320 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



might almost have fancied that they were a hundred-head- 

 ed hydra. 



" We might almost imagine we were in a hot-house full 

 of rich-growing plants and golden- colored flowers," said 

 Sumichrast to me. 



" Yes," I replied ; " but we must also imagine that we are 

 looking at them through the lens of a microscope. What 

 would a Parisian say if he saw this viznaga f" 



The plant I was pointing to was at least six feet in height 

 and three times that in circumference. 



" When I was a shepherd," said PEncuerado, " I led my 

 goats into one of the plains where the viznagas grow. 

 With my machete I made a cut into one side of the plant, 

 and my goats immediately began to eat the pith with which 

 it was filled. Gradually they hollowed out a hole large 

 enough for two or three of them to enter at once, and this 

 make-shift hut afforded me a first-rate shelter against the 

 rays of the sun and the night breezes." 



" Oh !" cried Lucien, with enthusiasm, " if we have to 

 camp in these fields, we must have such a house." 



I again examined the landscape round us. There was 

 nothing whatever which betrayed the vicinity of man. Ev- 

 erywhere the cacti spread out their variously-shaped flow- 

 ers, which were nearly all yellowish or pink. Above us was 

 a fiery sky, in which nothing seemed to move but a few 

 vultures; on the ground there were hundreds of lizards in 

 constant motion. 



The Indian led the way, followed by Lucien. 



" A footpath !" the boy suddenly cried out. 



"A mimosa!" exclaimed Sumichrast, whose great height 

 towered over us all. 



"A hut !" murmured PEncuerado, stopping and holding 

 his finger to his lips. 



We looked at each other ; then, bending our steps to- 



