cant its size.
Yet, after many experiences, seasoned with a little strenuous persuasion
from the end of an alder limb, he began slowly to change his views.
However, he positively had no use for burned stumps, and when it came to
passing a campfire, Tuberculosis absolutely declined. There was just one
thing that both donkeys very firmly believed, and that was that each
was to lead and the other follow when on the trail. This was the only
point upon which they really ever quarreled, and most every time Peanuts,
because of his mature judgment and statesmanship, won out.

When the pack saddles were on, and the pack bags of food adjusted on
either side, the blanket rolls piled high on top, they were ready to
begin the journey, "Donkeys are a good deal like some men," observed Ham
as the little column came to the base of the hogsback, "they always
have to travel by freight."

"How is that?" questioned Willis, who had appointed himself guardian to
Peanuts and was just ahead of Ham.

"Why, because they can't express themselves," was the reply.

"Not verbally, perhaps," suggested Fat, "but they do have a signal code,
of which their hind legs are the main features. I've had them signal at
me more than once."

"And if you ever receive the completed message," added Ham, "it usually
says, 'Six weeks in the hospital.'"

At the top of the hogsback the party separated into two groups. The one
under Mr. Allen continued on up the trail with the two donkeys, while the
other, under Mr. Dean, took the railroad, walking around by Fairview, to
see if their equipment had arrived.

It was decided the boys would sleep around a rousing fire rather than on
the cold floor of the cabin. The shakedown was too dry to be comfortable,
and Ham's aerial bunk had not yet been completed. They therefore chose a
spot for the night's camp across the stream from the cabin on a piece of
high level ground covered with a thick brown carpet of pine needles. Very
soon a bright fire was burning and the night's wood gathered. From the
bulging packsacks a real camp supper was gotten under way. Every fellow
cooked his own piece of meat and baked his potato in the coals, while Mr.
Allen made the coffee and opened the cans of beans. Each fellow fashioned
himself a spoon from a dry stick, and the new cabin tincups were
initiated into service. Ham, who had had some previous experience with
donkeys, warned everybody to be sure to save all the scraps, for beans,
rye b