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Show FORTY YEAfcS AMONG THE INDIANS. 157 He said, " They are fine mules; I will give you a good trade for them." And then offered us a pair of ponies and twenty- five dollars. I told him they were all we had left of what we had earned during our trip ; that we were anxious to get home as soon as possible, and that they would carry us better than the ponies would. I knew the ponies well that he offered us. He insisted on the trade. We declined as the mules were worth at least $ 400, while the ponies were not worth over $ 75. If he gave us the $ 25 difference he would still get at least $ 300 for noth-ing. Finally, when we would not trade, Martin said he had no money to loan. He had a large provision store, and I said, " Then let us have a little provisions and we will go on." He replied that he was selling on commission and could let nothing go without the money. If ever two men felt indignant we did. We had parted company with our friends, the two horsemen. They still had plenty of money. They doubtless would have given us some had we asked them, but we were sure of getting some from Martin. I also had several old acquaintances in Denver who, no doubt, would have helped us, but we felt now like asking no assistance from any person. We had just forty cents and were four hundred miles from old Jack Robinson's camp at Bridger. We know he would not turn us away. My answer to Martin was " Bill Martin, you see these two mules ; they are better animals than you ought to own. It is only four hundred miles to Jack Robinson's ; they will carry us there in four days ; we can starve that long and you can't have the mules. Good day." We bought forty cents worth of cheap cakes and started out with the expectation of going hungry. As |