A YOUNG NATURALIST. 295 



the bank, and began, with cutlass in hand, to hew and hack at 

 the tree which had been the cause of his accident. 



" If you 're going to cut down that colossus," cried my friend, 

 " we had better encamp here, for it 's eight days' work at least." 

 " Only wait ten minutes more, at most, Tatita Sumichrast ; it 

 shall never be said that this great booby broke my head and 

 then laughed at me, to the heart's delight of the parrots, who 

 no doubt were the instigators of such conduct." 



L'Encuerado, by the notches he had cut in the tree, could 

 easily climb up to the lowest branch ; but in his haste he slipped 

 and fell a second time into the water. 



In a twinkling the Indian was up astride again on his branch 

 jabbering like an ape, and slashing his knife into it, when of a 

 sudden it gave a loud crack, and he and it descended with a 

 splash into the river. At this noise the parrots sent up a 

 wild scream and flew off, while the branch floated past us to 

 the ocean. Our companion climbed up again on the raft, and 

 laughed so heartily at his defeat of the tree and the fright he 

 had caused to the parrots, that Lucien soon joined in his gaiety. 

 He was, however, thoroughly exhausted, so lay down, when he 

 slept the peaceful sleep of a child which has tired itself out with 

 a fit of passion. 



For two hours I managed the raft, and then I'Encuerado 

 awaking, resumed his post in silence. Suddenly there was a 

 heavy tramping on the ground, the boughs moved, and the head 

 of a wild bull appeared among the creepers. The animal sur 

 veyed us for a moment with its fierce eyes, and then made off, 

 bellowing hoarsely. 



The sight of this new denizen of the forest confirmed the 

 omens as we had already read them, and soon, accordingly, there 

 burst upon our view an immense savannah. We were just about 

 to pass the last shrub on the bank of the river, when I'Encuerado 

 suddeidy brought the boat to a stand-still. I stood up and saw 

 a herd of wild cattle moving rapidly down to that portion of 

 the stream which we were about to pass. 



"Lookout!" cried Sumichrast ; "this is better worth seeing 

 than the crocodiles." 



