ehended. I well recollect that,
during my first excursions in the wilderness, I was constantly expecting
to catch sight of some human face, either just when I was emerging from
a wood or in following the paths made in the savannah by wild cattle. At
night, especially when I was troubled by sleeplessness, I was always
fancying that I recognized, in the distant sounds, either the crow of
a cock, the barking of a dog, or the burden of some familiar song.

[Illustration: "We now entered one of those glades."]

"But if no one can discover our bivouac," remarked Lucien, casting a
glance behind him, "how shall we manage to find it again?"

"In a way that is simple, but rather laborious; we shall walk one after
the other, and the last man's duty will be to notch the trees and
shrubs."

"Shall I walk first?" asked Lucien.

"No; that place belongs by right to the best shot; for if we put up any
game, we mustn't let it escape. In the mean time, until you know how to
use your gun, you shall form the rear-guard."

This duty did not seem to displease Lucien, who immediately seized his
sword and followed us, at a little distance, inflicting on the trunks of
the trees the gashes which were to guide us on our return. He performed
his work with so much ardor that his strength was soon exhausted.
L'Encuerado afterwards taught him how to handle his weapon in a more
skillful manner, and to notch the trees without stopping in his walk. A
path marked in this manner is called, in Canada and the United States, a
blaze road.

We now entered one of those glades which are so often met with in the
midst of a virgin forest, although it is impossible to explain the cause
why the trees do not grow just in these spots. As there was no living
creature to be seen, I agreed with Sumichrast to leave Lucien and
l'Encuerado on the watch, and that we should walk round, each on our own
side, so as to meet again at the other extremity of the open space.
Gringalet, seeing us separate, could not at first make up his mind which
party he should go with; but bounded from one to the other, and caressed
each of us, raising plaintive whines. At last he seemed determined to
follow me, but scarcely had I progressed a hundred yards before he
stopped, as if to reflect. He probably thought he had left something
behind, for he quickly disappeared.

I walked for half an hour through the brake, with eye and ear both on
the watch, and my finger on the trigger, without