ruck both the mind and the ears of the animal, so as to
have become almost synonymous in his ideas with dinner and rest.

The next day at sunrise we set out, gently ascending the course of the
stream. Sumichrast's hand was still in pain, and quite prevented him
using his gun. L'Encuerado, though disfigured, had, at least, the free
use of his limbs. The inexperienced traveller is incessantly exposed to
misfortunes of this kind. Turned out into the midst of various unknown
natural objects, he carelessly plucks a leaf, breaks down a branch, or
gathers a flower; and in many cases his punishment is prompt and
terrible, and the innocent diversion of a second has to be expiated by
hours of anguish. In the wild life of the wilderness, dangers become so
multiplied, that more courage than is generally supposed is required to
face them. Every explorer of unknown scenes must make up his mind to
endure hardships. More than one whom I have seen start full of
confidence, at the end of three days have returned, wearied, bruised,
ill, discouraged, and, in fact, conquered. By degrees, of course,
experience comes to the help of those whose moral courage is strong
enough to induce them to persevere. They soon learn to recognize at a
glance the tree that it is best to avoid, the grass that must not be
trodden on, the creeper the touch of which is to be shunned, and the
fruit which should not be tasted. At last the requirements of the body
are to some extent mastered, and it follows the dictation of the soul
without complaint. The long-experienced traveller can scarcely fail to
be astonished at the delicate susceptibility of his casing of flesh,
which is bruised by blows, torn by thorns, devoured by insects, and yet,
day after day, the persevering man continues to face death under its
most horrible aspects--poison from venom of serpents, giddiness from
sun-stroke, blindness from the power of the moon, want of sleep, hunger,
and thirst.

I had just taken a review of our situation when these reflections were
suggested to me. Halting, I permitted my comrades to pass me; their
appearance, after so many days' travel, I give. First, there was
Sumichrast, tall and broad-shouldered, his features displaying both
mildness and energy; one arm in a sling, his clothes torn to shreds, and
his face furrowed by five or six deep scratches; leaning on a stick
carried in his left hand, he seemed a little bent; but his vigorous form
still told of abundant endu