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Updated: June 8, 2025
The ground was now level, and in less than half an hour l'Encuerado conducted us to the edge of an immense ravine, at the bottom of which there was a roaring torrent. It was not long before the steep bank became less abrupt, and we established our bivouac. While we were cutting down some branches, Sumichrast put his finger to his lips and seized his gun.
They wore un-English leggings and curious girt-in belts that reminded him hazily of the pictures in a book in St Xavier's library "The Adventures of a Young Naturalist in Mexico" was its name. Yes, they looked very like the wonderful M. Sumichrast of that tale, and very unlike the 'highly unscrupulous folk' of Hurree Babu's imagining.
The one I hit climbed up on the tree close by; but it soon fell as dead as a stone. L'Encuerado says that it hadn't time to suffer much pain." The poor child was making his début as a sportsman, and his heart seemed rather full, although he was very proud of this first proof of his skill. Sumichrast was the first to congratulate him.
"Are they wolves, M. Sumichrast?" asked Lucien, anxiously. "Yes, my boy, but only prairie wolves," he answered. "Do you think that they will first devour l'Encuerado, and then attack us?" "You needn't be frightened; courage is not one of their virtues. Unless they were starving, they wouldn't venture near us." All at once we heard a shot.
"Well!" cried Sumichrast, "we have plenty to eat now; but this is a bird which is found at a long distance from streams, and warns us to economize the contents of our gourds." Five hundred paces farther on we saw some stones covered with moss, and an enormous upright rock like a tower.
My companion accepted the reproof, and without further delay our party were en route. The stream pointed out to us the road we were to follow; along the edge of it, sheltered by the bushes and enlivened by the birds which were fluttering about the banks, we shaped our course. Sumichrast showed us some dahlias the flower which would be so perfect if it only possessed a perfume.
The ridge of the mountain was soon crossed, and we began to descend the other side. I took Lucien by the hand, for the slope was so steep that it needed the utmost care to avoid rolling down over the naked rocks. Several times I slipped, and scratched my legs among the bushes. Sumichrast, who had taken his turn in looking after the boy, was no better off than myself.
"We can only conjecture," replied Sumichrast; "perhaps the stream flowing beneath the base of the rocks had excavated fissures, and thus undermined it." "The noise must have been terrific," said Lucien. "Doubtless it was," replied Sumichrast; "and the shock possibly felt for many leagues round." "Have you ever seen a mountain fall in two like that, M. Sumichrast?"
By a singular chance, at the very moment it was expiring, a crow just above our heads uttered a loud croaking. "There! the crow is thanking us for having rid him of his enemy, the fox," said Sumichrast to Lucien. The boy laughed heartily at this joke. In spite of our advice, l'Encuerado would insist upon skinning the animal, whose pelt he wished to preserve.
As there was still another hour's daylight, Lucien remained with l'Encuerado, and I went with Sumichrast to reconnoitre the route we intended to take. The sun was setting, and we were slowly approaching our bivouac, when Gringalet's whine met our ears. I hastened forward, for the dog began to howl desperately. I reached the hut quite out of breath.
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