"Yes," I replied; "but we must also imagine that we are looking at them
through the lens of a microscope. What would a Parisian say if he saw
this _viznaga_?"

The plant I was pointing to was at least six feet in height and three
times that in circumference.

"When I was a shepherd," said l'Encuerado, "I led my goats into one of
the plains where the _viznagas_ grow. With my _machete_ I made a cut
into one side of the plant, and my goats immediately began to eat the
pith with which it was filled. Gradually they hollowed out a hole large
enough for two or three of them to enter at once, and this make-shift
hut afforded me a first-rate shelter against the rays of the sun and the
night breezes."

"Oh!" cried Lucien, with enthusiasm, "if we have to camp in these
fields, we must have such a house."

I again examined the landscape round us. There was nothing whatever
which betrayed the vicinity of man. Everywhere the _cacti_ spread out
their variously-shaped flowers, which were nearly all yellowish or pink.
Above us was a fiery sky, in which nothing seemed to move but a few
vultures; on the ground there were hundreds of lizards in constant
motion.

The Indian led the way, followed by Lucien.

"A footpath!" the boy suddenly cried out.

"A mimosa!" exclaimed Sumichrast, whose great height towered over us
all.

"A hut!" murmured l'Encuerado, stopping and holding his finger to his
lips.

We looked at each other; then, bending our steps towards the spot
pointed out by our companion, we each inspected the thatched roof, of
which only the top was visible.

With a rapid glance at my weapons I advanced carefully, followed by
Sumichrast. Lucien, l'Encuerado, and Gringalet brought up the rear.

We really felt some degree of emotion; the idea of seeing any human
beings but ourselves quite made our hearts beat; for were we going to
meet enemies or friends? This was the important question to be decided.

The path soon became wider; we were now scarcely two hundred paces from
the hut, and we were astonished not to hear the barking of dogs, which
generally prowl round an Indian's dwelling. Sumichrast, who was now in
front, came back.

"This silence seems to me a bad omen," he said; "take care we don't fall
into some ambuscade; I don't at all wish to be robbed, or, worse still,
murdered."

Leaving the path to our left, we made our way among the _cacti_.

"Are we in a savage country?" asked Lucien.

"Possibly, and that is