212 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



We were just thinking of calling Lucien to come and lie 

 down under the hut, when l'Encuerado shouted out to us. 

 Towards the east, a large luminous disk was shining bril- 

 liantly above the mountain peaks. This luminous globe, 

 lengthening out into the shape of an ellipse, appeared to 

 move along. 



In fact, it was descending slowly over the wooded crests. 

 Lucien and l'Encuerado kept plying us with questions in 

 reference to it, which we were unable to answer. 



" What is it ?" cried Sumichrast. 



" A meteor !" I exclaimed, struck with a sudden idea. 



" If I had my gun ready, I would fire at it, at all events." 



" You had better not," said I ; " the globe may contain 

 electric fluid, and we might draw it down upon us." 



Soon afterwards the meteor passed by us. We threw 

 ourselves down flat on the earth, dreading this unknown 

 visitor. When I ventured to rise, it was some distance 



