A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



59 



When we had finished, our young companion was anx- 

 ious to know how charcoal was made. Sumichrast led 

 him close to a recently-felled oak, the small branches of 

 which an Indian was cutting into pieces two or three inches 

 long, by means of an instrument something like an enor- 

 mous pruning-knife. A little farther, on the open ground, 

 two men were collecting these pieces of wood in circular 

 rows. This pile was already seven feet in circumference, 

 and about the same in height, although it was not half fin- 

 ished. Lucien could easily see this when he approached the 

 Indian who was looking after the lighted furnace, in which 

 the wood, completely covered with earth, formed a kind of 

 dome, from the summit of which a blue flame w x as hover- 

 ing, proving that the mass inside was in a red-hot state. 

 The Indian kept walking round and round the furnace, 

 plastering damp earth on any holes through which the 

 flame started. For, as Sumichrast properly observed, a 

 charcoal of good quality must be smothered while it is be- 

 ing burned. 



" Suppose the fire went out ?" said Lucien. 



" Then all the work must be begun over again." 



" But the fire might burn only one side." 



"They would then have badly-burned charcoal, nearly 

 half wood, which would cause a bad smell when it was 

 used. The wood in the oven we are looking at will be en- 

 tirely charred to-night ; for the fire, which was lighted at 

 the centre, is trying to break through all round the outside. 

 Before long the Indians will cover up the opening at the 

 top, over which the blue flame is hovering. The fire will 

 then be quite deprived of air, and soon afterwards go out. 

 In about eight days your mamma may perhaps buy this 

 very charcoal which you have seen burned." 



" Suppose the charcoal went on burning ?" 



" Then the Indian, to his great vexation, would find noth- 



