chattering of his teeth.

"You had better mount and ride round the road here, for a bit. Take
the reins, so. Stand facing the saddle, so. Now put this foot in the
stirrup, seize the pommel, and swing the other leg over as you spring.
That's the idea!"

Nucky was awkward, but he landed in the saddle and found the other
stirrup, the mule standing fast as a mountain while he did so. Spoons
moved off at Allen's bidding, and Nucky grasped at the pommel. But
only for a moment.

"Don't he shake any worse than this?" he cried.

"No, but it's not so easy to stay in the saddle when the grade's steep.
Pull on your right rein, Enoch, and bring old Spoons in behind me.
Well done! We're off! See the bunch on the hotel steps! Guess you
fooled 'em this time, New York!"

Half a dozen people, including the clerk were standing on the steps,
watching the little cavalcade. As the mules filed by, somebody began
to clap.

"What's the excitement, Frank?" demanded Nucky.

Frank turned in his saddle to smile at the boy. "Out in this country
we admire physical nerve because we need a lot of it. And you're
showing a good quality, old chap. Just sit easy now and when you want
me to stop, yell."