132 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



and to-day, like yesterday, seemed as if it would be one of 

 the least fatiguing in our journey. We were now in the 

 midst of the Terre- Temper ee y and were surrounded by 

 white and black oaks. Ceibas, elm, cedars, and lignum-vitce 

 trees only grew here and there ; and the mosquitoes, so 

 plentiful in the Terre- Chande, did not trouble us here. 

 The timber, growing widely apart, allowed us to pass easi- 

 ly ; we were in a virgin-forest, but were still too high up 

 above the plains to have to struggle against the inextrica- 

 ble net-work of tropical creepers. 



The tuza made its appearance at our dinner, dressed with 

 rice. Although the appearance of this animal is repulsive, 

 its flesh has an exquisite flavor. I offered a piece of the 

 thigh to Lucien ; he found it so nice, that he soon held out 

 his plate — or rather his calabash — for more. Sumichrast 

 told him he was eating some of the mole, though not aware 

 of it : he appeared confused at first, but soon boldly began 

 on his second helping. After the meal, l'Encuerado took 

 from an aloe-fibre bag a needle and bodkin, and set to 

 work to mend Lucien's breeches, torn a day or two be- 

 fore. Two squirrels' skins were scarcely sufficient for the 

 would-be tailor, who lined the knees also with this impro- 

 vised cloth. Lucien was delighted at this patching, and 

 wanted to try on his mended garment at once. He wad- 

 dled about, ran, and stooped in every posture, quite fasci- 

 nated with the rustling noise produced by the dry skins. 

 Gringalet, who had been asleep, suddenly came up to his 

 young master with visible surprise. With his neck stretch- 

 ed out, his eyes glittering, and his ears drooping, ready to 

 retreat in case of need, the dog ventured to take a sniff at 

 l'Encuerado's work, then shook his head energetically and 

 sneezed. After repeating this operation two or three times 

 he seemed to be lost in thought. 



" He knows all about it, and can see at once that it is 



