A YOUNG NATURALIST. 103 



its top, the Indian called out to us that he could see a clump 

 of trees. The cold began to inconvenience us, and we wanted 

 wood to make our fire, so plucking up fresh courage, we con- 

 tinued our journey. The distance now traversed was inconsider- 

 able ; but the ups and downs and circuits had quite wearied us. 

 Gradually the rocks decreased in size, and were more widely 

 spread ; a plain slightly depressed in tlie centre, dotted here and 

 there with thinly growing thickets, was reached. In the back- 

 ground there was a clump of firs, and a glittering lake, quite a 

 liquid oasis hidden in a desert. 



It now became highly necessary for us to seek shelter, for 

 our teeth were chattering with the cold. L'Encuerado, having 

 climbed a tree, cut down the wood that was necessary for the 

 construction of a hut ; whilst Lucien broke all the dry branches 

 off, a task in which I helped him. Sunset surprised us ere we 

 had finished our labour. The waters of the lake assumed a dark 

 hue, and the mountain peaks towards the setting sun furrowed 

 the sky with their strangely irregular outlines, and the breeze 

 resounding through the pine trees, produced a solemn and grave 

 chant, a peculiarity which has doubtless given to this species of 

 tree the name of 'pinus religiosus. As the rays of the sun died 

 away, and the dark shadows covered the sky, the silence became 

 still more profound. Suddenly the last rays of the luminary 

 vanished; the gathering darkness imbued us with an emotion 

 which those only can understand, who, like us, had found them- 

 selves face to face with some of the grandest emanations from 

 the Creator's hands. 



Lucien, too, was subject to the influence of the twofold majesty 

 of darkness and solitude ; he was speechless, and looked by turns 

 both at the earth and the sky. The stars appeared, glittering in 

 the blue heaven, and were reflected on the motionless surface of 

 the neighbouring water. Suddenly a luminous ray seemed to 

 dance over the lake, and then to divide into a shower of sparks. 

 It was the reflection of our fire, to which I'Encuerado had just set 



a light. 



The piercing cold was excessively trying,— our sarapes did 

 not seem sufficient to protect us from its influence. Fortunately 



