3o8 THE ADVENTURES OF 



sunset, I mounted Lucien on my shoulder and recommenced our 

 journey. 



Twenty times I was forced to take breath, and twenty times I 

 struggled on again ; but happily the grass became shorter, which 

 was a good omen, and hope revived. 



Sumichrast now lifted up Lucien, and walked on with a deter- 

 mined step. I took up Master Job, and followed closely in his 

 rear. We heard a dull noise, and stopped to listen. It was the 

 report of a gun, and by and by we heard a horse galloping, and 

 then a well-known bark. 



" That 's G-ringalet," said Lucien. 



"Hiou! hiou! hiou ! Chanito!!" 



Our emotion scarcely allowed us to answer ; the Indian sprang 

 from his horse, and, running towards the child, pressed him to 

 his heart, and then, stretching out his arms, fell senseless to the 

 ground. I rushed towards him and opened his gourd ; — it was 

 full ! With the help of Sumichrast I poured a few drops of brandy 

 between his teeth. He gradually regained his senses and looked 

 at us in surprise. He was exhausted from hunger and fatigue. 



"If I had eaten or drunk," he said, simply, "I should have 

 wanted to go to sleep, and then what would have become of 

 you % But my hunger and thirst spurred me on, so that I have 

 not lost a moment." 



" My good fellow ! " I answered, " you ought to have taken 

 something to restore your strength, for if it had failed, what 

 would have become of us % " 



L'Encuerado did not hear me, he had just fallen into a deep 

 sleep, and we soon followed his example. When we awoke, 

 I'Encuerado mounted the steed he had brought, and, taking 

 Lucien up in front, led us back to the baggage.' 



" Why did you start without letting us know ? " asked Sumi- 

 chrast. 



•'Because you would have prevented me from following out 

 my plan. I was convinced there were woods and flocks not far 

 ahead of us, and as I feared not the sun for myself, I started as 

 soon as you were all fast asleep, having fortified myself for the 

 journey with a drop of the cognac. I often longed, as I pro- 



