"Lucien can climb as well as I can," retorted the culprit; "he has never eaten an orange out of your garden without clambering up to gather it himself." "That's something new to me," said I, looking hard at my son, who blushed. "At any rate, orange-trees are very different in size from cotton-woods, so you risked killing him." "No; I kept tight hold of him. You very well know that if Chanito were likely to come to his death by my fault, I should die first." "That wouldn't bring the boy to life again. There will be plenty of dangers in our excursion without seeking them out for mere pleasure. I want to bring you all back safe and sound to Orizava; therefore, don't let us have any more of these ascents." Having uttered this remonstrance, I turned on my heel, for it was no use trying to have the last word with l'Encuerado. I was, however, quite sure that he would not renew the exploit which had displeased me, and that was all I wished. At supper-time, Gringalet did not show any repugnance to the flesh of the armadillo, the taste of which reminded Lucien of sucking-pig. "Are armadillos very scarce?" he asked; "they are never sold in the market." "Just the contrary," replied Sumichrast; "they are very common, and the Indians never fail to feast on them when they can procure them." "What does the name armadillo mean?" "It is a Paraguayan word, the meaning of which is, 'encased in armor.' The Aztecs call the animal _ayotochitl_, that is, 'gourd-rabbit'--'rabbit' on account of its ears, and 'gourd' because, when it rolls itself up in a ball, it reminds one of that vegetable." L'Encuerado had gone to sleep. Lucien soon went into the hut, and I noticed that Sumichrast carefully arranged the leaves which were to form our bed, although he himself lay down anywhere. I was much less inclined for sleep than my companions, and contemplated them all reposing; reflecting on the strange chance which united, under the same shelter, in the midst of the wilderness, persons born of such distinct races and in such different climates. We could all surely depend on one another, for in previous expeditions our mutual friendship had been put to the proof. Seeing how well Lucien bore the fatigue, I rejoiced that I had brought him under the protection of such good guardians. When I entered the hut to seek repose, I disturbed Gringalet, who, before lying down again by his young master, licked his hand: here was another devoted friend--"the dog, which combines all man's better qualities," as Charlet observes. [Illustration] FOOTNOTE: [K] That is, a plant devoid of _lobes_. [Illustration] CHAPTER VIII. A VULTURE'S FEAST.--DRAGON'S BLOOD.--A CORAL SERPENT.--THE OWL.--MEXICAN MOLES.--TOUCANS.--THE SCOLOPACIDAE.--L'ENCUERADO TURNED TAILOR.--SUNSET.