How fur is it to the mines, do you calc'late ?" "We are probably about half-way.

We ought to reach the Yuba River inside of a week." Here Mr.Bickford's mustang deliberately stopped and began to survey the scenery calmly.
"What do you mean, you pesky critter ?" demanded Joshua.
The mustang turned his head and glanced composedly at the burden he was carrying.
"G'lang!" said Joshua, and he brought down his whip on the flanks of the animal.
It is not in mustang nature to submit to such an outrage without expressing proper resentment.

The animal threw up its hind legs, lowering its head at the same time, and Joshua Bickford, describing a sudden somersault, found himself sitting down on the ground a few feet in front of his horse, not seriously injured, but considerably bewildered.
"By gosh!" he ejaculated.
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to dismount, Mr.Bickford ?" asked Joe, his eyes twinkling with merriment.
"Because I didn't know it myself," said Joshua, rising and rubbing his jarred frame.
The mustang did not offer to run away, but stood calmly surveying him as if it had had nothing to do with his rider's sudden dismounting.
"Darn the critter! He looks just as if nothing had happened," said Joshua.

"He served me a mean trick." "It was a gentle hint that he was tired," said Joe.
"Darn the beast! I don't like his hints," said Mr.Bickford.
He prepared to mount the animal, but the latter rose on its hind legs and very clearly intimated that the proposal was not agreeable.
"What's got into the critter ?" said Joshua.
"He wants to rest.

Suppose we rest here for half-an-hour, while we loosen check-rein and let the horses graze." "Just as you say." Joshua's steed appeared pleased with the success of his little hint and lost no time in availing himself of the freedom accorded him.
"I wish I was safe at the mines," said Joshua.