he, "that turpentine was obtained by crushing the
branches of the pine-tree, just as they crush the stems of the
sugar-cane."

"You were wrong, then," I answered. "The Indians, in the forests where
they manufacture it, content themselves with cutting down the tree
within a foot of the ground; the resin at once begins to ooze out, and
gradually fills the leathern bottles placed to receive it. As soon as
the resin ceases to flow, they cut the tree up into fagots for the use
of the inhabitants of the towns, or the Indians living on plains, whose
poor dwellings often possess no other light than the smoky glimmer from
a branch of fir."

I was obliged to cut short my explanations, in order to help Sumichrast
and l'Encuerado, who, in spite of the lasso, seemed as if they were
trying who could slip fastest. The only way we could get on at all was
by describing zigzags, and thus we were two hours in climbing a quarter
of a league. At last we arrived on the verge of the forest. The rocky
ground seemed quite pleasant to walk upon: we could now advance in a
straight line, and were able, with very little trouble, to reach another
summit.

From the crest a marvellous panoramic view was in sight, for we
overlooked all the surrounding country. On our left rose the gigantic
and majestic peak of Orizava or Citlatepetl--that is, the "mountain of
the star"--which rises to 17,372 feet above the sea-level. Lucien
thought that this could not really be the same mountain the summit of
which he was in the habit of seeing every morning.

"It is quite a different shape," he said.

"It is not the mountain, but the point from which you look at it, that
has changed its appearance," replied Sumichrast.

"But it looks much higher," said Lucien.

"That is because we are nearer to it. From here we can discern the
beautiful forest which surrounds its base as you ascend, the pines
growing farther and farther apart, and gradually disappearing
altogether. Higher still may be seen the glaciers glittering in the sun;
and, last of all, the perpetual snow surrounding the crater, which was
visited for the first time in 1847, by M. Doignon, a Frenchman."

"Popocatepetl, Istaccihuatl," said l'Encuerado gravely, pointing out the
mountains.

The two mountains mentioned by the Indian were towering up behind us--a
sight that alone repaid for our difficult ascent; we could admire in
turn the three loftiest volcanoes in Mexico.

"Where is Popocatepetl?" ask