tinging insects, and to run the risk of being bitten by
poisonous snakes. We therefore lighted our fire on the top of the
ridge.

Lejoillie, Carlos, and I went off with our guns in search of game, as we
had exhausted our stock of provisions. We had gone on farther than we
intended, when on looking round we could nowhere see the smoke of our
fire; while a bank of clouds which had risen in the west, and gradually
spread over the sky prevented us, as we had expected to be able to do,
from making the sun our guide.

Lejoillie had shot a turkey; but as this was insufficient for our party,
we were anxious to kill some larger game. We were still pursuing our
search, and not far apart, when Carlos exclaimed, "See here! I have
found a creature which will show us our way. Come here quickly and try
it."

We hastened to the spot, where we saw, seated on a large leaf, a
creature with a thin body like a walking-stick, with long legs, and
antennae stretched out. "It is a yellow and black spectre," said
Lejoillie, drawing one of his cases from his pocket; "a magnificent
specimen. I must secure it ere it escapes."

"Oh, don't do that!" cried Carlos; "I have heard it said that if we ask
it the way, it will stretch out one of its arms in the right direction;
and we shall have no difficulty in making our way back to camp."

Lejoillie laughed. "From whom did you hear that?" he asked.

"The Indians believe that it has that power; and, of course, as they are
better acquainted with the creatures of this country than any one else,
they must know."

"Bah!" exclaimed Lejoillie; "I thought, Carlos, you had too much good
sense to be influenced by so foolish a superstition."

"Look at it!" cried Carlos; "it is lifting up its paws and praying.
What else can it be doing?"

Lejoillie afterwards explained that it belonged to the Mantis family;
that instead of being a praying insect, it is one of the most combative
and savage in existence. "It lives upon beetles and flies of every
description," he added. "When two of the creatures of the same species
meet together, they engage in a fierce combat, cutting at each other
with their fore legs with such force as sometimes to sever the body of
an antagonist with a single blow, when the victor generally eats up its
opponent. There are many others of the same family, some resembling
leaves. The Chinese in the southern part of their country keep these
creatures in cages, and make them fig