Part 50 (1/2)

”See how still he keeps, the old cuss,” said Jack Henderson gently. ”A horse would have kicked himself to death long ago. That mule knows just what's holding him. A mule forgets more in a minute than a horse knows in a year.”

Uncle Denny almost wept. The mule pressed his helpless forelegs against the wall and except that he panted with fright and that his ears moved back and forth as he listened for his hombre's voice, he was motionless.

His liquid eyes were fastened on the group above with an appeal that touched every man there.

”What can you do for the poor brute!” cried Uncle Denny.

”Wait till the hombre gets back,” said Henderson. ”If he can hang on that long, we can save him. Nothing like this happens to a mule very often. You can't get a mule to try a trail that isn't wide enough for his pack. They can reason, the old fools! Bill Evans' auto shoved this fellow over. The steering gear broke.”

At this moment a panting hombre arrived with two coils of rope. The men hastily fastened one rope under the Mexican's arms. He seized the other and they lowered him into the canyon. He talked to the mule in soft Spanish all the way down and the great beast began to answer him with deep groans. With infinite care, the hombre cut the packs loose and they went cras.h.i.+ng into the river bed. Still the mule did not move. His driver carefully made the rope fast round the mule. The waiting men then drew the little Mexican up, and when he was safe all hands, including Uncle Denny, drew the mule up. When the big gray reached the road, he tried each leg with a gentle shake, walked over to the inside edge of the road and lifted his voice in a bray that shook the heavens.

The men laughed and patted him. ”When I was in the Verde river country one spring, years ago,” said Henderson, in his tender, singing voice, ”I had a mule train up in the hills. They was none of them broke and they wouldn't cross the river till I took off my clothes and swam with 'em, one at a time. It was fearful cold. The water was just melted snow and I was some mad. But I finally got all but one across. He was a big gray like this. I was so cold and so hungry and so mad, I tied his head up a tree and swam off and left him to die.

”I made camp across the river and two or three times in the night I woke up and thought of that old gray mule. I was still sore at him, but I made up my mind I wouldn't go off and leave him to starve to death, that I'd shoot him in the morning. But in the morning I got to looking at him and I was afraid a shot from across the river would just wound him. I wouldn't risk my gun again in the water, so I takes off my clothes, takes my knife in my teeth and,” Henderson's voice was very sweet as he scratched the mule's ear, ”and swims back to cut his throat.

When I got up to him I cussed him out good. And I says, 'I'll give you one more chance. Either you swim or I cut your throat.' I untied him and that old gray walked down to the water's edge and you'd ought to see him hustle in and swim! He'd reasoned out I was a man of my word!”

Jim had come up in time to hear the story and when Henderson had finished he said: ”I've always claimed it was the mules that built the government dams. What would we have done with our fearful trails and distance and heavy freight without the mule? Some day when I get time, I'll write a rhapsody on the mule.”

The men laughed and made way for the doctor on his horse. But the doctor stopped and spoke very gravely to Uncle Denny.

”Mrs. Saradokis wants you. Her husband is very low.”

CHAPTER XXV

SARA GOES ON A JOURNEY

”Love is the speaking voice of the Great Hunger. Happy the human who has found one great love. All nature speaks in him profoundly.”

MUSINGS OF THE ELEPHANT.

Jim started up the road but Mr. Dennis stopped long enough to say, ”Oughtn't you to be there, doctor?”

The doctor nodded. ”I'll be back as soon as I can. They've just brought an hombre with a crushed leg into the hospital. Mrs. Flynn knows what to do and so does his wife. He may go any time.”

Uncle Denny panted after Jim, but before they reached the tent house, Mrs. Flynn stopped them on the trail.

”It's all over,” she said. ”I've taken Mrs. Penelope over to our house.

I'll take charge up here.”

”You don't mean Saradokis is dead?” cried Uncle Denny.

”He is, G.o.d rest his poor wicked soul!”

Jim stood white and rigid. ”Did I hasten this with my scene last night, I wonder!” he asked huskily.

Mrs. Flynn shook her head. ”The doctor told me a month ago not to go out of reach of the tent house. That this was liable to come any time. He came out of the morphine near noon, held Mrs. Pen's hand and said she had slapped a lot of the bitterness out of his heart last night. Then he went to sleep and never woke up. Mr. Dennis, you go to Mrs. Penelope.

Boss, you go and do the telegraphing that's necessary.”