FROM PINE TO PALM. 279 
Of course the trail was as narrow as 
possible for a trail to be and allow an 
* 
animal to cling to it. 
Through the kindness of Don Augus¬ 
tin Becerra there was sent out from 
Urique to the orange plantation a very 
large mule for my personal comfort. 
This animal was of the pinto variety and 
a fine traveler. After my desperate en¬ 
counters with “ Old Steamboat ” it was 
positive luxury to ride him. He had 
some faults, however; he was fresh and 
fast, so kept well in advance of the rest 
of the train. When we neared this par¬ 
ticularly dangerous place my mule took up 
a gentle trot and went pounding around 
the curve in a way that almost turned my 
hair gray, and I know we all breathed 
more freely after getting away from the 
perilous spot. 
