Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/404

384 two separate boats, the larger one containing not only that, but all the mule trappings. When our boat was half across the river, it was perceived that nothing could induce the animals to take the water: on the opposite shore stood a man with the bell of their leader; but they had sense enough to see that their leader was with them; and would not pay any attention to the summons. We could see the muleteers attempting to shove the leader into the water, and they effected this more than once, but the animal obstreperously took to the nearest land, which was on the side from which she set out: in this dilemma, Murillo requested to be put back on the shore we had left, as he was sure, he said, he could bring them all over. He was accordingly conveyed back in the boat from which we had now landed, and having arrived at the spot where the mules were standing, he attached a rope to the leader, which quietly followed him into the water, and swam after him: the mules followed of course;