94 



THE AD VENTURES OF 



other light than the smoky glimmer from a branch oi 

 fir." 



I was obliged to cut short my explanations, in order to 

 help Sumichrast and l'Encuerado, who, in spite of the lasso, 

 seemed as if they were trying who could slip fastest. The 

 only way we could get on at all was by describing zigzags, 

 and thus we were two hours in climbing a quarter of a 

 league. At last we arrived on the verge of the forest. 

 The rocky ground seemed quite pleasant to walk upon : we 

 could now advance in a straight line, and were able, with 

 very little trouble, to reach another summit. 



From the crest a marvellous panoramic view was in sight, 

 for we overlooked all the surrounding country. On our left 

 rose the gigantic and majestic peak of Orizava or Citla- 

 tepetl — that is, the "mountain of the star" — which rises 

 to 17,372 feet above the sea-level. Lucien thought that 

 this could not really be the same mountain the summit of 

 which he was in the habit of seeing every morning. 



" It is quite a different shape," he said. 



" It is not the mountain, but the point from which you 

 look at it, that has changed its appearance," replied Sumi- 

 chrast. 



" But it looks much higher," said Lucien. 



" That is because we are nearer to it. From here we can 

 discern the beautiful forest which surrounds its base as you 

 ascend, the pines growing farther and farther apart, and 

 gradually disappearing altogether. Higher still may be 

 seen the glaciers glittering in the sun ; and, last of all, the 

 perpetual snow surrounding the crater, which was visited 

 for the first time in 1847, by M. Doignon, a Frenchman." 



" Popocatepetl, Istaccihuatl," said l'Encuerado gravely, 

 pointing out the mountains. 



The two mountains mentioned by the Indian were tower- 

 ing up behind us — a sight that alone repaid for our difficult 



