460 



THE AD VENTURES OF 



The sight of this new denizen of the forest confirmed the 

 omens as we had already read them, and soon, accordingly, 

 there burst upon our view an immense savannah. We 

 were just about to pass the last shrub on the bank of the 

 river, when PEncuerado suddenly brought the boat to a 

 stand-still. I stood up and saw a herd of wild cattle mov- 

 ing rapidly down to that portion of the stream which we 

 were about to pass. 



"Look out!" cried Sumichrast; "this is better worth 

 seeing than the crocodiles." 



L'Encuerado landed, and, crossing the prairie, called us. 

 I found him close to an enormous willow-tree. Without 

 loss of time, Lucien, Sumichrast, and I climbed up among 

 the branches, taking Gringalet with us ; but the Indian pre- 

 ferred posting himself in a more isolated position. 



" We shall have roast fillet of beef to-night," cried he, ex- 

 ecuting among the branches such a series of gambols that 

 I feared he would finish by falling. 



The cattle approached. The ground trembled under 

 their feet, and we were deafened by their bellowing. One 

 of them, a magnificent bull, with a black coat sprinkled 

 with white spots, took the lead. The drove, which first 

 trotted on, and then stopped to browse, followed its imperi- 

 ous-looking chief ; the caymans, as if awakened by the up- 

 roar, assembled at the opening of the savannah, and numer- 

 ous watchful eyes were to be seen on the surface of the 

 water. 



The wild drove halted at about fifty paces from the 

 stream ; the black and white bull advanced alone and, first 

 leisurely taking a drink, plunged into the water ; he reached 

 the opposite bank, where he halted and turned right about. 

 Then the entire drove, above which was hovering a cloud 

 of horse-flies, dashed at full gallop into the stream to join 

 their guide. Although the drove must have consisted of 



