It was at this time that Carson, noting the plight of his young friend, dropped behind and waited for Reuben to approach.
“Well, lad,” he said, striving to speak cheerfully, “how is it?”
Reuben, almost unable to speak, shook his head as he tried to smile in response to the query of his friend.
“It’s a pity, lad,” continued the guide, “but there’s no going back. We have got into a hard piece of work, but the only thing to do is to go ahead. That is the only way out, so keep up your heart and don’t give in.”
Reuben nodded decidedly to show that his determination was still unbroken, and as he did so the mule he was riding suddenly lifted his head and, after he had sniffed the air, lowered it almost to the sand, and emitted several prolonged, heart-breaking, agonizing brays.
The stentorian blasts were quickly answered by similar sounds from the other mules in the train. Despite the efforts of the weary men to control the beasts, they all immediately began to run, followed speedily by the horses.
[CHAPTER XII—A PUZZLING MESSENGER]
“What’s wrong? What’s the matter?” demanded Reuben excitedly of Kit Carson, who was riding by his side.
“Don’t you know?” laughed the leader good-naturedly.
“No, I don’t know, that’s why I asked,” replied Reuben in the disjointed words he was able to speak, while the mule which he was riding increased the speed at which he was running.