we made some astonishing bags; astonishing not by their
size, but by the manner of their accomplishment.

We were entirely open minded. Anything that came along interested us. We
investigated all the holes in all the trees, in hopes of 'coons or honey
or something or other. We drove gloriously through every patch of brush.
Sometimes an unseen hummock would all but upset us; so we had to
scramble hastily to windward to restore our equilibrium.

The country was gridironed with irrigation ditches. They were eight to
ten feet deep, twenty or thirty feet wide, and with elevated,
precipitous banks. One could cross them almost anywhere--except when
they were brimful, of course. The banks were so steep that, once
started, the vehicle had to go, but so short that it must soon reach
bottom. On the other side the horse could attain the top by a rush;
after which, having gained at least a front footing over the bank, he
could draw the light vehicle by dead weight the rest of the distance.
Naturally, the driver had to take the course at exactly right angles, or
he capsized ingloriously.

One day Uncle Jim and I started to cross one of these ditches that had
long been permitted to remain dry. Its bottom was covered by weeds six
inches high, and looked to be about six feet down. We committed
ourselves to the slope. Then, when too late to reconsider, we discovered
that the apparent six-inch growth of weeds was in reality one of four
or five feet. The horse discovered it at the same time. With true
presence of mind, he immediately determined that it was up to him to
leap that ditch. Only the fact that he was hitched to the cart prevented
him from doing so; but he made a praiseworthy effort.

The jerk threw me backward, and had I not grabbed Uncle Jim I would most
certainly have fallen out behind. As for Uncle Jim, he would most
certainly have fallen out behind, too, if he had not clung like grim
death to the reins. And as for the horse, alarmed by the check and
consequent scramble, he just plain bolted, fortunately straight ahead.
We hit the opposite bank with a crash, sailed over it, and headed across
country.

Consider us as we went. Feet in air, I was poised on the end of my
backbone in a state of exact equilibrium. A touch would tumble me out
behind; an extra ounce would tip me safely into the cart; my only
salvation was my hold on Uncle Jim. I could not apply that extra ounce
for the simple reason that Uncle Jim also, feet in