Thereafter
he kept his temper.
"I've heard it said that a mule wouldn't kick after twelve o'clock,"
said Chunky. "Guess it wasn't true."
"Perhaps it is after twelve o'clock at night that was meant,"
suggested Tad.
"Mules are asleep then, aren't they?"
"Supposed to be, I guess."
"Then that's it," answered the fat boy somewhat enigmatically.
They failed to make any great distance that day. How far they had
advanced they did not know. Shortly before sundown they called a halt
at Professor Zepplin's suggestion.
The mules went to sleep while the boys were unloading them. Ned
confessed that he was nearly fagged. Tad, on the other hand, declared
that he had never felt better in his life.
"Hope they won't steal anymore live stock," said Ned. "If they do
we'll have to pack the outfit on our own backs, which, after all,
probably wouldn't be any harder than trying to lead a stubborn mule.
I think I'll tie a string around the necks of the stock and hitch the
string to my big-toe to-night. Then I'll know if anybody tries to run
off with them."
"Run off with your big-toes?" queried Chunky.
"No, run off with the ponies, I said--I mean the pony and the mules."
Stacy's eyes lighted up appreciatively.
"I've got a string that you can use," he said. "I'll fix it up for
you. Shall I?"
"You would like to see me lose my big-toes, wouldn't you? No, thank
you, I'll furnish my own string if I decide to adopt the plan.
Pages:
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95