branches
brought under cover mattered very little, especially as the guide ranged
them close to the fire to dry, ready against they were required; and had
contrived that the blinding smoke should sweep right out at once, a few
broad branched boughs stuck in the ground or propped upright helping to
establish a draught.

The feeling of restfulness and the hot coffee were sufficient to make
the first hour tolerable, in spite of the constant dripping of the trees
and the rush of water down from the natural eaves of their shelter; but
after a time it began to grow monotonous.

The outlook was not extensive either, for beyond the thick driving rain
the hollows were filled with dense mist, and the mountains around were
quite invisible; and Saxe turned from gazing out between two little
shoots of water to look rather appealingly at Dale.

"What's the matter, Saxe?" said the latter.

"It's so horribly wet."

"Well, it's wet everywhere sometimes. Sit down near the fire and rest.
You'll be all the better for it when the rain is over."

"But it looks as if it never would be over."

"But it will be. There: help keep up the fire, and be patient. We
can't always be climbing."

"I say, look at that," cried Saxe, laughing; for just then the mule,
which had been grazing a short distance away, troubling itself not in
the slightest degree about the rain, came slowly towards them, with its
shaggy coat looking as if it had been oiled, and the water trickling
from it in streams, as if it were a walking reservoir filled a little
too full.

It was evident that it considered the rain a little too heavy now, for
it thrust its head under cover, and blinked for a few moments at the
fire before giving itself a tremendous shake, sending the water flying
from its ears, and then drooped them low down, as if holding them out to
the fire to dry.

In this position its head was in shelter, but the rain streamed down
upon its back and hind quarters, while a perfect deluge, like that from
a waterspout, ran down a long gully in the overhanging rock right on to
the spine just between the shoulders, and there divided to trickle on
either side down the fore legs, and then run down through the pine
needles, which formed too thick a bed for any of the water to make a
pool.

To the surprise of all, the mule was perfectly satisfied so long as it
could keep its head and ears in the warmth and shelter, and never once
attempted to creep in nearer; and