THE ASS 373 



eling in mountainous countries in company with 

 horses and mules. It is the one to direct the hand, 

 showing the others the turnouts to take to avoid a 

 dangerous place. If the path gets too had, the don- 

 key foresees the peril with an astonishing sagacity; 

 it turns aside a moment from the beaten track, finds 

 a way around the difficult spot by a cleverly calcu- 

 lated bend, and takes the regular road again farther 

 on. Any mule or horse that disdains to follow the 

 donkey 's intelligent leadership runs the risk of get- 

 ting into trouble whence it will be very hard to get 

 it out." 



"As far as I can see," said Jules, "the donkey is 

 more intelligent than the horse, since it acts as the 

 horse's guide." 



"That is my opinion, too, in spite of the reputa- 

 tion for stupidity that it has acquired, I don't know 

 why. The donkey walks, trots, and gallops like the 

 horse, but all its movements are within a smaller 

 compass and much slower. Although it can start 

 out at a brisk enough pace, it cannot cover great 

 distances or continue on the road for a long time. 

 Whatever gait it takes, if the animal is urged to go 

 faster it is soon exhausted. It is especially suited 

 to mountainous countries. Its small, hard hoofs en- 

 able it to follow stony paths with the greatest ease ; 

 its prudent gait and firm and circumspect step give 

 it access to rough places and the steepest slopes. 



"The donkey is very robust. In proportion to 

 its size it is perhaps of all animals the one that can 

 carry the heaviest load, but as its body is small the 



