40 



THE AD VENTURES OF 



" What good are horses, then ?" 



" To break your neck. Besides, there are plenty of in- 

 firmities in life without making one out of the horse." 



" The horse an infirmity !" cried the Mexican. 



"Yes, certainly — among your caste at least; for you 

 could no more do without a horse than a cripple without 

 his crutch." 



Don Antonio whistled without making any reply, and, 

 untying his horse, took Lucien up in* front, and accompa- 

 nied us for more than a league. At last, as his duties call- 

 ed him home, he shook us by the hand and turned back. 

 Even after we had lost sight of him, we could still hear 

 him wishing us a pleasant journey. 



We had to cross a wide prairie ; the heat was suffocating, 

 and we marched on side by side in dead silence. Lucien's 

 walking was much hindered by his game-pouch and gourd, 

 which, in spite of all his efforts, would work round in front 

 of him. I soon noticed that he had got rid of the trouble- 

 some gear. 



" Hallo !" I cried, " w r hat have you done w T ith your pro- 

 visions ?" 



" L'Encuerado wished to carry them for me." 



" L'Encuerado's load is quite heavy enough now, and you 

 must get accustomed to your own. In a few days you won't 

 feel it. Habit makes many things easy which at first seem 

 impossible." 



" Senor," said l'Encuerado, " Chanito (this was the name 

 he gave to Lucien) is tired, and this is his first journey; 

 I'll give him back all his things to-morrow." 



"It will be much better for him to get accustomed to 

 them now. Give him back his baggage, it is not too heavy 

 for him ; if you don't, you will be the one to be scolded." 



The Indian grumbled before he obeyed; then, taking 

 the boy by the hand, dropped behind, muttering to him : 



