the bottom.

Ralph spurred the other on vigorously towards the bridge, while the two
negroes, who were responsible for the disaster, seized the rope that
held the animals and between the three further mischief was averted.

But it was a very close shave. Had the whole bunch gone, Ralph's life
might have been sacrificed, to say nothing of damage to the mules.

Emmons now came cantering back with his charges just as the fallen mule
regained its feet with the saddle between its legs.

"What d'ye mean?" he scolded. "Hain't you learned to ride yet?"

Ralph, rather provoked and much out of breath, was silent, but the
darkies gave loud and voluble explanations, tending mostly to exculpate
themselves. Then they brought up the fallen mule, fixed the saddle and
looked as if they would not have objected to a small reward.

"Hurry, Ralph!" exclaimed Emmons, tossing them a dime. "We got no time
to lose. Glad there's no bones broken, but you must look sharp."

Ralph remounted and they were soon on the way again. For the next two
or three days they passed through a mostly level country, where great
cotton plantations, with stretches of swamp between, alternated with
broad pine barrens.

In these last the wind sighed mournfully, and the soil looked so poor
that the mountain boy felt that there was a section worse off than his
own steep and gravelly native land.