A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



459 



amusing conversation, none of us perceived an enormous 

 branch, which just grazed our heads but upset our enter- 

 tainer. When he emerged from the water, instead of 

 swimming towards us, l'Encuerado made his way to the 

 bank, and began, with cutlass in hand, to hew and hack at 

 the tree which had been the cause of his accident. 



" If you're going to cut down that colossus," cried my 

 friend, " we had better encamp here, for it's eight days' 

 work at least." 



u Only wait ten minutes more, at most, Tatita Sumi- 

 chrast. It shall never be said that this great booby broke 

 my head and then laughed at me, to the heart's delight of 

 the parrots, who no doubt were the instigators of such con- 

 duct." 



L'Encuerado, by the notches he had cut in the tree, could 

 easily climb up to the lowest branch ; but in his haste he 

 slipped and fell a second time into the water. 



In a twinkling the Indian was up astride again on his 

 branch, jabbering like an ape, and slashing his knife into it, 

 when of a sudden it gave a loud crack, and he and it de- 

 scended with a splash into the river. At this noise the 

 parrots sent up a wild scream and flew off, while the branch 

 floated past us to the ocean. Our companion climbed up 

 again on the raft, and laughed so heartily at his defeat of 

 the tree and the fright he had caused to the parrots, that 

 Lucien soon joined in his gayety. He was, however, thor- 

 oughly exhausted, so lay down, when he slept the peaceful 

 sleep of a child which has tired itself out with a fit of passion. 



For two hours I managed the raft, and then l'Encuerado, 

 awaking, resumed his post in silence. Suddenly there was 

 a heavy tramping on the ground, the boughs moved, and 

 the head of a wild bull appeared among the creepers. The 

 animal surveyed us for a moment with its fierce eyes, and 

 then made off, bellowing hoarsely. 



