A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



315 



" There is every cause for wonder," I replied, " for no sa< 

 yant has yet explained the real cause of this phenomenon." 



" If we happened to be caught in one of these whirlwinds 

 would it carry us away ?" 



" No, Chanito," replied the Indian, "it would be content 

 with throwing us down." 



" Then you've had some experience of them ?" 



" Yes ; when I used to play with the children in our vil- 

 lage, and a tornado came within reach, we were always de- 

 lighted to run through it." 



About a hundred paces from us, although there was not 

 the slightest breeze in the air, the sand rose rapidly, whirl- 

 ing round and round. The rotation did not extend over 

 a space of more than a few feet. There was no apparent 

 cause for it, and the phenomenon ceased as unaccountably 

 as it commenced. 



Lucien was of course dying with anxiety to run through 

 one of these tornadoes ; but all that we saw were quite be- 

 yond reach. 



" I think," said Sumichrast, addressing me, " when it is 

 thoroughly studied on the great plains of Mexico, we shall 

 be able to explain the cause of this phenomenon. In a gen- 

 eral point of view, these whirlwinds are nothing but water- 

 spouts in miniature." 



" A water-spout !" asked Lucien ; " what is that ?" 



" It is a natural phenomenon very like what you have just 

 witnessed ; but it is of a far more formidable character, for 

 it destroys every thing it comes in contact with ?" 



" Did you ever see one, papa ?"' 



"Only once, at sea. The English steamer on which I 

 had embarked had just left the port of St. Thomas, in the 

 West Indies, and we were still coasting the island ; there 

 was but a slight breeze blowing, the sky was clear, and the 

 water rippled with miniature waves, when,, all of a sudden, 



