Can it, therefore, be surprising that our little hero should have craved to be permitted to have a sight of this new land, so rich in the prospect of adventure? How he behaved himself throughout the numerous ordeals to which he was submitted, suffice it for me to say that his conduct was worthy of the representative of any nationality, and such as was calculated to make all parents proud of their offspring; for whether suffering from thirst or hunger, being persecuted by noxious insects, straying in the woods, even when within reach of the fiercest carnivora or in the presence of the deadliest reptiles, he never for a moment hesitated in performing his seniors' instructions, lost his courage, or, better still, an opportunity of improving his mind. That the young English reader may benefit as much by the perusal of this work as Master Lucien, otherwise "Sunbeam," did by his journey through the Cordilleras of Mexico, and that they may enjoy the information herein imparted upon the wonderful works of the Creator, is the sincere wish of THE EDITOR. [Illustration: Decoration] CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION Page 13 CHAPTER I. Who we are.--Gringalet.--Sunrise.--The Sugar-cane.--A Halt. 20 CHAPTER II. Sugar.--Gringalet in the Molasses Tank.--L'Encuerado's obstinate Idea.--An Indian Supper. 34 CHAPTER III. Waking up in the Morning.--The pigmy World of Lilliput.--L'Encuerado and the Bottles.--Massacre of Thistles.--The Charcoal-burning Indians. 46 CHAPTER IV. A difficult Ascent.--The Goat.--The Indian Girls.--The Tobacco-plant.--The Bull-fight.--Game.--Lucien's Gun.--Our Entry into the Wilderness. 61 CHAPTER V. The great Forest.--Crows.--The first Bivouac.--The Squirrel-hunt.--Our young Guide.--The Chant in the Desert. 76 CHAPTER VI. Coffee.--Turpentine.--Couroucous.--Pine-needles.--Three Volcanoes in sight at once.--The Carabus Family.--Scorpions.--Salamanders.--A midnight Disturbance. 89 CHAPTER VII. The Cats'-eyes Pomade.--Armadillo.--Lucien and the cruel Fern.--The fallen Mountain.--The Woodpecker.--The Basilisk.--L'Encuerado's fresh Idea. 104 CHAPTER VIII. A Vulture's Feast.--Dragon's Blood.--A Coral Serpent.--The Owl.--Mexican Moles.--Toucans.--The Scolopacidae.--L'Encuerado turned Tailor.--Sunset. 119 CHAPTER IX. The South Wind.--The Hurricane.--A fearful Night.--The uprooted Giant.--The Sarsaparilla-plant.--Gringalet discovers a Spring.--Our Bivouac. 135