"Get up! You're all right," commanded Ned, jerking Stacy out by the collar. "See what you've accomplished now. You have done for our last mule. Had you not been along I don't believe the other one would have fallen off the trail."
"That's right. Save the donk, but never mind a Stacy Brown. He's a good joke, that's all," complained Stacy.
Tad had run to the pack mule which had got up, and was standing with nose close to the ground.
"He isn't hurt," cried Tad. "He is all right, Professor," he called. "Both mules are all right. Hooray!"
Anvik, who had been making his way down by a more roundabout way, now made his appearance. He grunted upon discovering the disheveled Chunky, and shrugged his shoulders as he observed the display of tin cans strewn about.
"Much heap big fool!" ejaculated the Indian.
"Are you addressing your remarks to me or to the mule?" demanded Stacy calmly.
"Huh!" That was the only reply Stacy got, and Anvik began gathering up the stuff that had been lost from the battered pack. This was no small task, owing to the way the provisions had been scattered. Butler, in the meantime, had gone over the pack mule carefully to see if there were any serious injuries.
"He's a lucky mule," announced the lad. "There are no bones broken, but I'll warrant he aches all over from the shaking up he has had. I shall have to sew up that gash on his side when we get him up."
"Let's get started and boost him up, then," urged Rector.
"No, let the beggar rest. I haven't the heart to drag him up that mountain again until he recovers from the shock. We'll tether him and help Anvik get the provisions up first. Stacy, are you able to work?"
"My weak heart won't stand it," he answered. Thrusting his hands in his pockets he strolled off.
The two boys looked at each other and Tad shook his head hopelessly. Ned picked up a stone and savagely shied it at a tomato can. It hit the can and split it wide open.
"If you must give vent to your emotions I wish you would throw stones at a tree, or at something that won't deplete our stores," suggested Butler. "Now see what you've done."
Stacy had promptly rescued the split tomato can and carefully holding it before him stepped gingerly over to a rock on which he sat down and began eating of the contents of the can.