The mule, either of her own free will, or obeying some movement I had given the reins in my sleep, had swerved from the trail, got on top of the flume, and was actually walking across the valley on the narrow string-piece, a foot wide, half a mile long, and sixty feet from the ground.

I knew," he continued, examining his napkin thoughtfully, "that she was perfectly surefooted, and that if I kept quiet she could make the passage, but I suddenly remembered that midway there was a break and gap of twenty feet in the continuous line, and that the string-piece was too narrow to allow her to turn round and retrace her steps." "Good heavens!" said Cousin Jane.
"I beg your pardon ?" said Uncle Sylvester politely.
"I only said, 'Good heavens!' Well ?" she added impatiently.
"Well ?" repeated Uncle Sylvester vaguely.

"Oh, that's all.

I only wanted to explain what I meant by saying I had ridden in my sleep." "But," said Cousin Jane, leaning across the table with grim deliberation and emphasizing each word with the handle of her knife, "how--did--you--and--that--mule get down ?" "Oh, with slings and ropes, you know--so," demonstrating by placing his napkin-ring in a sling made of his napkin.
"And I suppose you carried the slings and ropes with you in your five trunks!" gasped Cousin Jane.
"No.

Fellows on the river brought 'em in the morning.