is not always an easy matter." 



