"About that thistle. Sleepy is very fond of thistles--he'll stop the whole train to eat one. Usually he carries one hanging in his mouth, so's to eat it when he gets hungry. He's a wise one, that mule. I'll bet you, an hour before camp to-night you'll see him wake up and get frisky; all his tired look is just a bluff. And I'll bet you, too, you can't manage to ride ahead of Sleepy on the trail. He never will take the last place on the trail." "Why, how's that?" said Jesse. "I should think he'd like to loaf behind, if he's so wise." "No, Sleepy has got brains. He knows that if he gets a stone in his foot, or if his pack slips, a man is his best friend. So he just goes ahead where folks can see that he's comfortable. You can't ride ahead of him; he'll gallop on and won't let you pass him; so don't try. "Nigger, that other mule, doesn't care--some one'll have to keep him moving. I usually carry a little rubber sling shot in my pocket, and when Nigger gets too lazy and begins to straggle off I turn around and peck him one with a pebble. Then you ought to see him get into his place and promise to be good! "I've got quite a pack train, at home on the Gallatin, but your uncle said this was all I was to bring. Can we take all your stuff?" Uncle Dick smiled at that and showed him the four rolls, neat and compact. "The robes make most of the bulk," said he. "Yes. Well, I hope they can keep warm in July," said Billy. "But we like 'em," said Jesse. "It's more like the old times." "Yes. Well, I hope you've got some mosquito bar. We've still got a few old-time mosquitoes in the valley; but in a week or two now they'll all be gone." "Trust these boys to have what they need, and no more," said Uncle Dick. "Now fall to and get on the loads while I take back my borrowed skiff." Billy looked at the boys dubiously. "Well, I'll make it the 'lone packer' hitch," said he. "Oh, they'll help you," said Uncle Dick. "They can throw almost any diamond, from the 'government' hitch down to the 'squaw' hitch. You see, we've lived up North a good deal, and learned to pack anything--man, dog, or mule." "So? Well, all right." He turned to Rob. "Better take off side," he said; "the mules are more used to me for near side. I never blindfold them." They began with Sleepy, and soon had two packs in the sling ropes, a third on top, with all ready to lash. Rob asked no questions, but went on, taking slack and cinching at the word. Billy laughed. "Tried you on the old U. S. hitch," said he. "None better. Set?" "All set!" "Cinch!" Rob put his foot against Sleepy's far side and drew hard. In a jiffy the ropes flew into the tight diamond and Billy tied off. "She's a good one!" intoned Rob. Billy laughed again. "I guess you've been there before," said he. "How about you boys--can you all ride? My saddle stock's all quiet, far as I know, but----" "I think we can get by," said Rob. "We're not fancy, but we can ride all day."