44 THE ADVENTURES OF 



Yide our own subsistence. I was quite surprised at the time I 

 had been asleep ; but a slight touch of lumbago reminded me of 

 yesterday's difficult ascent, which fully accounted for my drowsi- 

 ness. I must confess I felt much more inclined to go to bed 

 again than to continue our journey ; but, as I was obliged to set 

 a good example, I began to help my companions in their pre- 

 parations for departure. I have already described the dress of 

 Lucien and I'Encuerado ; Sumichrast's costume and mine also 

 consisted of strong cloth trousers, and a blouse made of the same 

 stuff. The -weapons of each -were a revolver, a machete, a double- 

 barrelled gun, and a game-bag filled with necessaries. We duly 

 examined the contents of the basket, which I'Encuerado carried 

 on his back by a strap fixed across his breast or forehead. Sumi- 

 chrast then took out a long parcel he had put into the basket 

 when we started, and unrolled the cloth which formed its first 

 covering. His smile and mysterious look quite puzzled us ; at 

 last he drew from the paper a light fowling-piece, which he 

 placed in Lucien's hands. 



The boy blushed and trembled with joy, and became quite 

 pale with anxiety. He hardly dared to believe that his fondest 

 dream was thus realised. He could not speak for pleasure, but 

 threw himself into my friend's arms. I was as much surprised as 

 he was. I had often thought of giving Lucien a gun ; but I was 

 so afraid of an accident that I had decided not to do so. 



" Chanito ! I pity the poor tigers ; what a number of them 

 you will kill ! " exclaimed the old hunter. " What beautiful 

 skins you will be able to take home to mamma ! Come, let me 

 handle your gun ; it looks as if it was made on purpose for you. 

 Oh ! how I pity the poor tigers ! " 



And he began to dance about with the energy of delight. 



It was decided that the gun should always be loaded by us, 

 and that Lucien should only shoot under our directions. I also 

 added that, at the least infringement of these rules, the gun 

 would be taken away, and the little fellow well knew I would 

 keep my word. In vain I advised him to put back his gun into 

 the basket ; but this was almost too much to expect, so I allowed 

 him to carry it, which he did with great pride. 



