THE ADVENTURES OF 



availed himself of such a good opportunity by smearing his hands 

 all over with this bright yellow substance. When we reached 

 a certain height, we lay down on the grass. With one glance 

 we could take in the whole of this small oasis. The stream 

 meandered along, shaded with green trees ; here and there, 

 among clumps of Bourbon palms, we could discern huts irregu- 

 larly dotted about. I turned my eyes towards our host's 

 threshold, and, through my glass, perceived I'Encuerado, who 

 was still preaching. He had evidently left off chanting, for his 

 hearers were seated round him on the ground. 



Lucien took possession of the telescope, and I noticed that 

 Torribio also seemed very anxious to try the instrument. I 

 told the boy to lend it to him. Our guide, seeing trees brought 

 so close to him, could not at first account for this optical effect. 

 I then directed the glass so that he could see the group of Indians, 

 and I never saw any human face manifest such complete surprise. 

 The Indian, who appeared perfectly charmed, could not long maiu- 

 tain his gravity. Every time he succeeded in discovering a hut, 

 he hardly gave himself time to look at it, but rolled on the 

 ground, bursting with laughter. Two or three times I put out 

 my hand to take back the telescope, but Torribio hugged it to 

 his breast, just like a child when any one attempts to take a play- 

 thing away. At last he consented to give it to me, and I felt 

 really sorry that I had not another glass to offer him. 



Sumichrast led the way round the end of the ravine. Sud- 

 denly the birds, which were warbling on the banks of the stream, 

 all flew away ; a goshawk was hovering above us in the sky. As 

 it was flying swiftly through the air, it passed us within gun- 

 shot ; a shot struck it, and, tumbling over and over, it fell to 

 the ground about twenty paces from us. Lucien immediately 

 ran to pick it up. 



" It is a falcon ! " he cried. 



" You are right," replied Sumichrast ; " it is the Cayenne 

 goshawk, which is characterised by having a head covered with - 

 ash-coloured feathers, by a brown body, and black feathers in its 

 tail." 



" Will you skin it 1 " 



