With these words he threw the reins over the backs of the horses and, stepping upon the platform, prepared to put in the freight and baggage before seating the passengers. Sack after sack, box after box, package after package was deposited in the immense "boot" at the back of the vehicle; then the space under and between the seats was filled to its utmost capacity.
"See here," said Mr. Page, who had been watching the transfer with some concern, "where are you going to put your passengers? Or, rather, where are they going to put their feet? Do you intend to have them sit Turk fashion on the seats?"
The driver showed his brilliant teeth once more as he answered, good-humoredly: "Plenty of room for passengers, mister. I understand you and the lady are goin' in the buggy. There won't be no one in the stage, 'ceptin' the other lady and the little boy and gal and myself. You ought to see 'em sometimes, settin' on each other's laps."
"Oh, there's room enough in one way," said Mr. Page; "but they will have no place to rest their feet. Why do you crowd the stage with baggage and freight? Why don't you have an extra wagon?"
"Ha, ha!" laughed the driver, though not at all disrespectfully. "That would be a cost—to freighters.
"But," he continued, quite seriously, "this is a larger load of freight and baggage than usual. There's going to be a party up at Julian to-night, and there's a good many extras.
"If you'll step in now, ladies," he went on, turning politely to Aunt Mary and Nellie, "you can have your choice of seats. The lady can set in the back with the hull seat to herself, and she won't have to sit Turk fashion, neither. The little gal can do the same, and when you put a robe at your back—plenty of 'em here—you'll be like you was reclinin' on a couch. Otherwise, I don't deny that if you sit up straight you'll have your knees at your chin, for there won't be no other place to put 'em, with the boxes and bags on the floor. The little feller can set with me in front."
Walter sprang into the place allotted him.
"Hello!" he exclaimed. "Our legs are not going to be cramped. You've got all the baggage under the other seats behind there."
"That's the way it's got to be," said the driver gravely. "Got to have my legs free to steer the ship. Holdin' them mules ain't always a joke."