THE ADVENTURES OF 



and allowed me to place it on my shoulder. It clung to my hair 

 and wound its tail round my neck, as I descended, and I was in 

 fear every moment of feeling one of my ears bitten. Nothing of 

 the sort happened, for the poor brute's teeth chattered with fear; 

 I placed it close to the fire, where it immediately resumed its 

 lamentations. Then, by means of a flexible creeper, I secured it 

 round the middle of the body and tied it to a bush. 



When we had satisfied our appetite on the dark and tough 

 monkey's flesh, I proposed to Lucien a fresh start. 



" Shall we take our little captive with us ? " he asked. 



" Yes, certainly. It will be a resource for our supper, in case 

 we do not fall in with our friends." 



" Oh no," cried the boy ; " let us at least put off killing it till 

 to-morrow." 



I hastened my pace, carrying on my shoulder our new com- 

 panion, whom we at once dubbed " Master Job.'' 



I examined more carefully than ever the ground and the bark 

 of the trees, seeking for anything which might direct our course. 

 With a sickly feeling at my heart, I saw the sun approach the 

 horizon. The boy, quite broken down with fatigue, looked at 

 me, with his eyes full of tears. At last I halted, and the dear 

 little fellow stretched himself beside me and fell asleep. 



While listening with ear and eye alike on the watch, I fancied 

 I heard the distant report of a gun. I jumped up, — was it the 

 fall of a tree % or was it a signal from one of our companions ? 

 I seized my gun, but I hesitated before expending my last cart- 

 ridge but one. At length I pressed the trigger, and I listened 

 anxiously as the sound of my shot died away, alas ! without 

 echo. Lucien did not move. 



" Jump up ! jump up ! " I cried ; for a dull barking moved the 

 air. Suddenly I fired my last barrel ; then, with eyes shut, mouth 

 open, and nostrils dilated, I listened intently, almost forgetting 

 to breathe. Minutes — they seemed ages — elapsed without any- 

 thing more interrupting the silence. Lucien looked at me with 

 a scared face ; I pressed my weapon to me in despair, at having 

 expended my last charge, when a gunshot was heard ringing 

 out clear and close. 



