, 1880-05-17
The Conquest of the Mule.

The western pack-mule is small !,
sinewy, and, like old Joey Bagstock.
though, sir, tough but de-e-vlish
sly p Most of them are bred from In
dian ponies and are born on the open
plains. Having previously been las
seed and branded, when three years
old they are driven Tor inveigled) into
q corral and exhibited for sale as
5ronchos. An untamed horse is
model of gentleness beside them.
Sometimes they are accustomed at once
to the saddle by one of those wonder
full riders WHO can stick on the back OF
anything that runs, and more rarely
they are broken to harness: but ordi-
narily their backs are trained to bear
the pack, which is generally the only
practicable method of transporting
freight through these rugged noun
tains.
The first time the pack-saddles are
put on, the excitement may be I'M
agined. The green mule, strong in his
youth, having been adroitly "roped "
or lassoed, is led out into an open
space, stepping timidly, hut, not see
ing any cause for alarm, quietly; be-
fore he understands what it all means,
he finds that q moose of the rawhlde
lariat about his neck has been slipped
over his nose, and discovers that his
tormentors have an advantage. He
pulls, shakes his head, stands upright
on opposite ends, but all to no avail.
The harder he pulls, the tighter the
moose pinches his nostrils, SO at last he
comes down and keeps still. Then a
man approaches slowly and circum-
specify, holding behind him a leather
binder which he seeks to slip over the
mules eyes. But two long ears stand
in the way, and the first touch of the
leather is the signal for tive jumps
one by the beast and one by the man,
for packers are wise enough IN their
day and generation to fight shy OF the
business end of mule. The next at
tempt is less matter of caution and
more of strength, and here the animal
has so much advantage that often 1t
must be lassoed again and thrown to
the groand.
It is fine sight to witness the in
dignation Of such fellow He falls
heavily, yet holds his lead high and
essays to rise. But his fore-feet are
manacled by ropes and his head is fast.
Yet he will shake almost free, get upon
his hind-fe fest, stand straight up and
dash down with all its weight in futile
efforts for liberty. Secured with more
ropes, allowed but three legs to stand
upon and cursed frightfully, he must
submit, though he never does it with
good grace. 1t is not always, however,
that this extremity is resorted to. Some
animals make little resistance while the
strange thing is being put upon their
backs and the fastenings adjusted-all
but one; cut when an sffort IS made to
put that institution called a oruppar
under a young mules tail, language
fails TO express the character of the
kicking! The light heels describe an
arc from the ground to ten feet above
it and then strike out at tangent.
They cut through the air like whip
lashes and would penetrate an lmpedl-
ment like bullets. But even mule flesh
tires. Strategy wins. The crupper is
gained and the first hard pull made
upon the sinch las the girth is termed 4,
which holds firmly every hair-breadth,
and will finally crease the contour of
the mules belly into the semblance OF
Cupid's bow. But this one pull suf-
fees to set him springing again-buck-
ing, now, with arched back and head
between his knees, landing on stiff legs
to jar his burden off, or falling full
weight on his side and rolling over to
scrape it free. He will sit on his
launches and hurl himself backward ;
will duck his head and turn a somer-
sault; finally will stand still, trembling
with anger and exhaustion, and let you
lead him away, conquered From an
illustrated article by Ernest Ingersoll
on Rocky Mountain Mules" in
Scribner.