A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



477 



We filled our gourds up to the necks with water and cork- 

 ed them tightly, then lay down in the shade to gain strength 

 for our next stage. 



About four o'clock l'Encuerado called us to dinner, and 

 by sunset we started, home-bound, each with his allotted 

 burden over his shoulder. Sumichrast, with Lucien follow- 

 ing, led the way. 



" Well, Master Sunbeam, you are nearly as much lost in 

 the stalks here as you were in the forest. Are your boots 

 well greased? We shall have many days of hard walk- 

 ing." 



" Where are all the wild cattle and horses ?" 



" Not far off, I hope ! first, because they would guide us 

 to the ponds and the streams where they drink ; and, sec- 

 ondly, we may need them to furnish us with food." 



" Then shall we find nothing to shoot here ?" 



" Nothing at all where the grass is so high as this ; ani- 

 mals seldom venture into the midst of these solitudes." 



" And the birds ?" 



" They are never to be seen unless the grass grows close 

 to the ground, excepting birds of prey ; and they, perhaps, 

 are hovering over us now, hoping we may become food for 

 them." 



For more than five hours we kept on without stopping. 

 I then proposed a halt. By lying down on the grass we at 

 once found a soft bed, and Lucien and the rest of us soon 

 went to sleep. Before daylight l'Encuerado awoke us, 

 when, after taking our bearings, he undertook to be our 

 guide. As the first sunbeam appeared, we halted to form 

 our camp and erect our tent. We cleared a large space, 

 and a hole in the ground served as a fire-place. Our cray- 

 fish remained perfectly fresh, and while l'Encuerado was 

 broiling them, I and Sumichrast watched the direction 

 of the flames, as it was highly important for our safety 



