ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST. 47 



doubted the reality of the scene which met his eyes ; having pre- 

 viously seen the pigmy world of Lilliput from the top of a moun- 

 tain, he was now ready to inquire if this was not another illusion, 

 exhibiting to him the empire of one of those giants whose marvel- 

 lous histories his mamma had related to him. An oak-tree, which 

 had fallen across our path, gave him a good opportunity of measur- 

 ing its size, the limbs of which seemed to touch the sky. The 

 ancient trunk was black wrinkled, and partly buried in the earth 

 by the weight of its fall ; even as it lay prostrate, it was several 

 feet higher than ourselves, while the large branches, scattered and 

 broken, were equal in diameter to the biggest chestnut-trees. A 

 flapping of wings suddenly attracted our attention, and we saw 

 two couples of enormous crows take flight, saluting us as they 

 went with a prolonged croaking. 



" Be ofi^ with you, children of the evil one ! " cried TEncuerado; 

 " you 've no chance of frightening us, we are too good Christians 

 for that ! " 



" Whom are you calling to ? " asked Lucien, who looked round 

 him with surprise. 



" To the crows, of course." 



" Do you believe that they can understand you % " 



" Not the least doubt about it, Chanito. These scoundrels 

 are harder in their flesh than they are in their hearing; and just 

 because they are dressed up in a beautiful black coat, like that 

 your papa wears on festival days, they think to have everything 

 their own way. But if one of them dares to come to-night and 

 prowl round our fire, I '11 kill and roast him, as sure as my name 

 is I'Encuerado ! " 



The boy opened his eyes very wide at this, for he was always 

 astonished at the whims of the Indian, who never failed to interpret 

 the cries and gestures of animals according to his own fancy, and 

 to give a sharp rejoinder to the imaginary provocations which, as 

 he considered, were offered to him. Sometimes, even, he laid 

 the blame on inanimate things, and then his conversations with 

 them were most amusing. The old hunter had no doubt con- 

 tracted this habit at a time when, living alone in the woods and 

 feeling the need of talking, he conversed with himself, having no 



