te directions,
as we had no ammunition to signal with should they come near.

Towards morning, exhausted with fatigue, I fell asleep, and dreamt, in
my feverishness, that we were nearly at the end of our journey, and
close to Orizava, in sight of home. A slender thread of light announcing
the dawn of day awoke us, and we arose.

The clearness of day now broke upon us. For a quarter of an hour I kept
my ear to the earth, listening in the hopes of hearing some signal.

Again and again I cocked my gun with the intention of firing, and as
regularly I laid it down, when I reflected I might only be throwing away
my ammunition.

At length I took observations of the bearings of the ground, and
followed, as far as possible, our trail of the day before.

In this operation we fortunately came upon a pool of water, at which we
quenched our thirst; but though our hunger was excessive, and game
plentiful we dared not discharge at it a single shot.

We hastened forward, and came upon some creeping plants, indications
that we were approaching a glade. Some birds were singing in the
branches as we hurried on, but I had made up my mind to shoot the first
one large enough to make a meal for my brave little companion and self.

In spite of my efforts, I could not succeed in hiding my grave
presentiments; but my son's prattle, which was even gayer than usual,
quite justified the name of "Sunbeam" given him by Sumichrast.

"Don't be so serious," said he to me, suddenly; "you need not be
distressed about me. I have already guessed that we are lost; but I am
with you, and I am not a bit afraid but that we shall soon find our way
again."

The poor child had not the least suspicion of the danger. Every moment,
too, tears came into my eyes, and I felt my courage getting weaker; I
made a strong effort to dispel my thoughts, and vowed that I would
strive on with faith and energy to the last hour.

"L'Encuerado will be sure to find us," said Lucien, with such an air of
conviction that I could not help sharing his confidence.

"Yes," I answered; "Sumichrast and l'Encuerado will find us or die in
the attempt. It can not be possible--" I had not courage to finish my
sentence.

We commenced our march again with increased energy.

"Look out!" cried Lucien, suddenly; "it seems to me as if some one were
moving the branches close by."

[Illustration: "The monkey . . . slid down, and fell dead at our feet."]

"It is a monkey," said I; and o