"I know. I wish to inspect them again before the veterinary sees them. Telephone to the corral for a saddle mule."
The brigadier went inside to telephone and Burley started for the corral at the same time.
His cream-coloured, wall-eyed mule was saddled and waiting when he arrived; he stuffed his papers into the breast of his tunic and climbed into the saddle.
"Allongs!" he exclaimed. "Hoop!"
Half way to Nivelle, on an overgrown, bushy, circuitous path which was the only road open between Nivelle and Sainte Lesse, he overtook Maryette, driving her donkey and ancient market cart.
"Carillonnette!" he called out joyously. "Maryette! C'est je!"
The girl, astonished, turned her head, and he spurred forward on his wall-eyed mount, evincing cordial symptoms of pleasure in the encounter.
"Wee, wee!" he cried. "Je voolay veneer avec voo!" And ere the girl could protest,[pg 194] he had dismounted, turning the wall-eyed one's nose southward, and had delivered a resounding whack upon the rump of that temperamental animal.
"Allez! Go home! Beat it!" he cried.