A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



185 



raised, had quite a home-like appearance. Sumichrast said 

 he felt the same impression, and Lucien declared that his 

 first idea had been that we should find an Indian in the hut. 



But what about Giingalet? Had he then really under- 

 stood us? Those who have made a trial of canine intelli- 

 gence will not doubt the fact for a moment. The word 

 bivouac, having been so often pronounced since we set out, 

 must have struck both the mind and the ears of the animal, 

 so as to have become almost synonymous in his ideas with 

 dinner and rest. 



The next day at sunrise we set out, gently ascending the 

 course of the stream. Sumichrast's hand w T as still in pain, 

 and quite prevented him using his gun. L'Encuerado, 

 though disfigured, had, at least, the free use of his limbs. 

 The inexperienced traveller is incessantly exposed to misfor- 

 tunes of this kind. Turned out into the midst of various 

 unknown natural objects, he carelessly plucks a leaf, breaks 

 down a branch, or gathers a flower ; and in many cases his 

 punishment is prompt and terrible, and the innocent diver- 

 sion of a second has to be expiated by hours of anguish. 

 In the wild life of the wilderness, dangers become so multi- 

 plied, that more courage than is generally supposed is re- 

 quired to face them. Every explprer of unknown scenes 

 must make up his mind to endure hardships. More than 

 one whom I have seen start full of confidence, at the end of 

 three days have returned, wearied, bruised, ill, discouraged, 

 and, in fact, conquered. By degrees, of course, experience 

 comes to the help of those whose moral courage is strong 

 enough to induce them to persevere. They soon learn to 

 recognize at a glance the tree that it is best to avoid, the 

 grass that must not be trodden on, the creeper the touch of 

 which is to be shunned, and the fruit which should not be 

 tasted. At last the requirements of the body are to some 

 extent mastered, and it follows the dictation of the soul 



