72 SEVERE ORDEAL. 



intense pleasure he felt at their reunion. This event 

 was rather perplexing. I scarcely knew whether it 

 would not be better to return, for I was certain that 

 this son of an ass must have thrown off his load, and 

 probably scattered it in every direction. Almost at 

 the same instant up rushed the squaw, nearly as 

 heated, though certainly in a different temper from 

 the mule, which had preceded her. Without a mo- 

 ment's pause to take breath she rattled forth a long 

 story of her misfortunes, interlarded with by no 

 means complimentary addresses to the fugitive, of 

 whose halter she had obtained possession. But when 

 she attempted to lead him back all her efforts were 

 unavailing, for the mule would not return without 

 ,his companion. I was therefore forced to return 

 with her, and afterwards to assist in gathering her 

 scattered wealth, which was strewn far and wide. 



At least a couple of hours were thus lost, and 

 when I recommenced my journey to the waggons I 

 was compelled to go with a woman and baby in 

 tow. If she had been pretty, young, and attractive, 

 it might possibly have been different, but to appear 

 before my countrymen with a squaw without teeth, 

 and her child strongly stamped with the peculiarities 

 of the half-breed, was a very severe ordeal. How- 

 ever, there was no help for it ; so I made a virtue of 

 necessity, knowing full well I should get the credit, 

 like many other unfortunates, in spite of all I could 

 say to the contrary, of holding the respectable po- 

 sition of father. 



