A Rocky Ramble. 167 



counted eleven bunches, each as large as a bushel- 

 basket, yet the tree showed no symptoms of 

 decay. 



Having rested long enough to forget our sev- 

 eral aches and pains, it was without misgiving 

 that the descent was undertaken ; but as the up- 

 ward climb was laborious, it followed, in our 

 fancy, that the downward progress would be very 

 easy. Not a bit of it. There was no stone that 

 did not threaten to roll as we touched it, and 

 many carried out their threats at the most inop- 

 portune moment. How quickly and how often I 

 sat down ! And then, when well-nigh discouraged, 

 we heard footsteps behind us, and, looking back- 

 ward, saw that morose Mexican with his burro. 

 How deftly they picked their way ; how stately 

 the tread of that swarthy mountaineer ! He did 

 not deign to glance at us ; and even if we had 

 been helpless, would doubtless have passed us by. 

 But that little burro ! His ears alone were plainly 

 visible, and by them we knew him. His burden 

 made him not less polite, and again the long ears 

 waved gracefully as he passed. That this animal 

 could bear up under two great bundles of crooked 



