48 



THE ADVENT UliES OF 



least twenty times to take breath. Our little companion, 

 with his head bent down towards the ground, struggled to 

 retain his place by our side. At last we reached the sum- 

 mit, and felt at liberty to rest. 



Casting a glance on the plain beneath us, the boy survey- 

 ed a vast prairie, dotted over with clumps of bushes. He 

 silently contemplated the panorama which was spread out 

 beneath, although he failed to completely comprehend all 

 that he saw. 



" Look at those black spots moving about over the plain," 

 said he. 



" They are oxen," I replied. 



" Oxen ! Why they are scarcely as big as Gringalet." 



" Don't you know that you must not trust to appear- 

 ances ? Recollect the trees you saw yesterday, which you 

 thought were a forest." 



" But if, from this height, the oxen appear no larger than 

 sheep, the sheep ought not to look greater than flies." 



"You can easily judge; there is a flock of goats down 

 below." 



" A flock of goats ! It is like a swarm of ants." 



" Exactly ; but look at them through the telescope." 



Availing himself of the glass, which he used rather un- 

 skillf ully, Lucien raised a sudden cry. 



" I see them ! I see them !" he exclaimed. " How pretty 

 they are ! They are running about and crowding together, 

 in front of a little boy who is driving them." 



" It is most likely a man, who is diminished by the dis- 

 tance." 



" The idea of men of that size !" 



"Well, look at the foot of that wooded hill; the thin line 

 which you might easily take for a mere pathway is the 

 main road. Perhaps you may see an Indian family travel- 

 ling along it." 



