192 Maxey 



determined to push on beyond the Rocky Mountain 

 Range, and seek a new mining region where the 

 gifts of the earth awaited the coming of the pioneer. 

 And so he started out, accompanied only by one 

 companion a diminutive and unprepossessing burro. 



Those who have never known the burro can 

 have but a vague idea of its real nature. It is not 

 a mule ; it is not, strictly speaking, a donkey. It 

 possesses most of the physical qualities of both those 

 animals, with little of their moral infirmities. It is 

 strong, patient, long-suffering, and kind. It never 

 displays sudden emotion of any sort. It may have 

 fears, but they are never shown. It may cherish 

 animosity, but it is never manifested. One's first 

 impulse at the sight of a burro is to laugh. Further 

 acquaintance arouses interest, which sometimes de- 

 velops, even in men of brutal natures, into affection. 

 An old mountain prospector will fight for his pack- 

 animal as quicklv as for any other friend. 



It was with one of these devoted animals that 

 Herbert began his career as a prospector. For more 

 than a week they climbed the sides of mountains 

 and worked their way through canons and across 



