ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST. 57 



ing loudly, and I'Encuerado will find it difficult to take it off 

 without burning his fingers." 



But the Indian had provided himself with two green branches, 

 which he used to lift ofi" the make-shift coflfee-pot, into which he 

 emptied both the sugar and the coffee. 



" Where is the filter % " asked Lucien. 



" Do you think you are still in the town % " I replied. " Why 

 don't you ask for a cup and saucer as well ? " 



"But we can never drink this black muddy stuff!" cried 

 Lucien. 



"Never mind, Chanito," said the Indian; "I'll soon make it 

 all right." 



Then, taking his gourd, he poured from it some cold water 

 into the mixture, and it immediately became cleared. 



I told Lucien to go and wake up Sumichrast. 



The child approached our companion, who was scarcely visible 

 under the leaves, which served him both for coverlet and pillow. 



" Holloa ! holloa ! M. Sumichrast; the soup is on the table." 



"Soup!" repeated Sumichrast, rubbing his eyes. "Ah! you 

 little monkey, you have disturbed me in such a pleasant dream. 

 I fancied that I was no older than you, and that I was once more 

 wandering over the mountains of my native land." 



It is considered wholesome to take a cup of Mocha after a 

 hearty meal ; but with all due deference to G-rimod de la Eey- 

 nifere and Brillat Savarin, coffee seems still sweeter to the taste 

 when taken at five o'clock in the morning, after passing the night 

 in the open air. 



The day broke ; it was a magnificent sight to see the forest 

 gradually lighted up, and the trunks of the trees gilded by slant- 

 ing sunbeams. Before starting again, one of our party carefully 

 examined the ground on which we had camped, so as not to 

 forget any of our effects, which, if lost, would have been irrepar- 

 able. I also noticed that I'Encuerado's basket was decked with 

 the three squirrels' skins, which would thus gradually dry. 



We had walked on for nearly an hour, the only incident being 

 our meeting with various kinds of birds, when the melancholy 

 cry of the couroucou struck on our ears. The call of this bird is very 



