What a plight would you now be in, if there was need for a long and a quick push with our heels ?" "The fault exists in the formation of the quadruped," said Obed, whose placid temper began to revolt under so many scandalous imputations.

"Had there been rotary levers for two of the members, a moiety of the fatigue would have been saved, for one item--" "That, for your moiety's and rotaries, and items, man; a jaded ass is a jaded ass, and he who denies it is but a brother of the beast itself.
Now, captain, are we driven to choose one of two evils.

We must either abandon this man, who has been too much with us through good and bad to be easily cast away, or we must seek a cover to let the animal rest." "Venerable venator!" exclaimed the alarmed Obed; "I conjure you by all the secret sympathies of our common nature, by all the hidden--" "Ah, fear has brought him to talk a little rational sense! It is not natur', truly, to abandon a brother in distress; and the Lord He knows that I have never yet done the shameful deed.

You are right, friend, you are right; we must all be hidden, and that speedily.

But what to do with the ass! Friend Doctor, do you truly value the life of the creatur' ?" "He is an ancient and faithful servant," returned the disconsolate Obed, "and with pain should I see him come to any harm.