on, without offering any assistance or advice, waiting to see
what the boy would do.

Tying the end of the halter to one of the rails of the track on which
they were walking, Derrick started into the stable, where he quickly
found what he wanted. Coming out with a handful of oats, he let the mule
have a little taste of them; and then, loosening the halter, tried to
tempt him forward with them. This plan failed, for Harry declined to
yield to temptation, and remained immovable. Then Derrick turned a
questioning glance upon the mine boss, who said,

"Never again hitch an animal to a track along which cars are liable to
come at any moment. Now, why don't you beat the mule?"

"Oh no, sir!" exclaimed Derrick, in distress. "I don't want to do that."

"Neither do I want you to," laughed the other. "I only asked why you
didn't?"

"Because," said Derrick, "I want him to become fond of me, and my mother
says the most stubborn animals can be conquered by kindness, while
beatings only make them worse."

"Which is as true as gospel," said the mine boss. "Well, the only other
thing I can suggest is for you to go into the stable, get the harness
that hangs on the peg nearest the door, and put it on him."

Acting upon this hint, Derrick had hardly finished buckling the last
strap of the harness when the mule began to move steadily forward of his
own accord.

"That's his way," said the mine boss. "In harness he knows that he is
expected to work, but without it he thinks he may do as he pleases."

Presently the mule stumbled slightly, and again he stopped and refused
to go ahead.

"Do you know what is the matter now, sir?" asked Derrick.

"I think perhaps he wants his lamp lighted," replied the mine boss.

A miner's lamp, attached to a broad piece of leather, hung down in front
of the mule from his collar.

The boy lighted this lamp, and immediately the mule began to move on,
showing that this was exactly what he had wanted.

"Seems to me he knows almost as much as folks," cried Derrick, highly
delighted at this new proof of his mule's intelligence.

"Quite as much as most folks, and more than some," answered his
companion, dryly.

During their long walk they passed through several doors which, as
Derrick was told, served to regulate the currents of air constantly
flowing in and out of the mine, and kept in motion by the great fan at
its mouth. Whenever they approached one of these the mine boss called,
loudly, "Door,