A YOUNG NATURALIST. 261 



Indian just at the moment when they were bending over a plant 

 with scarlet-red leaves, which grew encircling the stem of a mag- 

 nolia. About a glassful of limpid fluid flowed from it into the 

 calabash. 



" Can we get water from this shrub by merely pressing it ? " 

 asked Lucien, with surprise. 



" All that is needed is to bend it," I replied. " It treasures 

 up the precious dew between its leaves, and I'Encuerado and I 

 should have died of thirst in one of our expeditions, if it had not 

 been for this plant." 



" Why doesn't it grow in every forest ? " asked Lucien. 



" Certainly, if it grew everywhere, one of the greatest obstacles 

 to travelling in the wilderness would be removed." 



" And what 's the name of this plant 1 " 



" The Creoles call it the ' Easter flower ; ' it is one of the 

 bromeUac(B." 



" Does it produce any fruit good to eat 1 " 



"No, but in case of extreme necessity, its large red leaves 

 would appease hunger." 



We reascended the hill, when an uproar proceeding from the 

 edge of the forest reached our ears. L'Encuerado smiled, show- 

 ing us the double range of his white teeth. 



" See down there," he said to Lucien, pointing to a corner of 

 the wood, away from which all the birds seemed to be flying. 



There was a whole tribe of monkeys frolicking about among 

 the creepers. 



"Let us go and look at them more closely," said Lucien. 



" It is too late now, Chanito ; they have just been drinking, 

 and will soon go to sleep ; but we shall eat some of them to- 

 morrow — and now, our supper is waiting for us." 



We finished our meal, and when the sun was setting, we saw 

 the paroquets fly by in couples, and humming-birds flitting about 

 among the bushes ; suddenly a formidable roaring made us all 

 tremble. 



" Oh ! what is that dreadful noise 1 " cried Lucien. 



" A tiger ! " said I'Encuerado, whose eyes glittered with excite- 

 ment. 



