304 THE ADVENTURES OF 



that was useless thrown away, I counted the maize-cakes, our 

 only food, and found we had enough victuals for several days, 

 besides crayfish, and the flesh of an armadillo. We filled our 

 gourds up to the necks with water and corked them tightly; 

 then lay down in the shade to gain strength for our next stage. 



About four o'clock I'Encuerado called us to dinner, and by sun- 

 set we started, home bound, each with his allotted burden over 

 his shoulder. Sumichrast, with Lucien following, led the way. 



" Well, Master Sunbeam, you are nearly as much lost in the 

 stalks here as you were in the forest. Are your boots well 

 greased ? We shall have many days of hard walking.'' 



" Where are all the wild cattle and horses ? " 



"Not far off', I hope ! first, because they would guide us to the 

 ponds and the streams where they drink; and secondly, we may 

 need them to furnish us with food." 



" Then shall we find nothing to shoot here % " 



"Nothing at all where the grass is so high as this; animals 

 seldom venture into the midst of these solitudes." 



" And the birds ? " 



" They are never to be seen unless the grass grows close to the 

 ground, excepting birds of prey ; and they, perhaps, are hovering 

 over us now, hoping we may become food for them." 



For more than five hours we kept on without stopping. I 

 then proposed a halt. By lying down on the grass we at once 

 found a soft bed, and Lucien and the rest of us soon went to 

 sleep. Before daylight I'Encuerado awoke us, when, after tak- 

 . ing our bearings, he undertook to be our guide. As the first 

 sunbeam appeared, we halted to form our camp and erect our 

 tent. We cleared a large space, and a hole in the ground served 

 as a fire-place. Our crayfish remained perfectly fresh, and whilst 

 I'Encuerado was broiling them, I and Sumichrast watched the 

 direction of the flames, as it was highly important for our 

 safety that the savannah should not be set on fire. The meal 

 despatched, and the fire extinguished, we squatted down under 

 the shadow of the grass, and resigned ourselves to sleep. 



I woke about mid-day, nearly roasted by the sun, which had 

 now replaced the shade. Calling my companions, so that they 



