Q ALTERCATION WITH GUIDES. 



We argued with them, then tried persuasions, 

 then threats. At last they explained, and fairly 

 told us that it was utterly impossible for us to pro- 

 ceed, because one of the horses which we had 

 hired belonged to another person, who had taken 

 him away because he was lame, and that another 

 horse could not be procured to supply his place 

 until the next morning. They thought this reason 

 would satisfy us of the impossibility of proceeding, 

 and that we should quietly resign ourselves to our 

 fate. We coolly asked them if they would pro- 

 ceed if another horse was procured. *^ Oh ! cer- 

 tainly," they replied (knowing well that we 

 should not be able to get one). " Very well, 

 then," said we, " we will put the baggage which 

 the horse carried on one of the other horses, and 

 we will take it hy turns to walk'' To shift the 

 baggage was the work of a few minutes, and the 

 guides, with downcast countenances and evident 

 feelings of reluctance, left the town in which they 

 had made up their minds to pass the night. We 

 had not proceeded half-a-mile before the missing 

 horse, with no signs whatever of lameness, came 

 trotting up to us with his owner on his back, who 

 was in evident dismay at the probability of our 



