o pay much
heed to a few neighbours who were giving up and going to try their
fortune elsewhere, and for the most part were ready to sneer at the
restless folk who were going prospecting where, according to their own
ideas, they were not likely to do half so well.

Hence it was that as soon as it was light, and while Griggs with a
hammer and spikes was nailing up the last windows and the door, for
which pieces of board cut to the exact size lay ready, there was not a
stranger there to see them off.

It was a busy time. They had all breakfasted by the light of the
out-door fire which had boiled their coffee, cooked their damper, and
frizzled their bacon, and now were all hard at work loading the dozen
mules that had been purchased for the purpose of carrying their baggage,
and in whose management every one had taken lessons from an old
mule-driver who had made many journeys into the Far West.

For there was much to learn. "Obstinate as a mule" is a good old
proverb, and the party had plenty of reason for learning its truth.
They had heard too of the vicious nature of these same animals. They
were used as beasts of burden, and they seemed to have made up their
minds to be a burden to every one there. The old Yankee, who had made
many a journey with mule teams, had taught them, and taught them well,
all he could about the mysteries of lasso and lariat, and the
diamond-hitch; but even after a fortnight's practice it was not easy to
bind the loads well-balanced upon each mule's back without getting
kicked, and when this was done, the mules having been disappointed at
not being able to kick anybody, mostly made desperate attempts to kick
at nothing, the result of which was the loosening of the ropes so that
the loads rattled and in one case went flying.

This load had been tied on by the boys, who stood looking at one another
and then at the mule, which, as soon as it was free, gave its ears a few
twinkles, shook its shabby tail, and then began to graze quite
contentedly on some alfalfa grass, or lucerne.

"Come, boys, don't stand looking on," cried the doctor. "Try again, or
we shall be waiting for you. You must put your feet against the brute's
side and haul tight, as you were taught."

"We did, sir," cried Ned, who was hot and angry.

"Not tight enough, my lad. You'll soon do it better."

"Not with this one, father. It's such a beast."

"They all are, my boy," said the doctor, laughing at his son's perple