138 THE ADVENTURES OF 



Gringalet pricked up his ears, and running up the opposite slope 

 of the mountain, barked as loudly as if he saw another porcupine. 

 I also made my way there, and heard ' gobbles ' resounding in 

 every direction ; Master Gringalet had fallen in with a council of 

 turkeys." 



" A council of turkeys ?" repeated Lucien. 



"Yes, Chanito, turkeys hold councils. They generally travel 

 in flocks and on foot, although they know perfectly well how to 

 fly when they want to cross a stream, or to make their escape ; 

 and when one of them wants to communicate his opinion to 

 another, he raises a cry, and his companions form a circle round 

 him." 



" And what takes place then % " 



" The preacher," continued I'Encuerado, without the least idea 

 of irreverence, " lowers his neck, and then lifts it up again, 

 raises up the hair like feathers on his crop, and spreads out his 

 tail like a fan. He then addresses the assembled birds, who 

 strut about with their wings half opened, and answer him with 

 approving gobbles." 



The Indian, carried away by his narrative, added gestures to 

 words, strutted about, rounded his arms and lowered his chin 

 upon his breast, in order to imitate the ways of the birds which 

 he was describing. 



" But what do they say 1 " asked Lucien, archly. 



" That depends on circumstances," he replied, scratching his 

 forehead. " The flock just now surprised must have cried out — 

 ' What is this animal 1 ' — ' A dog,' would be the answer of the 

 most knowing among them. ' Fly, my friends, fly ! ' he would 

 cry j ' dogs are always accompanied by men, and men have guns.' 

 ' A gun ! what 's that ? ' — ' A machine that goes bourn and kills 

 turkeys.' Then I make my appearance; they bustle about, 

 fly away, and spread in every direction ; but my guu had time 

 to go bo7im and to kill this beautiful bird." 



I need scarcely say what mirth was excited by this account. 

 Whilst returning to our bivouac, Sumichrast told Lucien that the 

 turkey is a native of America, and that it was introduced by the 

 Jesuits into Europe, where it flourished well. In a domestic 



