ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST. 247 



carry it, on the condition he should tell me as soon as he felt 

 tired. I went in front, leading Lucien by the hand, and the 

 rocky slope was descended without accident. The oaks were 

 small and scattered, and left us an easy passage over ground 

 covered with dry leaves, which rustled under our feet. 



" We might almost fancy we were in Europe," said Sumichrast, 

 suddenly halting. 



" Yes," I replied ; " it seems as if the yellow leaves had already 

 felt the autumnal winds." 



" There 's a dead tree," said my friend ; " I feel sure, if we 

 examine its bark, we shall find some insects of our own country.'' 



My friend's hopes were not realised, and the only result of his 

 search was to disturb the rest of two mice with slender muzzles. 

 One of them escaped, while the other tried its best to protect a litter 

 of five little ones, buried in some fine vegetable debris. Lucien 

 examined the young ones with interest, and after replacing the 

 bark, as far as possible, in its original position, rejoined us outside 

 the wood. A descent, so rapid that we could scarcely keep our 

 balance, brought us among a quantity of bushes, covered with 

 double thorns, which Lucien very justly compared to bulls' horns 

 in miniature. At last, the ground became more level, and, direct- 

 ing our course to the right, we turned into a plain, surrounded by 

 woods. 



" Both trees and plants seem larger here than on the moun- 

 tains," said Lucien. 



" You are quite right," answered Sumichrast ; " the vegetation 

 in the Te,rr& Chaude is more vigorous than that of the Terre Tem- 

 perie. As you advance further into it, you will be able to judge." 



" Did you see that great insect that flew buzzing past us 1 " 



" Yes, Master Sunbeam ; but it was a humming-bird, not an 

 insect." 



"A humming-bird ! " cried the boy, at once unfolding his but- 

 terfly-net. 



And off he went in pursuit of the fugitive. The agile bird 

 made a thousand turns, and always kept out of reach of the 

 young sportsman, who at last stopped suddenly in front of a 

 shrub. When I joined him, he was contemplating three little 



