“Yes, but what did he want of it?” “O, for de chil’en to play with.” “That’s queer. I didn’t know there was one.” “O, you see de doctor got him de time you was off on de scursium. Ole scissa grinda come long, an de doctor bought de donkey. Ole scissa grinda beat de donkey so, dat de doctor got him, an means to keep him for de chil’en. Dat’s all.” “Poor old Neddy,” said Bart. “He’s pretty lean. But he’s all right now. This will be a Paradise for him. But I say, boys--I wonder how he rides. I’ve never been on a donkey’s back in my life. Have you?” “And I never saw one before,” said Bruce. “I can’t say I admire him much.” “Well, neither did I, for that matter,” said Bart; “and for that very reason I want to have a ride on him.” Saying this, Bart went up to the donkey. The patient animal did not move, but calmly went on eating a delicious thistle that was under his nose. Bart got on his back. The donkey ate on, apparently unconscious of the weight. Bart caught hold of his long ears, and tried to pull up his head. But the donkey ate on! Then Bart slapped his flanks with his hands. But the donkey ate on! Then Bart kicked him vigorously with his heels. But the donkey ate on! Then he whistled, and shouted, and pulled his ears, and kicked at him, and mixed all sorts of encouraging words with acts of the most violent kind. But the donkey ate on! That donkey seemed to be about the most phlegmatic animal that they had ever met with. Bart was in despair. He looked over the field to see if there was a stick lying about anywhere. He asked the boys if they could see one. He now sat still, for a short time, on the donkey’s back, waiting till he should find a stick. While he was seated thus the donkey slowly lifted his head. He had finished that thistle, and felt refreshed. Slowly he elevated his head; slowly he threw back his ears; slowly also he elevated his tail; until at last his nose was directed towards a point about twelve degrees above the northern horizon, and his tail to another point about eleven degrees above the southern. Then he spread all his legs apart. Then he opened his mouth. Then:-- _Hee haw! Hee Haw!! Hee Haw!!! Haw haw 1 Hawwwww! Heee! Hee haw! Heee! Haaaaw! Hee-haw! Hee-haw! Haw! Hee! Haw! Hee! Haw! Hee! Haw! Hee! Haw! H-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E I H-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-w!_ Bart sprang from his back. The other boys started and looked at one another in utter amazement. One mystery was at last revealed! X. _Irrepressible Outburst of Feeling from the Grand Panjandrum.--He enlarges upon the Dignity of his Office.--Spades again.--Digging once more.--At the old Place, my Boy.--Resumption of an unfinished Work.--Uncovering the Money-hole.--The Iron Plate.--The Cover of the Iron Chest--A Tremendous but restrained Excitement._