226 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



nearly every step to admire some of these curiously shaped, 

 brilliantly colored, but often scentless flowers. L'Encuera- 

 do pointed out many plants of the lynx flower, called by the 

 Indians the serpent-flower ', the fine petals of which are dot- 

 ted with yellow spots, and marbled with pink, violet, and 

 white. Farther on, another flower, the tiger-lily, reminded 

 us, by its color, of the animal from which it takes its name. 

 Plucking as he went along, Lucien became possessor of 

 such a bouquet as the richest gardens could not furnish. 

 Of course he wanted to know the names of all, but he was 

 obliged to be content with learning that, with the exception 

 of the vanilla-plant, the brilliant legion of orchids furnishes 

 nothing utilized in the arts or industrial skill. 



We had just reached the foot of the mountain, when an 

 immense mass of stones obliged us to turn aside. I took 

 the lead, and an involuntary slip brought me unexpectedly 

 to a cave. My companions came running up in answer to 

 my call ; I took three or four steps into the entrance, and 

 immediately made up my mind, from its thorough adapta- 

 bility, to shelter there for the night. While I, helped by 

 Lucien, was collecting some wood, PEncuerado cleared the 

 ground, and Sumichrast cut down two or three shrubs 

 which impeded the view. I then ordered the Indian to 

 light the fire, which would assist us to reconnoitre the en- 

 trance to the cavern ; which being done, if was necessary 

 for us to go in search of game for our dinner. 



Looking from the plain, I could well judge of the feat 

 we had accomplished in our descent. Up to the level of 

 the cave there were shrubs and brush-wood. Higher up, 

 orchids, with their bright flowers and opal-green leaves ; 

 higher still rose a perpendicular and almost smooth ram- 

 part, utterly impassable except through the fissure which 

 had afforded us egress. Sumichrast guided us through 

 the thicket, where the frangipanni-plants, covered with 



