"The--eh--cuss lifted me ten feet." Moffat laughed hoarsely, but as the foreman straightened up quickly, the amazed girl joined happily in, and his own face instantly exhibited the contagion.
"Ain't much--eh--ever happens out on a ranch," he said, doubtfully, "except dodgin' steers, and--eh--bustin' broncoes." "Your blame mule story," broke in Moffat, who had at last discovered his inspiration, "reminds me of a curious little incident occurring last year just across the divide.

I don't recall ever telling it before, but it may interest you, Miss Spencer, as illustrative of one phase of life in this country.

A party of us were out after bear, and one night when I chanced to be left all alone in camp, I did n't dare fall asleep and leave everything unguarded, as the Indians were all around as thick as leaves on a tree.

So I decided to sit up in front of the tent on watch.

Along about midnight, I suppose, I dropped off into a doze, for the first thing I heard was the hee-haw of a mule right in my ear.