ving been accustomed to chewing
capsicums."

"You have the seasoning, and I have the salad!" suddenly cried my
friend.

And he showed us a handful of an herb called purslane.

This plant, which grows in abundance in damp ground, has red flowers,
which close every evening and open again in the morning. I gathered the
fleshy leaves, while Sumichrast, who had found a plant covered with
seeds, showed Lucien the circular hole on the seed which has given to
the plant its family name (_Portulacae_).

Some maize-cakes and a salad formed our frugal breakfast, which was
discussed on the edge of the stream. Lucien especially seemed to enjoy
it, for I was indeed obliged to check him, the appetizing flavor of the
salad had so sharpened his appetite.

When we had finished our meal, Sumichrast tried to climb the steep bank;
but the ground gave way under his feet, and two or three times he fell.
I left Lucien to manage for himself, for his falls were not likely to be
dangerous. As he was much less heavy than we were, he succeeded in
reaching the level of the plain first, and with very little trouble,
when he amused himself by laughing disrespectfully at our efforts.

"You had better take care of your ears," cried my friend, addressing
Lucien; "if I could reach you I would use them to hang on by."

In vain we tried to find a more accessible path. At last, getting rid of
my gun and game-bag, I accomplished the ascent.

"That's all very well!" exclaimed Sumichrast, fatigued and cramped with
his exertions; "but how am I to reach you, now that I have two guns and
two bags to carry?"

"Wait a bit!" cried Lucien; and, running down the slope, he soon
disappeared.

I heard him cutting at something with his _machete_; soon after he came
up again, carrying a long stem of cane.

"Now we'll try and fish up M. Sumichrast," said he.

Sitting down on the bank, I held out the rod to my companion, who at
once seized it, and, thus supported, gradually managed to bring up all
our hunting-gear, and ultimately himself, when, instead of pulling
"Master Sunbeam's" ears, he gave him a kiss as a reward for his
ingenious idea.

[Illustration: "Four children appeared."]

About two hundred paces farther on the verdant ravine came to an end,
and we were surrounded by cactus-plants. Lucien employed himself hunting
lizards, and Gringalet seemed to think he was proving his intelligence
by running in front of the boy, so as to frighten away all the ga