160 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



without effect, for it bolted off among the trees, followed by 

 Gringalet. Almost at the same moment, a report told me 

 that l'Encuerado had also seen game. 



Lucien was very sorry that I had missed the fox; I only 

 regretted having lost a charge of powder, and also having 

 awkwardly put to flight the quarry which was probably 

 being pursued by my companions. I then continued my 

 work of cutting off the branches, and told Lucien to strike 

 the flint and light the fire. Thanks to TEncuerado's les- 

 sons, he managed his work much better than I had ex- 

 pected. 



We heard Sumichrast give a call, to which Lucien an- 

 swered, and the disappointed hunter joined us. 



" What did you fire at ?" he inquired of me. 



" At a fox, which I missed ; were you chasing it ?" 



" No ; I caught sight of a doe and its fawn, but I could 

 not get near them." 



" And where is FEncuerado ?- 



" He wanted to shoot some bird, so as not to come back 

 quite empty-handed." 



" Chanito ! Hiou ! Hiou ! Chanito !" we heard shouted 

 in the distance. 



" Hallo ! hallo !" answered the boy. 



And, soon after, PEncuerado returned, carrying a fawn on 

 his shoulders. 



"Oh! what a pretty little creature!" cried Lucien; 

 " why didn't you take it alive ?" 



" Bullets are the only things that can run as fast as these 

 animals, Chanito." 



" What became of the mother ?" asked Sumichrast. 



" I was not able to get near her ; but at all events, we 

 have more than enough meat now, both for to-day and to- 

 morrow." 



Lucien took possession of the fawn. He had alw T ays long- 



