50 THE ADVENTURES OF 



" Then we are not on any road ? " 



"You may call it a road, if you like, but we are the only 

 people who have trod it ; no one could discover our encampment 

 unless they had followed us step by step." 



The child shook his head with a rather doubtful air ; the idea 

 of the desert is not readily nor suddenly comprehended. I well 

 recollect that, during my first excursions in the wilderness, I was 

 constantly expecting to catch sight of some human face, either 

 just when I was emerging from a wood or in following the paths 

 made in the savannah by wild cattle. At night, especially when 

 I was troubled by sleeplessness, I was always fancying that I 

 recognised, in the distant sounds, either the crow of a cock, the 

 barking of a dog, or the burden of some familiar song. 



"But if no one can discover our bivouac," remarked Lucien, 

 casting a glance behind him, " how shall we manage to find it 

 again ? " 



" In a way that is simple, but rather laborious ; we shall walk 

 one after the other, and the last man's duty will be to notch the 

 trees and shrubs." 



" Shall I walk first ? " asked Lucien. 



"No; that place belongs by right to the best shot; for if we 

 put up any game, we mustn't let it escape. In the meantime, 

 until you know how to use your gun, you shall form the rear- 

 guard." 



This duty did not seem to displease Lucien, who immediately 

 seized his sword and followed us, at a little distance, inflicting on 

 the trunks of the trees the gashes which were to guide us on our 

 return. He performed his work with so much ardour that his 

 strength was soon exhausted. L'Encuerado afterwards taught him 

 how to handle his weapon in a more skilful manner, and to notch 

 the trees without stopping in his walk. A path marked in this 

 manner is called, in Canada and the United States, a blaze road. 



We now entered one of those glades which are so often met 

 with in the midst of a virgin forest, although it is impossible to 

 explain the cause why the trees do not grow just in these spots. 

 As there was no living creature to be seen, I agreed with Sumi- 

 chrast to leave Lucien and I'Encuerado on the watch, and that 



