ped ourselves
up, and were soon asleep, notwithstanding the primitiveness of our
couch.

About two in the morning I woke up numbed from the lowness of the
temperature; Lucien also was nearly frozen. I hastened to cover him up
with my _sarape_, for on these heights we were exposed to the north wind
blowing from the volcano of Citlatepetl, and the atmosphere would not
get warm again until sunrise. Sumichrast soon joined me; he had also
given up his covering to the child. I then set to work to look for some
small branches to light the fire; but our movements ultimately roused
up our host, and, thanks to him, we were soon able to sit down in front
of a powerful blaze. Still l'Encuerado, from force of habit, who was
hardly sheltered at all, was sleeping like a top. At last, aided by the
heat, sleep resumed its influence, and I dropped off again in slumber.

When I awoke, the sun was shining in a cloudless sky, and every body was
up. Sumichrast was inspecting the arms and ammunition, for from this day
forward we should have to provide our own subsistence. I was quite
surprised at the time I had been asleep; but a slight touch of lumbago
reminded me of yesterday's difficult ascent, which fully accounted for
my drowsiness. I must confess I felt much more inclined to go to bed
again than to continue our journey; but, as I was obliged to set a good
example, I began to help my companions in their preparations for
departure. I have already described the dress of Lucien and l'Encuerado;
Sumichrast's costume and mine also consisted of strong cloth trowsers,
and a blouse made of the same stuff. The weapons of each were a
revolver, a _machete_, a double-barrelled gun, and a game-bag filled
with necessaries. We duly examined the contents of the basket, which
l'Encuerado carried on his back by a strap fixed across his breast or
forehead. Sumichrast then took out a long parcel he had put into the
basket when we started, and unrolled the cloth which formed its first
covering. His smile and mysterious look quite puzzled us; at last he
drew from the paper a light fowling-piece, which he placed in Lucien's
hands.

The boy blushed and trembled with joy, and became quite pale with
anxiety. He hardly dared to believe that his fondest dream was thus
realized. He could not speak for pleasure, but threw himself into my
friend's arms. I was as much surprised as he was. I had often thought
of giving Lucien a gun; but I was so afraid of an accident