A YOUNG NATURALIST. 193 



then came up to my friend and proposed to assist him into tlie 

 same position as he had helped Lucien. 



" That 's enough of it," I cried, as soon as laughing allowed me 

 to speak ; " M. Sumichrast and I have other means of expellinn' 

 evil spirits." 



L'Encuerado looked at me with wonder, more convinced than 

 ever that my power far exceeded that of the sorcerers of his own 

 country. 



We were now close to our fire. Lucien was gravely repeating 

 the words which I'Encuerado had addressed to the demon, when 

 Gringalet commenced howling. L'Encuerado had seized the poor 

 animal by his hind legs, and was violently shaking him, head 

 downwards. 



" It 's all for your good," said the Indian to the dog. " Can't 

 you understand that the evil spirit which you have in your body 

 will be certain to make you commit some folly?" 



Lucien rushed to the assistance of his faithful friend, and at 

 last induced the Mistec to let him go. Not the least convinced 

 of I'Encuerado's kind intentions towards him, Gringalet seemed 

 to bear malice towards the Indian, and for three days was very 

 shy of coming near him. 



After this scene the preparations for dinner occupied our atten- 

 tion. If our guns had been more successful, we should have 

 had fat to fry our fish in. Whilst we were deploring our 

 ill-luck, I noticed a flock of birds like ducks flying high up in 

 the air ; they made a wide circle and settled down on the top 

 of a tree. L'Encuerado fired at them, and one fell. It was an 

 anhinga, one of the most singular specimens of web-footed birds 

 that can be found anywhere. Eepresent to yourself an enormous 

 duck with a neck like a swan, a bill straight, tapering, and longer 

 than the head, webbed feet, and widely spreading and well- 

 feathered wings, and then know the anhinga. It dives and flies 

 with equal facility, can swim under the water and perch upon 

 trees, the highest of which it chooses for building its nest upon. 



The flesh of the anhinga is not valuable, as it is hard and 

 tough. Perhaps a good appetite rendered me indulgent, but I 

 found the flavour very much like that of duck. The fat of 



