The slope was now more gradual; our pace became faster, and a few oaks were in sight. A rumbling noise made us stop and listen attentively, but l'Encuerado, who was more expert than we were in making out distant sounds, told us that it was a torrent. Squirrels gambolled on the branches as we passed by, and toucans seemed to tempt us to stop; but we were all anxious to reach the waterfall. Ere long, oaks and birches, and afterwards guava-trees, surrounded us on every side. The ground was now level, and in less than half an hour l'Encuerado conducted us to the edge of an immense ravine, at the bottom of which there was a roaring torrent. It was not long before the steep bank became less abrupt, and we established our bivouac. While we were cutting down some branches, Sumichrast put his finger to his lips and seized his gun. A slight noise was heard in the thickets, and our companion disappeared. We were listening, holding our breath, when we heard the screech as of an owl; we knew it was a call, so l'Encuerado also glided away through the bushes. "Why did M. Sumichrast call l'Encuerado?" asked Lucien, in a low voice. "Probably because he has discovered the trail of some animal." I had scarcely finished speaking, when a movement in the leaves attracted my attention. A fine fox, with an eager look, and its tail lowered, rushed past me. I fired, but without effect, for it bolted off among the trees, followed by Gringalet. Almost at the same moment, a report told me that l'Encuerado had also seen game. Lucien was very sorry that I had missed the fox; I only regretted having lost a charge of powder, and also having awkwardly put to flight the quarry which was probably being pursued by my companions. I then continued my work of cutting off the branches, and told Lucien to strike the flint and light the fire. Thanks to l'Encuerado's lessons, he managed his work much better than I had expected. We heard Sumichrast give a call, to which Lucien answered, and the disappointed hunter joined us. "What did you fire at?" he inquired of me. "At a fox, which I missed; were you chasing it?" "No; I caught sight of a doe and its fawn, but I could not get near them." "And where is l'Encuerado?" "He wanted to shoot some bird, so as not to come back quite empty-handed." "Chanito! Hiou! Hiou! Chanito!" we heard shouted in the distance. "Hallo! hallo!" answered the boy. And, soon after, l'Encuerado returned, carrying a fawn on his shoulders. "Oh! what a pretty little creature!" cried Lucien; "why didn't you take it alive?" "Bullets are the only things that can run as fast as these animals, Chanito." "What became of the mother?" asked Sumichrast. "I was not able to get near her; but at all events, we have more than enough meat now, both for to-day and to-morrow."