The track he took was merely the scorings made 

 by skidding waggons coming down the mountain ; it 

 was so steep and rough there that a pull of ten yards 

 between the spells for breath was all one could hope 

 for ; and many were thankful to have done much 

 less. At the second pause, as they were passing 

 us, one of his oxen turned, leaning inwards against 

 the chain, and looked back. Old Charlie remarked 

 quietly, " I thought he would chuck it ; only bought 

 him last week. He's got no heart." 



He walked along the span up to the shirking animal, 

 which continued to glare back at him in a frightened 

 way, and touched it behind with the butt of his long 

 whip-stick to bring it up to the yoke. The ox started 

 forward into place with a jerk, but eased back again 

 slightly as Charlie went back to his place near the after 

 oxen. Once more the span went on and the shirker 

 got a smart reminder as Charlie gave the call to start, 

 and he warmed it up well as a lesson while they pulled. 

 At the next stop it lay back worse than before. 



Not one driver in a hundred would have done then 

 what he did : they would have tried other courses 

 first. Charlie dropped his whip quietly and out- 

 spanned the ox and its mate, saying to me as I gave 

 him a hand : 



" When I strike a rotter, I chuck him 

 out before he spoils the others ! " In 

 another ten minutes 

 he and his stalwarts 

 had left us behind. 



Old Charlie knew 

 227 



