of the drove.

Whether it was because the animal he bestrode was French, or whether
something in Pouchskin's voice had sounded ill in their ears, it is not
possible to say, but all, at once the whole Spanish _mulada_ was
perceived to be in motion--each individual mule rushing towards
Pouchskin with pricked ears, open mouth, and tail elevated in the air!
It was too late for him to hear the cry of the izzard-hunter,
"_prenez-garde_!" or the synonym, "_guarda te_!" of the muleteers. He
may have heard both these cautionary exclamations, but they reached him
too late to be of any service to him: for before he could have counted
six, at least twice that number of mules had closed round him, and with
a simultaneous scream commenced snapping and biting at both him and his
French roadster with all the fury of famished wolves! In vain did the
stalwart jennet defend itself with its shod hoofs, in vain did its rider
lay round him with his whip: for not only did the Spanish mules assail
him with their teeth, but, turning tail as well, they sent their heels
whistling around his head, and now and then thumping against his legs,
until his leather boots and breeches cracked under their kicks!

Of course the muleteers, on perceiving Pouchskin's dilemma, had rushed
instantaneously to the rescue; and with loud cries and cracking of their
whips--as muleteers alone can crack them--were endeavouring to beat off
the assailants. But, with all their exertions, backed by their
authority over the animals, Pouchskin might have fared badly enough, had
not an opportunity offered for extricating himself. His animal, fleeing
from the persecution of its Spanish enemies, had rushed in among some
boulders of rock. Thither it was hotly pursued; and Pouchskin would
again have been overtaken, had he not made a very skilful and extensive
leap out of the saddle, and landed himself on a ledge of rock. From
this he was able to clamber still higher, until he had reached a point
that entirely cleared him of the danger.

The French jennet, however, had still to sustain the attack of the
infuriated mules; but, now that it was relieved from the encumbrance of
its heavy rider, it gained fresh confidence in its long legs; and making
a dash through the midst of the _mulada_, it struck off up the
mountain-path, and galloped clear out of sight. The mules, encumbered
with their packs, did not show any inclination to follow, and the drama
was thus brought to a term