turned, to balance the movement, and still presented his tail.

"Ah, you obstinate old ruffian!" cried Saxe: "how can you expect people
to be friendly with you! Well, I'm not going to be beaten by an old
mule, anyhow!"

It was a rash declaration, for as Saxe made a rush right by the animal
it spun round, and the positions were once more the same.

This evolution was repeated again and again, till Saxe stopped short,
panting.

"Here!" he exclaimed. "I thought it was cold this morning, and I'm
getting hot. For two pins I'd throw a chump of rock at you, you
obstinate old four-legged hit of ill-temper."

He stooped and picked up a stone as big as his fists, and suddenly
became aware of the fact that, though the mule's head was turned away
from him, the cunning animal turned its eyes back and was watching him
carefully. For as he raised the stone Gros shook his head so that his
long ears rattled, squealed, and a peculiar quivering motion, like the
beginning of a dance, was visible in his hind quarters.

"Ah! would you kick!" cried Saxe. "You ruffian, you'd better not.
There are plenty of stones, and I'll give you one for every hoist of
those nice little heels."

He made an "offer," as boys call it, with the stone, and there was a
loud squeal. Gros's head went down between his fore legs till he had
nearly touched the ground, and he was turning himself into a tripod so
as to set his hind legs at liberty.

Certainly they seemed at liberty, for he threw them out so vigorously
that, as Saxe gazed at the hoofs playing about in the air, they seemed
to be sparring and fencing at him, while the tail between whipped and
whisked about, and ended by tucking itself in tightly, till Saxe sat
down on a rock roaring with laughter, when the mule suddenly ceased its
efforts, stood still, and turned its head round to watch him.

"Now it's coming!" cried Saxe, leaping up and raising the stone again.

The mule squealed defiance, and out flew its heels once more, and this
was repeated till, half choked with laughing, Saxe threw down the stone.

"There!" he said: "I wouldn't throw at you. Poor old chap, then!"

He approached the animal now on the side to which its head was thrust to
watch him, and, to his great surprise, Gros did not stir, but moved his
head a little, and let him approach, pat his neck, and pull his ears.

"Only your fun, was it, old chap--eh! There! It was only my fun too.
It's all right. Go on, old fell