CHAPTER XIX. 



THE BLACK IGUANA — ANOTHER COUNTRY — REMINISCENCES OP CHILD- 

 HOOD — THE MIRAGE— A FIRE IN THE PLAIN. 



Y ten o'clock in the morning we had crossed some rising 

 ground, and were passing through a narrow gorge car- 

 peted with ferns. Lucien headed the party, closely 

 followed by I'Encuerado ; and led us on to a kind of rocky stair- 

 case, down which, in the rainy season, water doubtlessly flowed. 

 This steep path compelled us to halt several times to recover our 

 breath. The branches of the bushes formed an archway over 

 our heads, and their blossoms surrounded us with their rich 

 perfume. 



At length a rise in the ground impeded our path, and the heat 

 commenced to inconvenience us. The refraction of light, espe- 

 cially, affected .our eyes, and our feet raised perfect clouds of 

 dust. Lucien, who had become quite an enduring walker, 

 throughout kept in front, and often gained ground whilst we 

 were stopping to take breath. Just as we had reached the ridge 

 of the hill, I saw the boy, who was a few yards in advance, 

 suddenly cock his gun and fire. I ran to him, but he dis- 

 appeared down the slope, crying out to me that he had shot a 

 dragon ! 



I soon came up, and found the young sportsman standing in 

 front of a magnificent black iguana, — cyclura acanthura, — which 

 does, in fact, somewhat resemble the supposed appearance of the 



