334 THE ADVENTURES OF 



we reached a certain height, we lay down on the grass. 

 With one glance we could take in the whole of this small 

 oasis. The stream meandered along, shaded with green 

 trees ; here and there, among clumps of Bourbon palms, we 

 could discern huts irregularly dotted about. I turned my 

 eyes towards our host's threshold, and, through my glass, 

 perceived FEncuerado, who was still preaching. He had 

 evidently left off chanting, for his hearers were seated round 

 him on the ground. 



Lucien took possession of the telescope, and I noticed that 

 Terribio also seemed very anxious to try the instrument. 

 I told the boy to lend it to him. Our guide, seeing trees 

 brought so close to him, could not at first account for this 

 optical effect. I then directed the glass so that he could 

 see the group of Indians, and I never saw any human face 

 manifest such complete surprise. The Indian, who appear- 

 ed perfectly charmed, could not long maintain his gravity. 

 Every time he succeeded in discovering a hut, he hardly 

 gave himself time to look at it, but rolled on the ground 

 bursting with laughter. Two or three times I put out my 

 hand to take back the telescope, but Torribio hugged it to 

 his breast, just like a child when any one attempts to take 

 a plaything away. At last he consented to give it to me, 

 and I felt really sorry that I had not another glass to offer 

 him. 



Sumichrast led the way round the end of the ravine. 

 Suddenly the birds, which were warbling on the banks of 

 the stream, all flew away ; a goshawk was hovering above 

 us in the sky. As it was flying swiftly through the air, it 

 passed us within gunshot ; a shot struck it, and, tumbling 

 over and over, it fell to the ground about twenty paces from 

 us. Lucien immediately ran to pick it up. 



" It is a falcon !•' he cried. 



" You are right," replied Sumichrast ; " it is the Cay- 



