gentle, guileless creatures."

"Well," retorted the horse, "I will doubtless be able to escape since I
am not to be encumbered with any mountains. Proceed."

The donkey smiled in derision at these observations by the horse.

Presently they came upon some men who were labouring away like mad,
digging ditches, felling trees, gathering fruits, carrying water,
building huts.

"Look at these men, would you," said the horse. "Can you trust them
after this exhibition of their depravity? See how each one selfishly--"

The donkey interrupted with a loud laugh.

"What nonsense!"

And then he cried out to the men, "Ho, my friends, will you please come
and shovel a range of mountains upon my back?"

"What?"

"Will you please come and shovel a range of mountains upon my back?"

The men were silent for a time. Then they went apart and debated. They
gesticulated a great deal.

Some apparently said one thing and some another. At last they paused and
one of their number came forward.

"Why do you wish a range of mountains shovelled upon your back?"

"It is a wager," cried the donkey.

The men consulted again. And as the discussion became older, their heads
went closer and closer together, until they merely whispered, and did
not gesticulate at all. Ultimately they cried, "Yes, certainly we will
shovel a range of mountains upon your back for you."

"Ah, thanks," said the donkey.

"Here is surely some deviltry," said the horse behind his hoof to the
ox.

The entire party proceeded then to the mountains. The donkey drew a long
breath and braced his legs.

"Are you ready?" asked the men.

"All ready," cried the donkey.

The men began to shovel.

The dirt and stones flew over the donkey's back in showers. It was not
long before his legs were hidden. Presently only his neck and head
remained in view. Then at last this wise donkey vanished. There had
been made no great effect upon the range of mountains. They still
towered toward the sky.

The watching crowd saw a heap of dirt and stones make a little movement
and then was heard a muffled cry. "Enough! Enough! It was not two ranges
of mountains! It is not fair! It is not fair!"

But the men only laughed as they shovelled on.

"Enough! Enough! Oh, woe is me--thirty snow-capped peaks upon my little
back. Ah, these false, false men! Oh, virtuous, wise, and holy men,
desist."

The men again laughed. They were as busy as fiends with their shovels.

"Ah, brutal, c