336 



THE AD VENTURES OF 



nest. A warm breeze was blowing when we got up to re- 

 turn to the village. 



" I have some powder !" exclaimed the Indian, abruptly. 



" Yes, very likely, but I also know that you don't wish to 

 sell any." 



" No, I don't." 



The powder is surely mine, I thought to myself; and, af- 

 ter walking about twenty paces, I again took up the sub- 

 ject. 



"Even if your powder was very good, I wouldn't buy it 

 of you ; I know men like you mean what they say ; never- 

 theless, if you like, I will make an exchange." 



" What could you give me ?" replied Torribio, with af- 

 fected indifference ; " I don't want any of your birds, and 

 my gun is quite as good as yours, if not better." 



" That's true enough, therefore say no more about it." 



And I continued to follow my guide, who walked slowly 

 on. He soon turned round again. 



" The magic glass," said he, with a great effort. 



" Come ! now we've got to the point," murmured Sumi- 

 chrast. 



" It is a bargain, if your powder is good," said I. 



" Will you really give the glass to me ?" cried the Indian, 

 his eyes lighting up with joy. 



" I am always a man of my word," I replied. 



Torribio hurried on so fast that Lucien was obliged to 

 run in order to keep up with us. After crossing the stream, 

 our guide conducted us to his hut, and showed us four cases 

 of American powder which was quite sound, and more than 

 five or six pounds of assorted shot. 



I was overjoyed at this discovery; but I maintained an 

 indifference quite equal to that of our guide, who was squat- 

 ting down on the ground with his chin resting between his 

 knees. 



