60 STORIES FROM DAUDET

coloured flame all disappeared down
the throats of these young imps.

And it was not enough for them to
steal her wine, they were perfect fiends
all these little clerks when they had
been drinking. . . . They pulled her
ears, they pulled her tail, Quiquet got
on her back, Béluguet rammed his
cap over her eyes, and not one of
these little rascals stopped to think
that the good mule could send any of
them to the polar star or even farther
with one plunge or kick. ... No,
indeed ; she was not the Pope’s mule
for nothing, the mule of blessings and
indulgences. Whatever the children
did she would not harm them; she
only bore malice against Tistet Védéne.
When she felt that he was behind her,
her hoofs longed to be at him, and she
was fully justified. This wicked Tistet
played her such horrid tricks! He was
so cruel after his wine.

One day he took it into his head to
make her go up with him to the belfry