74 THE ADVENTURES OF 



has interpreted in his own way, is performed with a view of 

 getting hold of the fugitives." 



Sumichrast showed Lucien that the woodpecker, aided by its 

 wedge-shaped beak, could, in case of need, rip up the bark under 

 which its prey was to be found ; that his tongue, covered with 

 spines bending backwards, is well adapted to seize the larvae; 

 and, lastly, that the stiff and elastic feathers of its tail afford it a 

 very useful support in the exercise of its laborious vocation. 



*' You often get the better of me in argument," said I'En- 

 cuerado ; " but it 's no use your saying that woodpeckers do not 

 bore into trees, for I have seen them doing it.'' 



" You are right up to a certain point," replied Sumichrast ; 

 " some species make their nests in dead trees, which their beaks 

 can with ease penetrate. As for piercing sound trees, that 's 

 quite another question." 



Whilst I'Encuerado was preparing the armadillo and the 

 woodpecker, which we were to have for dinner, we walked down 

 the course of the stream, the agreeable freshness of which was 

 very pleasant to us. All at once, Lucien pointed out to me a 

 basilisk sitting on a stone, the rays of the sun setting off its 

 bright shades, — yellow, green, and red. This member of the 

 Iquana family, which bears no resemblance to the fabulous 

 basilisk of the Greeks, got up at our approach, puffed out its 

 throat, and shook the membranous crest on the top of its head. 

 Its bright eye seemed to scan the horizon ; no doubt it caught 

 sight of us, for its flaccid body stiffened out, and with a rapid 

 bound it sprang into the stream. The reptile raised its chest in 

 swimming, beating the water with its fore-paws as if with oars. 

 We soon lost sight of it, to Lucien's great sorrow, for he wanted 

 to obtain a further inspection of it. 



Gathering round the fire, we arranged our baggage, ready to 

 start the next morning. As there was still another hour's day- 

 light, Lucien remained with I'Encuerado, and I went with Sumi- 

 chrast to reconnoitre the route we intended to take. 



The sun was setting, and we were slowly approaching our 

 bivouac, when Gringalet's whine met our ears. I hastened for- 

 ward, for the dog began to howl desperately. I reached the hut 



