e attempts to take a plaything away. At
last he consented to give it to me, and I felt really sorry that I had
not another glass to offer him.

Sumichrast led the way round the end of the ravine. Suddenly the birds,
which were warbling on the banks of the stream, all flew away; a goshawk
was hovering above us in the sky. As it was flying swiftly through the
air, it passed us within gunshot; a shot struck it, and, tumbling over
and over, it fell to the ground about twenty paces from us. Lucien
immediately ran to pick it up.

"It is a falcon!" he cried.

"You are right," replied Sumichrast; "it is the Cayenne goshawk, which
is characterized by having a head covered with ash-colored feathers, by
a brown body, and black feathers in its tail."

"Will you skin it?"

"Yes, certainly, Master Sunbeam; firstly, because this is any thing but
a common bird; and, secondly, during the few days we shall stay here, we
must endeavor to fill the boxes which we have had so much difficulty in
making."

At this moment a finch, with red, brown, and white feathers, settled
near us.

"It is the _Pyrrhula telasco_," said my friend, "a species discovered by
Lesson, the celebrated ornithologist, in his journey to Lima. Ah! if I
wasn't so economical with the powder--"

"I have some powder," muttered Torribio.

"You have some powder!" I cried; "will you sell us some?"

"No," answered the Indian, dryly.

"Why not?" was my rejoinder. "Are you also a sportsman? Besides, if you
are, you will soon be going to Puebla, where you could get a fresh
supply."

"I never sell my powder," was the terse response.

"Very well, then, let us say no more about it."

We crossed over the stream by means of a tree which stretched from one
bank to the other. Ere the sun ceased to gild the ravine with its rays
we found ourselves opposite to the dwelling of the Indian patriarch,
which overlooked a hut similar to that of our guide. The sky was a pale
blue, and we had a glimpse of the monotonous plain dotted over with the
sombre cactus-plant; while just below us figured the fresh oasis,
rendered all the more charming by the contrast. The birds warbled in the
shrubs, and one by one flew away in order to return to the trees, among
the branches of which they had perhaps first crept out of the paternal
nest. A warm breeze was blowing when we got up to return to the village.

"I have some powder!" exclaimed the Indian, abruptly.

"Yes, very likely, but I also