A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



109 



Lucien, being desirous to examine the crosier-shaped 

 stalks, allowed us to get in front of him, then crept under 

 the fern. 



As the leaves of this shrub are furnished underneath 

 with long prickles, when he wanted to rejoin us he found 

 himself caught. The more he struggled the worse he be- 

 came entangled. He cried out to me in a most distressed 

 voice, and not knowing what had happened, I lost no time 

 in going back to him. I found him fighting hard against 

 the thorns which were scratching his face and hands. 

 L'Encuerado and Sumichrast also came to his assistance. 



I disentangled the boy as quickly as I could ; but already 

 he had several scratches over his face and hands. 



" How came you not to think," I said, " that by strug- 

 gling in this way you would only the more entangle your- 

 self ?" ' 



" I saw you all leaving me ; I scarcely knew what held 

 me back, and I got quite frightened ; but I'm not crying, 

 papa, and yet the fern-prickles scratch terribly." 



L'Encuerado turned up his sleeves, and, seizing his ma- 

 chete, rushed at the fern. 



" Are not you ashamed to attack a child ?" he cried. 

 " It's all very fine to display your bishop's crosier and then 

 behave in this way ! Try and tear my coat ! I know you 

 wouldn't dare to do it ! Never mind, though ! I'll punish 

 you for your malice." 



The poor plant, alas ! was soon cut down ; thus the growth 

 of years was destroyed in a few minutes. 



After an hour's walking, the head of our little column 

 suddenly came in front of a whole mountain-side which 

 had slid from its original position. The sight was a mag- 

 nificent one ; the accumulation of rocks, piled one on the 

 other, had crushed down in their fall the trees that im- 

 peded their course. We saw before us an inextricable pile 



