“Well, it’s of no use to make bones about it. I shall have to go and give ’em a clearing shove or two.”
“You’ll do no such mad thing,” cried the doctor angrily. “If the rattlesnakes will face the darkness they must be swarming out of their holes after this disturbance. Here, start afresh, Chris. Take the mule’s rein and lead him on steadily a little more to the right.”
This was done, but the kegs did not move.
“Try to the left now, my boy.”
Chris led the animal in the required direction, but the kegs remained fast.
“You’ll break the rope,” said Griggs.
“Then we must make fast another,” replied the doctor. “We must go farther off now, and pull at right angles.”
“You’ll only get the rope cut by some of the upright stones,” said Griggs bitterly. “It’s of no use, doctor. I must go back and—”
Bump!
At that moment, before the American had finished his sentence, there was a quick movement, the tubs had yielded to the steady strain kept up by the mule, and for the next few minutes they came on, gliding easily over the sand, bumping and hopping over stones, against some of which they collided in a way that threatened to knock off hoops or drive in staves, but they kept on coming till the mule reached the first of its companions, when the doctor called a halt.