1 62 THE ADVENTURES Oh 



"Then, do stones proceed from water?" asked Lucien, with a 

 thoughtful air. 



" To a certain extent,'' I replied ; " water holds in solution 

 calcareous matter, and, as soon as the liquid evaporates, stone 

 is formed." 



"According to this," interposed I'Encuerado, "the pebbles 

 ought to melt in the rivers." 



" So they do ; but they do not melt so easily as some things — 



. sugar, for instance. Don't you recollect that in the Eio Blanco 



the water is almost like milk, and that it leaves a whitish coating 



on the branches, and even on the leaves with which it comes in 



contact." 



"That's true enough," replied the Indian, who had often 

 wondered at the petrifactions with which the banks of the White 

 River abound. 



" But the water that falls down here is quite clear," urged 

 Lucien, holding his torch close to a natural basin. 



" But, nevertheless, it contains salts of lime in solution, the 

 same, in fact, as all water, particularly that from wells. And it 

 is for this reason that housekeepers will not use it ; for it will 

 not dissolve soap, and hardens the vegetables that are cooked 

 in it." 



" Now, do you understand this?" asked I'Encuerado, addressing 

 Lucien; " I don't." 



" Yes, I do, a little ! " 



" Well, you are very fortunate ! The other day stones were 

 said to come from the sun or moon, and fly about all covered 

 with fire; now, they are formed by water. Perhaps M. Sumi- 

 chrast will tell us to-morrow that they come from the wind." 



The Indian then walked away, quite indignant ; we followed 

 him, smiling at his anger, becoming more and more enchanted by 

 the spectacle which met our eyes. Unfortunately, our torches 

 gave a very insufficient light, and the thick smoke rapidly black- 

 ened the arches above us. A great polished stone now impeded 

 our passage, and compelled us to crawl. I took the lead, and, 

 passing through a kind of narrow corridor, made my way into a 

 small chamber. I raised a sudden exclamation ; for five or six 



