A YOUNG NATURALIST. 87 



the mole, though not aware of it ; he appeared confused at first, 

 but soon boldly began on his second helping. After the meal, 

 I'Encuerado took from an aloe-fibre bag a needle and bodkin, and 

 set to work to mend Lucien's breeches, torn a day or two before. 

 Two squirrels' skins were scarcely sufficient for the would-be 

 tailor, who lined the knees also with this improvised cloth. 

 Lucien was delighted at this patching, and wanted to try on his 

 mended garment at once. He waddled about, ran, and stooped 

 in every posture, quite fascinated with the rustling noise produced 

 by the dry skins. Gringalet, who had been asleep, suddenly 

 came up to his young master with visible surprise. With his 

 neck stretched out, his eyes glittering, and his ears drooping, 

 ready to retreat in case of need, the dog ventured to take a sniff 

 at I'Encuerado's work ; then shook his head energetically and 

 sneezed. After repeating this operation two or three times, he 

 seemed to be lost in thought. 



" He knows all about it, and can see at once that it is not 

 badly sewn," said I'Encuerado, with evident satisfaction. 



But all of a sudden, after a final and more conscientious exami- 

 nation, the animal began barking furiously, and seizing hold of 

 the patches that had been so industriously sewn in, he tried to 

 tear them away. 



" The simpleton fancies the squirrel is still ahve ! " cried the 

 Indian. i 



Although driven away at least twenty times, Gringalet kept on 

 returning to the attack, and he assailed the trousers with so much 

 ardour that a fresh rent was made. Then I'Encuerado became 

 angry, and the dog, having been punished, went and crouched 

 down by the fire ; but he still continued to show his teeth at the 

 strange lining which seemed so offensive to him. 



The sun was setting ; its golden rays, quivering among the 

 branches, appeared one by one to get higher and higher, until 

 gloom began gradually to pervade the forest. We were assem. 

 blinc around our bivouac, when a rosy tint suddenly illumined 

 the tops of the trees and penetrated through the foliage. As this 

 marvellous effect of light appeared to last a considerable time, we 

 ao-ain went into the open glade, so as to be better able to observe 



