The first thing I saw on opening my eyes was l'Encuerado, who was getting ready our coffee, and Lucien crouching close to the fire, piling up a quantity of dry branches round the kettle, at some risk, however, of upsetting it. "Why, Lucien," I cried, "it is not light yet, and you are up already! Didn't you sleep well?" "Oh yes, papa," he answered, kissing me; "but l'Encuerado disturbed Gringalet, so he thought proper to come and lie down on _me_, and that woke me, for Gringalet is very heavy. So, as I couldn't go to sleep again, I got up to look after the fire." "And you are doing your work capitally. The kettle is singing loudly, and l'Encuerado will find it difficult to take it off without burning his fingers." But the Indian had provided himself with two green branches, which he used to lift off the make-shift coffee-pot, into which he emptied both the sugar and the coffee. "Where is the filter?" asked Lucien. "Do you think you are still in the town?" I replied. "Why don't you ask for a cup and saucer as well?" "But we can never drink this black muddy stuff!" cried Lucien. "Never mind, Chanito," said the Indian; "I'll soon make it all right." Then, taking his gourd, he poured from it some cold water into the mixture, and it immediately became cleared. I told Lucien to go and wake up Sumichrast. The child approached our companion, who was scarcely visible under the leaves, which served him both for coverlet and pillow. "Hallo! hallo! M. Sumichrast; the soup is on the table." "Soup!" repeated Sumichrast, rubbing his eyes. "Ah! you little monkey, you have disturbed me in such a pleasant dream. I fancied that I was no older than you, and that I was once more wandering over the mountains of my native land." It is considered wholesome to take a cup of Mocha after a hearty meal; but, with all due deference to Grimod de la Reyniere and Brillat Savarin, coffee seems still sweeter to the taste when taken at five o'clock in the morning, after passing the night in the open air. The day broke; it was a magnificent sight to see the forest gradually lighted up, and the trunks of the trees gilded by slanting sunbeams. Before starting again, one of our party carefully examined the ground on which we had camped, so as not to forget any of our effects, which, if lost, would have been irreparable. I also noticed that l'Encuerado's basket was decked with the three squirrels' skins, which would thus gradually dry.