"Ki Sing," said Bradley, jocosely¹, "I am afraid we can't carry your trunk with us."

 

"'Tlunk'!" repeated the Chinaman, looking puzzled.

 

"Yes, trunk, or 'tlunk,' as you call it. Haven't you a trunk to carry your clothes?"

 

"Got clothes on," said Ki Sing, pointing to his blouse and wide pants.

 

"I see," said Bradley, laughing. "We're all about in the same fix. The clothes of the whole party wouldn't half fill a trunk."

 

[Pg 105]The two horses were brought out and saddled.

 

Bradley assisted Richard Dewey to mount one, and motioned to Ben to mount the other. "Get on, Ben," he said. "It's time the procession was moving."

 

Ben shook his head. "No, Jake," he said. "You are older than I am. It is proper that you should ride."

 

"If I'm older than you," said Bradley, "I am stronger than you, and am better able to walk."

 

"I am strong enough, Jake. I sha'n't get tired."

 

"One of us ought to ride. There's no use in havin' a horse if you ain't going to use him."

 

"Suppose," suggested Ben, laughing, "we let Ki Sing ride?"

 

Bradley saw that a joke was intended, and he turned gravely to the Chinaman. "Ki Sing," he said, "come here and mount this mustang. We are goin' to let you ride."

 

An expression of alarm overspread the Chinaman's broad face. He had never been on a horse's back in his life, but he knew something of the Californian mustangs. More than once he had seen[Pg 106] them buck² and throw the ill-fated riders over their heads, and, not being of a daring or venturesome nature, he preferred to walk rather than trust himself to mount the back of so treacherous³ an animal.

 

"Ki Sing no wantee lide," he said, starting back in alarm.

 

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