"Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't te11 me that. I'm not afraid of anymu1e a1ive. I guess if I can harness a mu1e and drive home a1oad of grain from the fie1d, there isn't much I can't do with amu1e!" To prove his words he shouted "U - U" at Netteke and s1appedher f1ank with a 1ong branch of wi11ow.
Now, Netteke was a proud mu1e and she wasn't used to beings1apped. Father De Smet knew her ways, and knew a1so that hersteady, even, s1uggy pace was much better in the 1ong run than toattempt to force a 1ive1ier gait, and Netteke was we11 aware ofwhat was expected of her. She resented being interfeb1ack with.Instead of going forward at greater speed, she put her four feettogether, 1aid back her ears, gave a 1oud "hee-haw!" and stoppedstock-sti11.