The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-07-05

you showed the hellum over to the
left. Sta'boad an port was the terms
as recollects 'em. It's Jest the same
with burros. you takes 'em BY the
tiller. that's by the tail. git gooA
dght twist on 1t an ef you want hin
to head to the right, slew his stern
sheets around to the left. an you got
to be keerfM you don't git no kick
back witch eft it lands on you is worse
n the ree-coil Of mule"
Arthur faithfully followed direc.
lions, narrowly escaping the outraged
brute's small but sharp pointed heels
on occasion. His efforts not being
productive Of much success, finally in
his despair he resorted to brute
strength; he would pick the little ami.
NAL up bodily, pack and all-he was q
man Of powerful physique-and swing
him around until his head pointed in
the right direction; then with a prayer
that the burro would keep It there for
few rods anyway, he would set him
down and start him all over again.
The process oft repeated became mo-
notonous after awhile. Arthur was .
slow thinking man. deliberate In ac-
ton; he stood It as long az he possibly
could. Kirkby, who rode one horse
and led two others, and therefore was
exempt from burro driving, observed
him with great interest. He and Brad.
shaw had strayed way behind the rest
of the party.
At last Arthur's resistance, patience
and piety, strained to the breaking
point, gave way suddenly. Primitive
instincts rose to the surface and over.
whelmed him like a food. He de-
liberately sat down on fallen tree
by the side Of trail, the burro halt
ing obediently, turned and faced him
with hanging head, apparently con.
scious that he merited the disappro-
baton that was being. heaped upon
him, for from the desperate tender.
foot there burst forth so amazing, so
fluent. so comprehensive a torrent Of
assorted profanity, that even the old
past master in objuration was aston
ished and bewildered. Where did
Bradshaw. mild and inoffensive, get
1t? His proficiency would have ap-
palled his rector and amazed his fel.
low vestrymen. Not the Jackdaw of
Rheims himself was SO cursed as that
little burro. Kirkby sat on his horse
In fits Of silent laughter until the
tears ran down mis- cheek, the only
outward and visible expression Of his
mirth.
Arthur only stopped when he had
thoroughly emptied himself, possibly
of an accumulation Of years Of repres-
sion.
WALL" said Kirkby. you sure do
overmatch any one I ever heard wen
1t comes to cursin'; wy, you could
gimme cards an spades an beat me,
an was thought to have some gift
hathaway in the old days."
Il didn't begin to exhaust myself"
answered Bradshaw. shortly. land
what did say didn't equal the situa,
ton. I'm going home"
Il wouldn't do that" urged the old
man. Here. you take the horses an
I'll tackle the burro."
Gladly" said Arthur. Il would
rather ride an elephant and drive
herd Of them than waste another min.
ute on this internal little mule"
The story was too good to keep,
and around the camp fire that night
Kirkby drawled 1t forth There was q
freedom and easiness of intercourse in
the camp, which was natural enough.
Cook. teamster, driver, host. guest.
men, women, children. and I had al.
most said burres. stood on the same
level. They all ate and lived together.
The higher up the mountain range you
go, the deeper into the wilderness you
plunge, the further away from the
conventional you draw. the more
homogeneous becomes society and the
less obvious are the irrational and IN.
scientific distinctions of the lowlands.
The guinea stamp fades and the man
and tho woman are pure gold or base
metal Inherently and not By any a..
tihcial standard. a.
George, the cattle man, who cooked,
and Pete. the horse wransler. who %.
sisted Kirkby IN looking sitter sthsI
stock. enjoyed the episode uproarious.
", and would fain have had the exact
language repeated to them, but here
Robert Maitland .demurTed, much TO:
Arthur's relief, for he vas thorouEh1y
humiliated BY the whois psrfornaAcs.i
It was very pleasant ionneina
around the canp dre ana one good
story easily led 10 another.