18 INTRODUCTION. 



souifding against all the floors in the house. L'Encuerado, 

 a Mistec Indian, and an old tiger-hunter, who, through a 

 thousand dangers faced in common, had become much at- 

 tached to my person, at last made his appearance, clad in a 

 leathern jacket and breeches, which had given him his name 

 of " Encuerado."* The brave and adventurous Indian was 

 almost beside himself with joy at the idea of conducting 

 into the forest the child whom he had known from his cra- 

 dle. On his back he fastened a basket containing our main 

 stock' ©f provisions — such as coffee, salt, pepper, dried maize, 

 cakes, etc. Lucien's younger brother and sister had jump- 

 ed out of 'bed, and were dancing all round us : the latter 

 seemed somewhat sad and uneasy, but the former was dis- 

 satisfied, manfully asserting that he, too, was quite big 

 enough to go with us. 



At the last moment my poor wife lost all her courage, 

 and regretted she had ever given her consent; but when 

 Lucien saw the tears which his departure had called forth, 

 he became heroic in his self-denial, throwing aside his hat 

 and stick. 



" Mother," he cried, embracing her in his arms, " I will 

 not go away if it makes you cry." 



"All right, then; I will go instead," said his brother 

 Emile, who ran and picked up the stick and hat, and then 

 walked towards the outer door, utterly disregarding his bed- 

 room costume. 



" No, no," said my wife ; " I will not be the means of de- 

 priving you of so much pleasure." 



The kind mother again kissed her child, and commended 

 him anew to our joint care. 



I led off my little companion ; but when we* got into the 

 court-yard, I had to exercise all my authority to make his 



* JEncuerado, in Spanish, means both naked and clad in leather. 



