While Nos. 1 and 2 are tying and placing the cargo, No. 3 takes the lash-rope, throws the free end to the rear of the mule, convenient to No. 2, and places the cincha end in front of No. 1. No. 1 grasps the rope with the right hand, three feet from the cincha, and passes the hook end of the cincha under the mule to No. 2, who takes the hook (_H_, Fig. 24) in the left hand; No. 1 with the left hand grasps the rope three feet above the right, raises the rope and lays it between the side-packs from rear to front (_P P′_), pulling it to the front until a long enough loop (_A_) is formed to pass over the cargo and fasten in the cincha-hook (_H_). The right hand, back down, holds the cincha end of the rope, the loop (_A_) falling outward over the right forearm; the left hand, back up, holding the other part of the rope between the loop and the middle of the packs; No. 1 now throws the loop (_A_) over the pack, then lets the part in the left hand drop on the mule's neck, thus forming another loop (_A′_, Fig. 25); No. 2 passes the rope through the hook, pulls the cincha end of the rope till the hook is drawn up so that, when tightened, the hook shall be near the lower edge of the off pad. No. 1 now grasps the rope at _G_, Fig. 26, and tucks a loop from rear to front, under the part _AA_, Fig. 26, over the centre of the near-side pack (_G_, Fig. 27); No. 2 passes the free end of the rope under the part _EE_, Fig. 27, and throws it over on the near side of the mule's neck; No. 1 draws the tucked loop forward and forces the rope under the corners and lower edge of the near pad and hauls it taut from above the rear corner; No. 2 grasps the rope at _I_, Fig. 27, with the left hand, and at _K_ with the right hand, and passes the rope under the corners and lower edge of off pad (_KL_, Fig. 28) and hauls taut at the front corner, No. 1 taking in the slack at the free end of the rope. The lash is now ready for the final tightening. No. 2 removes the blind, leads the mule forward a few steps, No. 1 in rear at the same time looking to see if the packs are properly adjusted. The mule is again blinded. The object of the final tightening is to lash the load firmly to the saddle; pulling all the parts of the lash-rope taut, and taking up the slack, commencing at the cincha; and continuing the process from part to part, until the slack is taken up at the free end of the lash-rope. While No. 2 is pulling the parts taut, No. 1 takes up the slack or steadies the cargo, or _vice versa_; the pulling is done in such manner as not to shake the cargo out of position.