A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



323 



ped on a gentle eminence, which overlooked a small green 

 valley with a brook running through it. To my great joy 

 I counted as many as six palm-leaf huts. 



The sight refreshed us so marvellously, that we all de- 

 scended with rapid, long strides. Every now and then ei- 

 ther a cock crowing, a turkey gobbling, or a dog barking, 

 came as music to our ears, and I can hardly describe what 

 pleasant feelings these familiar noises produced. As we 

 went on, the bushes on each side of the path screened our 

 view of the huts. The neigh of a horse attracted our at- 

 tention, and a man, mounted bare-backed, made his appear- 

 ance about a hundred paces from us. 



" Halt !" I cried to my companions. 



With my gun hung to my cross-belt, and my hat in 

 hand, I advanced alone towards the rider, who had sudden- 

 ly reined in his steed. 



" Ave Maria !" said I, going up to him. 



" Her holy name be blessed !" answered the horseman, 

 raising his cap, from which several locks of white hair es- 

 caped. 



" Do you speak Spanish, venerable father ?" 

 "Yes, a little." 



" Are you the chief of the village ?" 

 " What do you want ?" 



" We require water and a roof to shelter us." 



" You are not alone, I see ; from whom do you come ?" 



" We are nothing but travellers wandering through the 

 forests to seek for plants and animals with healing proper- 

 ties." 



" But you are armed ?" 



" Well, we have a child to protect, and the brutes of the 

 forest are fierce." 



" Are you speaking the truth ?" 



I then called Lucien, who doffed his hat to the old man 

 and saluted him. 



