ITO 



PASSAGE ACHOSS 



some time ; but as we got lower down, and as the 

 heat of the day increased, our mules began to sink 

 into it : however, they managed to regain the path, 

 except the poor brown mule who was carrying the 

 four heavy portmanteaus. He had hitherto sur- 

 mounted every difficulty, and with a healthy eye 

 and a patient countenance had always led the way; 

 but now his treacherous path was breaking under 

 him, and after floundering on in a most extraordi- 

 nary manner, literally raising himself by his nose, 

 he could proceed no farther, and the portmanteaus 

 at his side all rested on the snow. Before this the 

 capataz and peon had only cheered him by their 

 voices, but they now went to his assistance. They 

 lifted up his two fore-legs out of the holes which 

 they had made, and they put them on the surface 

 of the snow. They then went on each side, and 

 with one hand on his tail and the other under his 

 belly, the poor creature rose. The two men then 

 instantly jumped behind the mule, and with their 

 hands over their heads they both held the mule's 

 tail, pushing it upwards with all their force. The 

 weight of the baggage being thus partly supported, 

 the mule was able to proceed, and it was really 



