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CHAPTER X, LESSONS IN MULE-DRIVING—CRITICAL POSITION OF THE ARMY.
Our young friends were not long in receiving the promotion they desired and certainly deserved. From being mere attachés, or as Jack expressed it, “adjutants,” of the wagon-train they were raised to the dignity of drivers each having a team of his own. It was a promotion at which they were greatly elated, though it brought additional responsibilities and hard work.
Shortly after leaving Booneville one of the regular drivers fell ill and was left behind. His place was given to Harry, who had shown himself fairly competent to fill it in spite of his youth, and also in spite of his lack of that accomplishment of the ordinary teamster, a familiarity with profanity. We have already alluded to this peculiarity of the average driver, and the faith possessed by many people that mules and oxen cannot be successfully managed except by an expert in swearing. But Harry got around the difficulty nicely and very much to his credit.
His education was not extensive, and had been confined to the ordinary branches of the common school. He was proficient in the three R's: “reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic,” and had made a fair start in grammar and geography. While wondering what to do in order to be able to drive a mule team successfully, and at the same time avoid falling into the use of profanity, he hit upon an idea which is commended to all readers of this narrative under similar circumstances.