A YOUNG NATURALIST. 29 



was most amusing to see him trying to keep a pace quite at 

 variance with the length of his short legs. 



" Halt !" cried Sumichrast ; " you can hardly imagine 

 your legs are as long as mine. Perhaps in about ten years' 

 time you may enjoy that privilege; but, in the mean time, 

 walk naturally — without either effort or hurry. One, two, 

 three ! — now you are perfect. Keep on without noticing 

 me ; you can't walk at my pace, so I must take to yours." 



As our journey was to extend to the distance of three 

 hundred leagues, it was quite requisite that the boy should 

 accustom himself to a regular step. After several attempts 

 this was accomplished, and all progressed together. 



We now directed our course towards the heights. Our 

 intention was to make our way into the Cordillera, and, 

 passing round the volcano of Orizava, to descend into the 

 savannahs beyond, slanting off to the left so as ultimately 

 to reach the sea. Then we thought of traversing the prai- 

 ries and forests of the Terre-Chaude, so as again to come to 

 our starting-point through the mountains of Songolica. 

 This circuit would represent a journey of a hundred and 

 fifty leagues as the crow flies, or at least three hundred 

 leagues, reckoning all the circuits and bends we should be 

 obliged to make. During this long expedition, we had 

 made up our minds to seek, when opportunity offered, the 

 hospitality of any Indian villages that might come in our 

 road, and only when absolutely necessary to camp in the 

 open air. 



About eleven, the heat became overpowering, and Lucien 

 began to inquire about breakfast. We were just then pass- 

 ing through a plantation, I might almost say a forest of 

 sugar-canes. The stems of the plants were either of a yel- 

 lowish hue or veined with blue, and were more than six 

 feet high. The latter kind will ultimately supersede its 

 rival; for the cultivators assert that, although not so large, 



