82 IN THE OLD WEST 



One of these mules was a short, thick-set, 

 stumpy animal, with an enormous head surmounted 

 by proportionable ears, and a pair of unusually 

 large eyes, beaming the most perfect good temper 

 and docility (most uncommon qualities in a mule). 

 Her neck was thick, and rendered more so in ap- 

 pearance by reason of her mane not being roached 

 (or, in English, hogged), which privilege she alone 

 enjoyed of the trio; and her short strong legs, 

 ending in small, round, cat-like hoofs, were feath- 

 ered with a profusion of dark-brown hair. 



As she stood stock-still whilst the stranger re- 

 moved the awkwardly packed deer from her back, 

 she flapped her huge ears backward and forward, 

 occasionally turning her head, and laying her cold 

 nose against her master's cheek. When the pack 

 was removed he advanced to her head, and rest- 

 ing it on his shoulder, rubbed her broad and griz- 

 zled cheeks with both his hands for several min- 

 utes, the old mule laying her ears, like a rab- 

 bit, back upon her neck, and with half-closed eyes 

 enjoyed mightily the manipulation. Then, giv- 

 ing her a smack upon the haunch, and a " hep-a " 

 well known to the mule kind, the old favorite threw 

 up her heels and cantered off to the horse, who 

 was busily cropping the buffalo grass on the bluff 

 above the stream. 



Great was the contrast between the one just 

 described and the next which came up to be di- 

 vested of her pack. She, a tall beautifully-shaped 



