THE MULE. ^ 63 



clotlies on wliich some poor soldier's life depended. We 

 all know what delay and disaster have resulted from the 

 roads being blocked up in this manner. The brake, 

 thanks to the inventor, offers a remedy for all this. It 

 also saves the neck and shoulders of every animal in the 

 train ; it saves the feet of the wheelers ; it saves the 

 harness ; it saves the lead and swing mules from being 

 stopped so quick that they cut themselves ; and it saves 

 the wheels at least twenty per cent. Those who have had 

 wagons thrown over precipices, or labored and strug- 

 gled in mud and water two and three hours at a time, 

 can easily understand how time and trouble could have 

 been saved if the wagon could have been locked in any 

 way after it started over those places. The best brake, 

 by all odds, is that which fastens with a lever chain to 

 the brake-bar. I do not like those which attach with a 

 rope, and for the reason that the lazy teamster can sit 

 on the saddle-mule and lock and unlock, while, with 

 the chain and lever, he must get off. In this way he 

 relieves the saddle-mule's back. 



We all know that, in riding mules down steep or long . 

 hills, you do much to stiffen them up and wear them 

 out. 



