94 THE ADVENTURES OE 



rock ; but, surprised by a sudden gust, he had but just time to 

 throw himself prostrate on the ground to prevent being swept 

 away. Something, however, had to be done ; it was no use try- 

 ing to light a fire, and yet, after yesterday's fast and a sleepless 

 night, we felt great need of some comforting beverage. The 

 squalls gradually abated, but were still every now and then 

 violent. Intervals of profound silence succeeded to the uproar of 

 the storm, when the leaves were motionless ; then we might have 

 fancied the tempest was over. But suddenly the frightful roar 

 again commenced, and the gale covered the ground with fresh 

 fragments. 



We were beginning to take courage a little, when a formidable 

 crash resounded above us; an enormous pine, growing on the 

 mountain a hundred feet over our heads, tottered and then fell, 

 tumbling down the slope with a horrible uproar. Quick as 

 lightning, I'Encuerado seized Lucien, and lay down with him 

 along the foot of the rock ; I and my friend immediately followed 

 his example. The fallen giant came crashing down in rapid 

 bounds, smashing everything in its path, and accompanied in its 

 descent by masses of broken rock. It struck against the block 

 that sheltered us, which gave forth a dull sound, but fortu- 

 nately resisted the shock ; and then the tree, clearing the obstacle 

 with a prodigious bound, continued its impetuous course down to 

 the foot of the mountain. We were nearly crushed by a perfect 

 avalanche of stones, which followed in its wake. 



I raised myself not without emotion. The danger had been 

 serious ; indeed, the enormous rock to which we owed our safety 

 had slightly swerved. If this accident had occurred in the 

 middle of the night, the fright would have driven us out of our 

 place of shelter, and we should certainly have been destroyed. I 

 first returned thanks to God, and then to I'Encuerado, who, being 

 close to Lucien, had shielded the boy with his own body. The 

 child, who fully comprehended the danger, hung round the 

 Indian's neck. 



" I shall tell mamma that you saved my life," cried he, kissing 

 TEncuerado. 



The latter would have replied, but, affected by the caresses of 



