No. 2 grasps the lash-rope above where it leaves the hook and below the edge of the pad, right hand below left, places left knee against rear corner of pad; No. 1 grasps with the right hand the same part of the rope where it comes over the pack on the near side, and with the left hand at _G_, Fig. 28, places his right shoulder against the pack to steady it; he then says, "_Pull_." No. 2 tightens by steady pulls and, without letting the rope slip back through the hook, gives the slack to No. 1, who takes it up by steady pulls. When No. 2 thinks the cincha is sufficiently drawn, he says, "_Enough_." No. 1 holds solid with the right hand, slips the left down to where the rope passes over the front edge of the pad, and holds solid; the right hand then grasps the continuation of the rope at rear corner of pad and pulls taut; then with both hands, placing his right knee against rear corner of pad, pulls the rope well home, No. 2 taking up the slack by grasping the rope (_I_, Fig. 28) where it comes over the rear end of off-side pack, with both hands. No. 1 steps to the front and steadies the pack; No. 2 then pulls taut the parts on his side, taking up the slack; this draws the part of the lash-rope _AA_, Fig. 28, well back at the middle of the pack; he then with the left hand at the rear corner of pad (_K_) pulls taut, and holds solid, while with right hand at front corner of pad (_L_) he takes up slack; he then, with both hands at, and placing his knee against, the front corner of the pad, pulls well taut, No. 1 taking up the slack on his side, and then pulls solid, drawing the part _EE_, Fig. 28, of the rope coming out from the hook well forward at the middle of the pack, then carries the free end under the corners and end of pad, draws taut and ties the end fast by a half-hitch near cincha end of lash-rope. If the rope should be long enough to reach over the load, after passing under the corners, it is passed over and made fast on the off side by tying around both parts of the lash-rope above the hook and drawing them well together. To tighten the lash rope on the load it is necessary to take up and pass the slack as in the final tightening. To slacken the rope on the load it is necessary to begin to slacken from the free end, and carry the slack by reversing the process of tightening. When the pack-cover is used, it is placed over the cargo before putting on the lash-rope. When the side-packs are of unequal bulk or weight, the larger or heavier should be placed on the near side; it should then lap over the off-side pack until the packs balance. =Top Packs=, i. e., small packages placed in the middle between the side packs, should be avoided. When the sling-rope is half-hitched into the saddle-yokes the load is made more secure, but there is great danger of injury to the mule's back.