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

I" If you feel disposed to risk a doubloon-I am
but poor hunter and can not place more-I shall
attempt what muchachito of ten years would con-
slider feat perhaps"
And what may that be, Selor Caballero? asked
the officer sneeringly.
Il will check my horse at full gallop on the brow
Of yondor cliff"
"Within two lengths from the brow ?"
Within two engths-less--thes same distance that
is traced here, en- the banks of the sequa"
The surprise created by this announcement held
the bysandcrs for sCme moments in silence. 1t was
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 cabalcro
was not serious, but mocking them.
The cliff to which Carlos lad pointed was part of
the buff that holnmcd in the valley. 1t was sort
Of promontory however, that juttcd out lrcm the
plain below. Its brow was of equal height with the
rest Of the precipice, Of which it was parta sort
of buttreSs and grassy turf that appeared along
It's 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 sratifcation of lime and alter
mating with each other. From the sward upon the
valley to the brow above the Heights was COO feet
short. TO gaze up to it was a trial to delicate
nerves to lock down. put the soutest to the proof
All stood watching i'm with anxious eyes. Every
movement was noted. He first aglted from the
saddle, STRIPED eff his manga. ad it carried back
and placed Cut cl tie way. lie royt locked to his
spurs, to see tEat tie srGrs were rrcrory buckcd.
Alter tls he rctiod his SASH and placed the scmbrcro
firmly cn lis head. He buttCnod his velvct7on cal
zones down nearly to his ankles so iat their catl er
buttons might not flap open and disccmmc de him
His hunting-kniie, along with TIE whip. he gave to
the Charge of Den Juan. His attention was next
turned to the horse that stood all this tine with lis
neck curved proudly. as though lie OWNED tlat lie
was to be called upon for some signal service The
bride was first scrut;nizod. TIE great bt-a Nam
cukt-was carefully oytm,nCd least tlcir might be
some taw CT crack in Tie steel. Tie leadStmp was
buoklcd to IFS Irtrtr tiel trcss ard ten tie reus
wore mnutey scanned, 1lCse wore tie lars q a
wd L' rses tail c'osCy :ld rCat'y attUd. Tie
saddle now I'D lis tun Pass no tr' m s'dc to SIDE.
Carlos tied both stnur-l,atlers, ard oyam'ncd the
great wooden blocks which icrmcdtlc stirrurs. Tie
glrth was the last as well as mcSt important object
OF lis solitude. He !ccsoncd Tie buckles On both
sidCs and thtn tgl tered tl'm. rising is lnce to
ttitot Lis puIpose. Wh,n drawn 10 Lis Hk' NC, the
tip OF lis finger could not lave been passed under
tie str ng ltatl,r band.
No wondlr he obscrvcd al this caution. as tie
snal ping OF strap, CT tlesirriuc q lrolo might
Lave hurried lin into etNuity. Having satisfied
himself lat all was right, lie gathered up tie re:ns
alIu tiiIOu lulO lEc SUCue.
He trst directed lis horse On a walk along the
cliff and within a few feet of its odgc 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 bchod. To
those regarding ii from below, it was beautiful but
terrible spectacle After a while lie headed back
toward the plain, and then stretched into fair ga
lcl-the gait in which lie intended to approach the
chi-he suddenly rcincd up again. so as to throw his
horse nearly on his launches
Again he resumed the same gallop and again
rcined up; and this manGuvre he repeated about
dozen times with his horses head turned toward
the cliff and now in the direction of tie pain. At
las he was seen to turn toward the cliff and take his
fin 1T scat in the saddle The determined glance Of
his Eye showed that the moment had come for the
flal trial. a Sight touch Of the spur set the noble
brute in motion, and in another moment he was in
full gacp' and heading directly fer tie cliff. The
suspense was Of short duration. Twenty strides
brought hose and lCrst man close to the verge. or
within lalf dozen lengths. The rein still hung
locsI-Caros Cared not tighten it-a touch he knew
would Lring lis horse to halt, and that. before he
Lad crossed the line, would only be failure. An
Other lCal- -anotLcr-yct another. Ho. he is in
side. He will be over! Just as the horse appeared
about TO spring over the horrd brink the reins were
observed TO tighten the fore, oos became fixed and
spread and the hips Of the noble animal rested on
the plain. He poised at scarce three feet from
the edge Of the cliff. While in this attitude the
horseman raised his light 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 as they drew up
en- 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 seed even the very trappngs could be seen dis
tincty and for the short period in which they were
poised and moOnless the spectator might have fan
ced an equestrian statue OF bronze, its pedestal the
pinnacle of the cliff