INTRODUCTION. 



" You would ratlier, then, that I stayed at Orizava ? " 



" Oh, no ! I should like you to go, and — to go with you." 



"What can you be thinking of? Before we were a mile on 

 the road you would be knocked up, complaining of heat, thirst, 

 fatigue " 



" That 's quite a mistake, dear father. I know I should be 

 very useful to you, if you would only take me. I could pick up 

 wood, light the fire, and look after the cooking, besides catching 

 butterflies and insects both for your collection and mine." 



" That 's all very well ; but the first time you were scratched 

 by a thorn you would cry." 



" father ! 1 promise you I will never cry except when — 

 I can't help it.'' 



1 could not resist smiling at this answer. 



" Then it is a settled thing, and I am to go with you," ex- 

 claimed Lucien. 



" We must consult your mother, and if she sees no objection, 

 I" 



The child ran off without allowing me to finish my sentence. 



While I went on cleaning my guns, I found that I was pleading 

 with myself in favour of the little would-be traveller. I also re- 

 membered that when I was only seven years old I had travelled 

 long distances on foot in company with my father, and to this 

 early habit owed much of the j)ower of accomplishing dangerous 

 and fatiguing journeys, which would have frightened stronger 

 men. I even persuaded myself that it would be useful, before 

 leaving Mexico, to impress the memory of my son with a 

 sight of some of the grand scenes of tropical nature, so that 

 he should retain correct ideas of the wonderful country in 

 which his infancy had been spent. I, moreover, knew that 

 I'Encuerado, the gallant Indian, who had been my servant for 

 so many years, perfectly adored his young master, and would 

 watch over him just as I should, and thus ward off any possible 

 mishaps. On the other hand, I risked inspiring my son with 

 that love of travel and adventure, which had contributed mate- 

 rially to my scientific collection, but very little to my fortune. 

 Nevertheless, what a wholesome influence is exercised over the 



