A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



231 



The next day and the day after were spent in hunting after 

 specimens, and our boxes were soon filled up and packed. I ex- 

 plained to Torribio, who was to start at daybreak, how to handle 

 the cases, and then intrusted to him letters which were to an- 

 nounce our early return. Lucien had written to his dear mother 

 and his sister Hortense, and he had to open his letter at least 

 twenty times to add postscripts, often dictated by I'Encuerado. 



In the evening we bade adieu to our kind hosts, for we were 

 to start early. Thanks to them, we had renewed our stock of 



salt, rice, coffee, sugar, and maize-cake. In default of black 

 pepper, we took with us some red capsicums ; but the most pre- 

 cious of our acquisitions was the powder and shot I had received 

 in exchange for the telescope. 



On the next morning I learned that Torribio was abeady on 

 his way towards Puebla. He had started about midnight, so as 

 to avoid crossing the plain during the heat of the day. I now 

 hastened our own departure. We were in possession of good 

 hats, but ouE garments, which had been mended with some soft 

 leather, gave us the appearance of mendicants; this, however. 



