ird is called a spoonbill."

"Is it good to eat?"

"It is rather tough; but when any one is hungry--"

Sumichrast put his finger to his lips to enjoin silence; two smaller
waders made their appearance and settled close to us.

"Now, Master Sunbeam," said Sumichrast, "fire at the bird to the left,
while I aim at the one to the right. Those are egrets, and your sister
will like some of their beautiful feathers to put in her hat. Now,
then--one, two--fire!"

The two shots sounded almost at the same moment, and the birds fell over
on to the ground. This double report put to flight all the spoonbills
and cranes, and the lake was soon perfectly deserted.

We now took the road leading to the "Palm-tree Villa," and l'Encuerado
went on before us to take up his fishing-lines.

The heat became perfectly overpowering, and Sumichrast fell asleep.
About half-past three, I went off with Lucien towards that portion of
the forest close by the stream, with the intention of collecting
insects. First one object, and then another tempted us into the
interior, till the oblique rays of the sun admonished us to turn back.
But imagine my dismay when, by neglect not to notch the tree-trunks as I
passed them, I discovered I did not know in what direction our camp lay.

"Are we lost?" asked the boy, in an anxious tone.

"We have gone too far," said I to the lad; "and perhaps we shall not be
able to get back to the 'Palm-tree Villa' this evening. I am going to
fire off my gun to attract l'Encuerado's attention."

The report resounded. I listened with an anxiety which increased when I
perceived that I had only three cartridges left, and Lucien only
retained two charges.

"You had better shoot now," said I to the lad, "so that l'Encuerado may
understand that we are signalling to him."

I again listened almost breathlessly, but in vain.

"We must rest here without our supper," said I, with a gayety I was far
from feeling; "if we go on walking, we might lose ourselves."

After cutting some fagots and making a fire in a semicircle round a tree
I lay down, with my dear companion beside me; and, though I tried hard
to conceal it, I could not but feel the gloomiest forebodings.

[Illustration: "The head and bright eyes of a superb jaguar appeared
about fifty paces from us."]

About midnight the breeze calmed down, and I closed my eyes that I might
the better hear the slightest noise. Several times I thought I caught
the faintest vibratio