48 THE ADVENTURES OF 



one else to address. However this might be, he kept up conver- 

 sation with either a leaf or a bird in perfectly artless sincerity. 



For four hours we proceeded through the forest, feeling almost 

 overcome with the heat. Pines and oaks appeared, one after 

 another, in almost monotonous regularity. Gradually the ground 

 began to slope, and the altered pace we had to adopt both rested 

 us and also increased, the speed of our march. At length we 

 emerged into a valley. The vegetation was now of an altered 

 character, and ceibas, lignum-vita trees, and creepers were here 

 and there to be seen. 



" Halt ! " I cried out. 



I soon got rid of my travelling gear, an example my companions 

 were not slow in following. L'Encuerado and Lucien immediately 

 set to work to find some dry branches, whilst Sumichrast and I 

 began to cut down the grass over a space of several square yards. 



" Have we finished our day's journey then ? " asked Lucien. 



" Yes," I replied ; " don't you feel tired?" 



" Not very ; I could easily go farther. Have we walked very 

 far % " 



" About four leagues.'' 



" And are we really going to rest after a trifle like that 1 I 

 always thought travellers went on walking until night." 



"Nonsense!" said I, taking hold of his ear. "What an un- 

 daunted young pedestrian ! Four leagues a day are no such trifle 

 when you have to begin again next morning. ' Slow and steady 

 wins the race,' says an old proverb, which I intend to carry out 

 to the letter ; for forced marches would soon injure our health, 

 and then good-bye to the success of our expedition. As to walk- 

 ing until night, it is perfectly impossible, except when one is 

 certain to meet with an inn. Under these large trees, no one 

 will ever think of getting ready a meal for us; and, I suppose, you 

 haven't much wish to die of hunger. We may very likely have 

 to tramp one or two leagues more before we are able to kill the 

 game which will form the mainstay of our dinner." 



" I never thought of all that," said Lucien, shaking his head, 

 and looking convinced; "but what shall we have to eat this 

 evening 1 " 



