THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST. 197 



rent stem, and the oval, slender, and delicate ones, rising on 

 their stalks, pressed against one another. In about five 

 minutes the leaves which had been rubbed again spread 

 out, as if they had recovered from their fright. 



It w#s, however, only for a short time ; for Lucien 

 amused himself by rubbing his fingers over the leaves, 

 which immediately doubled up, as if offended by the slight 

 touch. The Indians call it the " Bashful Plant." A blow 

 struck on the principal stem is sufficient to make all the 

 branches close, as if animated by a kind of modest feeling. 

 When the sun sets, the sensitive plant spontaneously shuts 

 up its delicate foliage, which does not open again freely un- 

 til the return of day. 



Lucien's first idea, at waking, was to run towards the 

 shrubs which interested him the day before. They were 

 covered with dew, and looked as if they were asleep, until 

 the first rays of the sun fell upon them. Before we start- 

 ed, the young naturalist again tested the delicate sensibility 

 of the plant, which Sumichrast told him was allied to the 

 tree which produces gum-arabic. 



L'Encuerado's cheek was less swollen, and Sumichrast 

 could use his hand, although it still pained him. The 

 mountain in front of us, which was too steep to climb, 

 caused us some perplexity. 



"Let us slant off to the left, over this moist ground, 

 carpeted with turf," said Sumichrast, plunging into the 

 thicket. 



About midday, just as PEncuerado was declaring, in a 

 grumbling tone, that we ought to have inclined towards the 

 right, our little troop entered the wood. An undulating 

 slope led us to a summit not more than twenty yards 

 across, and in less than half an hour the opposite descent 

 brought us into a delicious glen. 



< | Hallo ! Master c Sunbeam,' " cried Sumichrast, while 



