When we reached the station on the farther verge of the desert, we were glad, for the first time, that the dictionary was along, because we never could have found language to tell how glad we were, in any sort of dictionary but an unabridged one with pictures in it.

But there could not have been found in a whole library of dictionaries language sufficient to tell how tired those mules were after their twenty-three mile pull.

To try to give the reader an idea of how thirsty they were, would be to "gild refined gold or paint the lily." Somehow, now that it is there, the quotation does not seem to fit--but no matter, let it stay, anyhow.

I think it is a graceful and attractive thing, and therefore have tried time and time again to work it in where it would fit, but could not succeed.

These efforts have kept my mind distracted and ill at ease, and made my narrative seem broken and disjointed, in places.