238 THE ADVENTURES OF 



against tlie voracious insect, and a furious combat took place 

 between them ; but the dragonfly, which was eventually the con- 

 queror, was in turn vanquished by a bird. 



We were just moving ofi', when the deep water seemed to be 

 agitated, and, although on the surface the flies and gnats con- 

 tinued their evolutions, the fish in hasty flight disappeared, and 

 communicated their terror even to the water-snakes. A tortoise, 

 however, seemed to deem it unnecessary to retreat, only drawing 

 its head and feet under its shell. Almost immediately an animal 

 swam vigorously up to the reptile, and having stopped to smell at 

 it, continued its course. 



"Are there such things as opossum-fishes?" asked Lucien, 

 surprised. 



"It is an otter,'' said I, in a low voice. 



And quickly descending the rock, I followed Sumichrast to the 

 water's edge, at a spot where the animal appeared inclined to 

 land. We waited for an hour without any result. 



My friend proposed to go and take a hurried dinner, and then 

 to return to our post near the rock. In a few minutes we had 

 joined I'Encuerado, for, unknown to us, our bivouac was estab- 

 lished about four gunshots from the lake. The Indian jumped 

 with joy on hearing of the appearance of what he called a " water- 

 dog." 



" You may set me down as a fool," said he to Gringalet, caress- 

 ing him, " if by to-morrow morning I don't give you one of your 

 brother's legs for breakfast.'' 



" Are otters really relations of Gringalet ? " asked Lucien of me. 



"Yes; according to Cuvier, they are digitigrades. Added to 

 this, the otter may be tamed and trained to bring fish out of the 

 water, which it is very skilful in catching, for it eats scarcely 

 anything else.'' 



The sun was just setting, and behind us the dark outlines of 

 the trees stood out against the orange-coloured sky, whilst hun- 

 dreds of birds were warbling and twittering around. A dark 

 shade spread over the horizon, and all was solemn silence. Ere 

 long the sky was glittering with stars, and the moon rose slowly 

 above the trees. Its pale light penetrated the foliage, giving to 



