68 THE ADVENTURES OF 



if I hadn't; done so, they would have come back to disturb us 

 every night," answered the Indian, gravely. 

 " Have you killed any of them ? " 



" I only managed to wound one. I followed \V 



" At the risk of falling into some pit. You can't see at night, 

 at least, as far as I know." 



" Not very well ; but that is all your fault," replied rEncuerado, 

 in a reproachful tone. 

 "What! my fault?" 



" The hrujos (sorcerers) have many a time offered me an oint- 

 ment made of cat's eyes and fat ; but they wanted too much for 

 it. You knew much more about it than the sorcerers; and if 

 you would only have told me the way to make the ointment, 

 and how to use it, I should have been able to see at night, 

 long enough ago, which would be quite as useful to you as 

 to me.'' 



This was an old story; and all that I could have said to the 

 Indian would not have convinced him that I could not make him 

 see in the dark. 



It was broad daylight when Sumichrast awoke us. The brook, 

 which we could cross at a leap, sometimes rippled over pebbles, 

 and sometimes glided silently over a sandy bottom. The plants 

 which grew on its two banks fraternally intertwined their green 

 branches, and their flowers seemed to exchange their perfumes. 

 From the boughs of the large trees hung gray mosses, which 

 made them look like gigantic old men ; the sun gilded their black 

 trunks with its rising beams, and from the tops of the trees the 

 sweet chant of birds rose up towards heaven. Our eyes, which 

 had become accustomed to the comparatively barren places we 

 had traversed the day before, dwelt with delight upon this lovely 

 and glorious scene ; our hearts rejoiced in the midst of this calm 

 and luxuriant aspect of nature. It was with feelings of regret 

 we got ready to move on again. 



" Suppose we weren't to go till the afternoon," said Sumi- 

 chrast. 

 " Suppose we don't go till to-morrow," I answered. 

 These ideas seemed so thoroughly to respond to the wish of 



