CHAPTER XV. 



OUR SUBSTITUTES FOR LAMPS. FIRST GLANCE INTO THE 



CAVE. THE ELATERIDES. THE GOTHIC HALL. STALAG- 

 MITES AND STALACTITES. A CHICHIQUIMEC CEMETERY. 



THE "TREE OF ST. IGNATIUS." THE OPOSSUM AND ITS 



LITTLE ONES. 



X XJCIEN had run on in front with the two partridges ; 



when I arrived at the bivouac, I ^found an enormous 

 mole roasting on the fire, and Sumichrast catching with the 

 utmost care the fat which ran from it. 



" How did you kill this animal ?" I asked, addressing 

 my companions ; " I did not hear you fire." 



" L'Encuerado knocked it down with the butt-end of his 

 gun, and just at the same moment your two shots brought 

 us back to the cave." 



" Why are you collecting this fat ? Is it a prophet of 

 some new dish in preparation ?" 



" No ; but I intend inspecting the cave, and with this 

 grease we shall be able to make a lamp, which will be more 

 than useful." 



I approved of Sumichrast's idea, and, as he had discover- 

 ed a colony of moles, proposed to go after dinner and catch 

 some of them, so as to increase our supply of light. Be- 

 sides, I hoped that in this walk we should meet with some 

 kind of resinous tree, the branches of which might serve as 

 torches. Lucien could hardly restrain his joy, and wished 



