A YOUNG NATURALIST. 115 



daylight, Lucien remained with l'Encuerado, and I went 

 with Sumichrast to reconnoitre the route we intended to 

 take. 



The sun was setting, and we were slowly approaching 

 our bivouac, when Gringalet's whine met our ears. I has- 

 tened forward, for the dog began to howl desperately. I 

 reached the hut quite out of breath. Every thing seemed 

 right, but Lucien and l'Encuerado had disappeared. I look- 

 ed anxiously into my companion's face. 



" No doubt," said Sumichrast, " l'Encuerado has gone to 

 take a stroll, and left the dog asleep." 



I raised a call-cry. What was my surprise at hearing it 

 answered from up above us. My son and the Indian were 

 sitting thirty feet from the ground, hidden in the foliage of 

 a gigantic tree. My first impulse was to address l'Encue- 

 rado rather angrily. 



"Don't flurry him," said Sumichrast; "he'll need all his 

 presence of mind to get the boy down safely." 



With an anxiety which may be easily understood, I 

 watched all the movements of the lad, who was every now 

 and then concealed by the leaves. 



" Gently," cried l'Encuerado ; " put your foot there. 

 Well done ! Now lay hold of this branch and slide down. 

 Don't be afraid; I'll not let you go. How pleased and 

 proud your papa wall be when he knows how high you 

 have climbed !" 



The Indian was wrong; I was neither pleased nor proud. 

 The trunk of the tree was five or six feet in circumference ; 

 the first branches sprang at a point no less than seven to 

 ten feet from the ground, and I could not make out how 

 the boy managed to reach them. As for l'Encuerado, or 

 rather the ape that went by that name, I knew that no 

 obstacle could stop him. 



I must, however, confess that I felt all my anger melting 



