114 MARTIN RATTLER.

“This we call an iguana,” said the hermit, as he
piled a number of heavy stones on the carcass to
preserve it from other animals. “1b is very good to
eat——as good as chicken, This is not a very big one;
- they are sometimes five feet’ long, but almost quite
harmless—not venomous at all; and the only means
he has to defend himself is the tail, which is very
powerful, and gives a tremendously hard blow. But,
as you see, if you catch him quickly he can do
nothing.”

“Tes all very well for you, or even Barney here, to
talk of catching him by the tail,” said Martin, smiling ;
“but it would have puzzled me to swing that fellow
round my head.”

“Arvah! ye'’re right, boy; I doubt if I could have
done it mesilf,’ said Barney.

“No fear,” said the hermit, patting Martin’s broad
shoulders as he passed him and led the way; “you
will be strong enough for that very soon—as strong
as me in a year or two.”

They now proceeded down into a somewhat dark
and closely wooded valley, through which meandered
a small rivulet. Here they had some difficulty in
forcing their way through the dense underwood and
broad leaves, most of which seemed very strange to

Martin and his comrade, being so gigantic. There