of them seeing how horribly insidious was the danger, when
the lifting of a bale might mean the incurring of a deadly stroke from a
hidden foe.

In all probability no reader of this ever encountered a mule team
represented by so many sets of four legs, a head, and tail, and a body
hidden by the load secured upon the backs of the owners of the legs by
means of cords tied with what a mule-driver calls the diamond-hitch.
The reader has also probably never seen a mule dissatisfied with the
load it has been called upon to bear, and doing its best to shed the
same load. Every one is aware of the brute's kicking powers, but in
this respect it is at its best when, plunging and flinging out its legs,
it squeezes itself up tightly within its skin and tries its best--worst
would be the proper term--to shoot itself out through the diamonds of
rope which form the hitch.

Griggs had secured most of the loads that day, and he had done well; but
all did not stand the strain, and the appearance of the mules standing,
hanging of head, stamping, twitching their ears and whisking their tails
to get rid of the flies, was painfully ludicrous.

Skeeter, as became him, being leader, and, thanks to the way in which he
had been checked, was the most reputable-looking of the team, for others
were horrible. Here stood one mule with his load resting upon the sand,
the animal striding across it, head and fore-legs in front, hind-legs
and tail behind, and nothing upon its back but tightened ropes.

A little farther on was one which had shed its load and stood with
drooping head, looking as if it had been ornamented with a tangle of
rope.

Again, not many yards away was another snuffling and nuzzling at the
sand, which it blew aside now and then with a snort which raised a
little cloud--doing all this under difficulties, being nearly
overbalanced by its load, which had slipped over till it bulged straight
out from its side. Another sat up like a cat, being held in position by
its pack, which had slipped over its tail, while again another had
kicked till it went down upon its nose, kneeling, so to speak, with its
hind-quarters high up, and its load like a pair of panniers resting upon
its neck.

"What a horrible confusion!" cried the doctor, and he was going to say
something more, but his words were drowned by Skeeter, who had evidently
been surveying the wreck of the train and the dismal condition of his
companions, especially that of the o