392 



THE AD VENTURES OF 



The night passed without any incident save the continued 

 attacks of mosquitoes, and the unfortunate Gringalet press- 

 ing close to us to avoid the cruel stings of the blood-thirsty- 

 insects which much annoyed him. 



At sunrise I gave the word to start, and all day long we 

 met with no glade to give variety to our path. I could not 

 help admiring Lucien, who, although suffering from heat, 

 fatigue, and thirst, uttered not one complaint, but only look- 

 ed at me with a sad face. Two or three times I tried to 

 enliven him ; the poor little fellow then shook his trouble- 

 some burden and smiled back so painfully that I was quite 

 affected. L'Encuerado, overwhelmed by his basket, puffed 

 noisily, and declared every now and then that he could sniff 

 the river and the smell of the crocodiles. This nonsense en- 

 livened our march a little ; but soon, dull and silent, we re- 

 sumed our sluggish pace. At last fatigue compelled us to 

 halt, when Lucien and l'Encuerado w T ent off to sleep, quite 

 forgetting their suppers. I proposed to Sumichrast to re- 

 gain as soon as we could the mountain path. 



" Let us keep on one day more," said my friend ; " we 

 have still four bottles of water left, and even if we give Lu- 

 cien and Gringalet the largest share, it will serve us for an- 

 other twenty-four hours." 



The next day, just as we were starting, l'Encuerado kill- 

 ed a hocco. The fire was soon lighted, and the game wash- 

 ed down with a mouthful of brandy, which somewhat re- 

 stored our energy. About midday, when the heat was 

 most intense, the aspect of the ground altered, the trees be- 

 came wider apart, and our strength seemed to redouble. 



" Now, Master Sunbeam !" cried Sumichrast, " lengthen 

 your strides a little, if you please ; don't you hear the mur- 

 mur of a stream ?" 



" Three days you've been telling me this story, so that 

 now both Gringalet and I are skeptical." 



