THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST. 77 



seemed strongly impressed at the sight of their gigantic 

 proportions. He almost doubted the reality of the scene 

 which met his eyes. Having previously seen the pigmy 

 world of Lilliput from the top of a mountain, he was now 

 ready to inquire if this was not another illusion, exhibiting 

 to him the empire of one of those giants whose marvellous 

 histories his mamma had related to him. An oak-tree 

 which had fallen across our path gave him a good oppor- 

 tunity of measuring its size, the limbs of which seemed to 

 touch the sky. The ancient trunk was black, wrinkled, and 

 partly buried in the earth by the weight of its fall ; even as 

 it lay prostrate, it was several feet higher than ourselves, 

 while the large branches, scattered and broken, were equal 

 in diameter to the biggest chestnut-trees. A flapping of 

 wings suddenly attracted our attention, and we saw two 

 couples of enormous crows take flight, saluting us as they 

 went with a prolonged croaking. 



" Be off with you, children of the evil one !" cried l'En- 

 cuerado ; " you've no chance of frightening us, we are too 

 good Christians for that !" 



" Whom are you calling to ?" asked Lucien, who looked 

 round him with surprise. 



" To the crows, of course." 



" Do you believe that they can understand you ?" 



" Not the least doubt about it, Chanito. These scoun- 

 drels are harder in their flesh than they are in their hearing ; 

 and just because they are dressed up in a beautiful black 

 coat, like that your papa wears on festival days, they think 

 to have every thing their own way. But if one of them 

 dares to come to-night and prowl round our fire, I'll kill 

 and roast him, as sure as my name is l'Encuerado !" 



The boy opened his eyes very w T ide at this, for he was al- 

 ways astonished at the whims of the Indian, who never 

 failed to interpret the cries and gestures of animals accord- 



