water, in which a few stars already
reflected their pale and tremulous light. When we reached the shore of
the lake, we found ourselves surrounded by vast and noble ruins, like
those on the Buona Ventura, but certainly much more romantic. Gabriel
welcomed us to his trapping-ground, as a lord in his domain, and soon
brought out a neat little canoe, from under a kind of ancient vault.

"This canoe," said he, "once belonged to one of the poor fellows that
was murdered with the Prince Seravalle. We brought it here six years
ago with great secrecy; it cost him twenty dollars, a rifle, and six
blankets. Now, in the middle of this lake there is an island, where he
and I lived together, and where we can remain for months without any
fear of Indians or starvation."

We all three entered the canoe, leaving our saddles behind us to recover
them on the following day. One hour's paddling brought us to the
island, and it was truly a magnificent spot. It was covered with ruins;
graceful obelisks were shaded by the thick foliage of immense trees, and
the soft light of the moon beaming on the angles of the ruined
monuments, gave to the whole scenery the hue of an Italian landscape.

"Here we are safe," said Gabriel, "and to-morrow you will discover that
my old resting-place is not deficient in comfort."

As we were very tired, we laid down and soon slept, forgetting [in] this
little paradise the dangers and the fatigues of the day. Our host's
repose, however, was shorter than mine, for long before morn he had gone
to fetch our saddles. Roche and I would probably have slept till his
return, had we not been awakened by the report of a rifle, which came
down to us, repeated by a thousand echoes. An hour of intense anxiety
was passed, till at last we saw Gabriel paddling towards us. The sound
of the rifle had, however, betrayed our place of concealment, and as
Gabriel neared the island, the shore opposite to us began to swarm with
our disappointed enemies, who, in all probability had camped in the
neighbourhood. As my friend landed, I was beginning to scold him for
his imprudence in using his rifle under our present circumstances, when
a glance shewed me at once he had met with an adventure similar to mine
near Santa Fe. In the canoe lay the skin of a large finely-spotted
jaguar, and by it a young cub, playing unconsciously with the
scalping-knife, yet reeking in its mother's blood.

"Could not help it,--self-defence!" excla