48 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OP 



load of wood. As soon as I came back Mr. Caldwell 

 called for me, and I went in. 



' You have made a poor thing of that fence, and these 



mules are at the stacks again. Go now and make 



the fence so that they cannot get in." 



" I will, sir, if I can ; but they are very hard to turn, 

 sir." 



I went at it, and made it eight rails high, and locked it 

 at each corner. I then went to the house and said, " Mr. 

 Caldwell, will you come with me, and see if you think I 

 have it now sufficiently strong to keep them out." 



He went with me, it being but a little distance ; and, 

 after walking all round the lot, he said, " Yes ; if they 

 break that they ought to be killed before they get out," 

 So saying, he went off to the house, and I started for an 

 other load of wood. 



On my return to the house, all six of the mules were in 

 at the stacks again. I let them stay there, and went to 

 the old man and told him the mules were at the stacks 

 again. 



" Well," said he, "go and kill every of them, or 



drive them off the place ; and if they come back, set both 

 the dogs on them, and drive them over the river, if you 

 can." 



Off I went; and selecting two or three round creek- 

 stones, I approached close to them, and threw one at the 

 leader, which was the worst beast on a fence I had ever 

 seen. I threw the stone with such force that it missed the 

 leader, but struck another on the shoulder, and crushed the 

 bone. Out they went, and ran off; and they continued 

 running as long as I could see them. I was much dis- 

 turbed in my mind as to what I should do ; but, thought 

 I, if it comes to the worst, I will try uncle Spurgin's plan, 

 and teM the truth, if T have to work a whole year to pay 

 for it 



