THE TRANSPORT RIDER. 303 



of apparent gibberish. Back and forth along 

 the line of the team he skips nimbly, the sweat 

 streaming from his face. And the oxen plod 

 along, unhasting, unexcited, their eyes dreamy, 

 chewing the cud of yesterday's philosophic re- 

 flections. The situation conveys the general im- 

 pression of a peevish little stream breaking against 

 great calm cliffs. All this frantic excitement and 

 expenditure of energy is so apparently purpose- 

 less and futile, the calm cattle seem so aloof and 

 superior to it all, so absolutely unaffected by it. 

 They are going slowly, to be sure; their gait 

 may be maddeningly deliberate, but evidently 

 they do not intend to be hurried. Why not 

 let them take their own speed ? 



But all this hullabaloo means something after 

 all. It does its business, and the top of the boulder- 

 strewn hill is gained. Without it the whole con- 

 cern would have stopped, and then the wagon 

 would have to be unloaded before a fresh start 

 could have been made. Results with cattle are 

 not shown by facial expression nor by increased 

 speed, but simply by continuance. They will 

 plod up steep hills or along the level at the same 

 placid gait. Only in the former case they re- 

 quire especial treatment. 



In case the wagon gets stuck on a hill, as 



