the four took up the task, Adams in
the lead, with the rest stringing after him in Indian file. The
declaration of Vose was verified sooner than was expected. While the
mule was so sure-footed that he seemed to meet with no difficulty, it
was excessively trying to the horses, who stumbled and recovered
themselves so often that Captain Dawson began to fear one or more of
them would go lame. Still in his anxiety to get forward, he repressed
his fears, hoping that there would be some improvement and cheering
himself with the belief that since all had gone well for so long, it
would continue on the same line.

* * * * *

Once, however, his horse made such an abrupt stumble that the captain
narrowly saved himself from being unseated. On the impulse of the
moment he called to Adams in advance:

"Vose, I am afraid this won't do!"

The leader did not look around and acted as if he had not heard him.

"I say, Vose, isn't it better that we should wait till our horses can
see the way?"

Since the leader took no notice of this demand, the captain concluded
his fears were groundless and said no more.

"If he thinks it safe for us to keep on, I shall not oppose."

But Captain Dawson might have opposed, had he known the truth, for,
strange as it may seem, Vose Adams did not hear the words addressed to
him, because he was asleep on the back of his mule Hercules, as he had
been many a time while riding over the lonely trail. In truth, there
was some foundation for his declaration that he could sleep more
soundly on the back of his animal than while wrapped up in his blanket
in some fissure among the rocks. Fortunately for him, however, these
naps were of short duration, and, while indulging in them, he relied
upon his animal, which had acquired a wonderful quickness in detecting
danger. The slightest lagging in his gait, a halt, a turning to one
side or a whinny was sufficient to bring back on the instant the
wandering senses of the rider. In the present instance his slumber was
not interrupted until Hercules, seeing exactly where he was, dropped
his walk to a lagging gait.

On the very second Vose Adams opened his eyes. So naturally that no
one suspected anything, he checked his animal and looked around.

"Pards, we've reached a ticklish spot, and it's for you to say whether
we shall wait for daylight afore trying it."

"What is its nature?" asked the captain, as he and the two beh