A YOUNG NATURALIST. 149 



" How did you suppose you -would descend 1 " 



" By holding on to the lasso, like I'Encuerado and M. Sumi- 

 chrast," answered the boy. 



" The grasp of your hands is not firm enough ; you must not 

 think of it ; I have no wish to risk your neck." 



" Oh ! dear father ! do let me try." 



" Certainly not ; for if your trial failed, you would not be in 

 a position to try again." 



Not without some slight vexation Lucien was tied to the lasso, 

 whilst Gringalet, astonished, barked round us. 



" Patience ! patience ! " I exclaimed to the dog ; " it will 

 be your turn next, and then, perhaps, you will not seem so 

 pleased." 



I let the lasso slowly down, and the boy was soon safely lodged 

 among the branches of the tree. With care equal to mine, and 

 with still firmer knots, I'Encuerado tied the cord afresh. Then, 

 leaning over the precipice, I heard Sumichrast's voice ordering 

 the Indian to let the improvised cable slowly down. Seeing that 

 the port was safely reached, and relieved of a great care, I began 

 tying Gringalet, who hadn't left oif howling since his young 

 master disappeared. In spite of his terror, I launched the dog 

 into the air ; he struggled, howled, and nearly evaded I'Encuerado's 

 friendly grasp ; the latter, as he again let him down, tried to 

 explain the inutility of his struggles, and the danger of breaking 

 loose. At length, having for the last time examined the stakes 

 and the crosspiece, I also descended. I then shook the lasso, 

 and at once succeeded in disengaging it. 



I saw below me Sumichrast and Lucien, seated on a narrow 

 projection, which led by a rocky declivity down to the foot of 

 the mountain. Soon I joined them, followed by the Indian. We 

 had fixed the cross-bar between two stout branches, and for a 

 long time, without loosening the stick, I shook the cord. At 

 last, tired out, and about to leave it, the piece of wood sud- 

 denly gave way, and nearly fell on me. 



Walking now became very laborious, and it was occasionally 

 difiicult to preserve our balance in passing over rocks, sometimes 

 smooth, at others very uneven. Our path lay between perfect 



