372 THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



" I certainly fancied you were indulging your own humor 

 without thinking about me." 



A fresh ascent quite exhausted us, and Sumichrast vow- 

 ed that he must relinquish the basket until the next day. 

 I then took it ; but in a very little time I was compelled to 

 take the same resolution as my friend, so we settled down 

 to bivouac. 



While my companions were engaged in the cooking, I 

 walked a little way on the plateau. I had not gone above 

 two or three hundred yards before I called to the others to 

 join me ; for the Terre- Chaude was stretched out at my feet. 



Departing day at last cast its mysterious veil over the 

 tracts we were about to traverse. Just before it became 

 quite dark, a snow-clad corner of the volcano of Orizava 

 was seen in the distance. I lifted up Lucien, and, kissing 

 him, pointed it out, thinking on the dear ones who were 

 behind the mountain, counting the days till we returned. 

 Gringalet barked, as if claiming a caress for himself, and, 

 guided by the dog, we reached our bivouac to enjoy a well- 

 deserved repose. 



