The Empire County argus., 1856-06-21
MisffllanfOas.
A Daring Deed of Eorsamanshp.
A MEXICAN SKETCH.

/" If you feel disposed to risk doubloon-I am
but poor hunter and can not place more-I shall
attempt what a muchachto of ten years would con-
slider feat perhaps"
And what may that be, Sehor Caballero? asked
the officer sneeringy.
Il will check my horse at full gallop on the brow
of yendcr cliff"
"Within two lengths from the brow"
"Within two lengths -less-the same distance that
is traced here on the banks of the sequai "
The surprise created by this announcement held
the bytanders for sCme moments in silence 1t was
O proposal of such wild and reckless daring that it
was difficult TO believe Il at the maker of it was in
earnest. Even the two officers were for a moment
staggered by it and inclined to fancy the caballero
was not serious, but mocking them
The cliff to which Carlos had pointed was part of
the bluff that hcmmed in the valley. 1t was sort
of promontory, however, that juttcd out from the
general line so as to be conspicuous object from the
plain below. Its brow Of equal height with the
rest of the precipce of which it was part-a sort
OF buttress and grassy turf that appeared along
Its edge was but the continuation of the upper plat
eau. Its front to the valley was vertical, without
terrace or ledge although horizontal seams travers
ing its face showed a stratfcaion of lime and alter
mating with each other From the sward upon the
valley to the brow above the heights was LOCO feet
short To gaze up to it trial to delicate
nerves to lock down. put the stoutest to the proof
All stood watching i'm with anxious eyes. Every
movement was noted He first aliehted from the
saddle, striped eff his manga. lad it carried back
and placed cut Of tie way. lie next looked to his
spurs, 10 sec tEat tie srars were rrcror'y bucklcd
Alter this lie retiod his SASH and placed the scmbrcro
firmly On his head. He buttCned his velvctGen cal
zones down nearly to his ankles tfat their eatler
buttons might not flap open and disccmmCde him
His hunting-kniie, alcng with tie whip, he gave to
the charge of Den Juan. His attention was next
turned to the horse that stood all this time with lis
neck curved proudly, as though lie OWNED that lie
was to be called upon for some signal service. The
bride was first scrutinizcd. The great bit-a Nam
eukt-was carefully oysm,nCd, least their might be
some Eaw or crack in tie steel. Tie Eeadstmp was
buoklcd to IFS Irrtr tieltross, ard lien tie rens
were mnutely scanned. 1lCse were tie airs Ct a
wild horses tail, Ctsoly sd rCat'y r'atttd. Tie
saddle now ad its turn. Passing r m s'de 10 SIDE.
Carlos tied both stinur-ltatlers, ard examined the
great wooden blocks which rmcd tie stirrurs The
girth was the last as well as most important object
CT his soicitudc He cosoncd tie buckles On both
sides, and thtn tig tered tfom. using is lnee to
tf,tt Lis purpose. Whtn drawn 10 Lis liking, the
tip OF lis finger could not have been passed under
tie str ng loath,r band.
No wonder lie Observed all this caution. as the
snaIping OF strap, or tie slipping of EuCko might
Lave hurried him into etHnity. Having satisfied
himself that all was right lie gathered up tie re;ns
and lcaped into tie saddle.
He first directed lis horse on a walk a'ong the
cliff and within few feet of its odge. This was TO
strengthen both himself and tie animal. Presently
the walk became trot ard then gentle cantcr-
Even this was an exhibition fearful to behold. TO
those regarding it from below, it was beautiful but
terrible spectacle After while he headed back
toward the plain and then stretched into fair ga
lcl-the gait in which lie intended to approach the
ch.-he suddenly reined up again. so to throw his
horse nearly ON his launches.
Again he resumed the same gallop. and again
rened up; and this manGuvre he repeated about a
dozen times with his horses head turned toward
The cliff and now in the direction of the pain. AT
last he was seen to turn toward the cliff and take his
finn 1T scat in the saddle The determined glance of
his eye showed that the moment had come for the
final trial. sight touch Of the spur set the noble
brute in motion, and in another moment he was in
iull galop, and heading directly fer the cliff The
silspense was of short duration. Twenty strides
brought hose and lorstman close to the verge, or
within Eaf dozen lengths. The rein still hung
locsc-Carlos dared not tighten it-a touch he knew
would Lring his horse to halt and that, before he
Lad crossed the line would ony be failure. An
Other lCal -anothcr-yet another Ho he is in
side lie will be over! Just as the horse appeared
about to spring over the horrd brink the reins
observed to tighten, the Fore oos became fixed and
spread, and the hips of the noble animal rested on
the plain He was poised at scarce three feet from
tie euSe vi Tue GILL w ME III lhls atutude tne
horseman raised his right hand, lifted his sombrero
and after waving it round, returned it to his head
A splendid picture from below The dark forms of
both horse and rider perceived they drew up
On the cliff, and the imposing and graceful attitude
was fully developed against the blue background of
the sky. The arms, the limbs, the oval outlines of
the steed, even the very trappings could be dis
tinctly and for the short period in which they were
poised and motioness the spectator might have fan
ced an equestrian statue of bronze its pedestal the
pinnacle OF the cliff