CHAPTER XV. 



OUE SUBSTITUTES FOE LAMPS — PIEST GLANCE INTO THE CAVE— THE 

 ELATEEIDES — THE GOTHIC HALL — STALAGMITES AND STALACTITES 

 — A CHICHIQUIMEC CEMETEEY — THE " TEEE OF ST IGNATIUS"— THE 

 OPOSSUM AND ITS LITTLE ONES. 



i.UCIEN had run on in front with the two partridges ; 

 when I arrived at the bivouac, I found an enormous 

 mole roasting on the fire, and Sumichrast catching, with 

 the utmost care, the fat which ran from it. 



" How did you kill this animal ? " I asked, addressing my 

 companions ; " I did not hear you fire." 



" L'Encuerado knocked it down with the butt-end of his gun, 

 and just at the same moment your two shots brought us back to 

 the cave." 



" Why are you collecting this fat ? Is it a prophet of some new 

 dish in preparation ? " 



" No ; but I intend inspecting the cave, and with this grease 

 we shall be able to make a lamp, which will be more than 

 useful." 



I approved of Sumichrast's idea, and as he had discovered a 

 colony of moles, proposed to go after dinner and catch some of 

 them, so as to increase our supply of light. Besides, I hoped that 

 in this walk we should meet with some kind of resinous tree, the 

 branches of which might serve as torches. Lucien could hardly 

 restrain his joy, and wished to penetrate into the cave without 



