New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-04-07
A Daring Deed of Horsenlansfip
----te . O.
A MEXICAN SKETCH.

If you feel disposed to risk douhoon-I am but a
poor hunter and cannot place more shall attempt
what muchacito Of ten years would consider feat
perhaps. "And what may that be, Senior Cibolero {"
asked the officer sneerngly. will check my horse
at full gallop on the brow of yonder cliff! p" Within
two lengths from the brow II (" Within two lengths
banks Of the zequai!n The surprise created by this
announcement held the bystanders for some moments
in silence 1t was a proposal of such wild and reck-
less daring that it difficult to believe that the
maker Of it was in earnest. Even the two officers
were for moment staggered by it, and inclined to
| fancy the cbolero was not Serious but mocklng
| them. e.-.-D
The cliff to which Carlos had pointed was part of
the bluff that hemmed in the valley. 1t was sort OF
promontory however, that uted out from the general
line, so as to be conspicuous object from the plain
below. Its brow was Of equal height with the rest OF
the precpice of which it was part-a sort of but
tress-and the grassy turf that appeared along its
edge was but the continuation of the upper plateau
Its front to the valley vertical without terrace Or
ledge although horizontal seams traversing its face
showed qualification OF lime and sandstone alter
| mating with each other From the sWard upon the
valley to the brow above the heights was 900 feet
short To gaze up to it trial to delicate nerves.
to look down put the stoutest to the proof = :"
All stood watching him with anxious eyes: Every
| movement was noted. He first alighted from the
saddle stripped off his manga, had it carried back
and placed out of the way. He next looked to his
spurs, to that the straps were properly bucked.
After this he reted his sash and placed the SOM
brero firmly on his head. He buttoned his velveteen
calzoneros down nearly to his ankles, SO that their
leather buttons might not flap open and disconmode
him. His hunting knife along with his whip he gave
to the charge of Don Juan. His attention was next
turned to Tie horse that stood all this time with his
neck curved proudly as though he OWNED that he
was to be called upon for some signal service: The
bride was first scrutnized. The great bit-a Name
luke-was carefully examined, lest there might be
some flaw or crack in the steel The head strap was
huckled to its proper tightness and then the rens
were infinitely scanned. These were the hairs OF q
wild horses tail, closely and neatly plated The
, saddle now had its turn. Passing from side to side
Carlos tied both stirrup-leathers, and examined the
great wooden blocks which formed the stir1ups. The
grth was the last well as the most important obec
of his solicitude. He loosened the buckles on boil
= sides, and then frightened them using his knees t.
!. effect his purpose When drawn to his liking, tn
tip of his finger could not have been passed underth
r strong leather band
No wonder he observed all this caution The snap
. ping of strap, or the slipping Of buckle, Nigh
have hurried him into eternity. Having satisfied him
self that all right, he gathered up the reins AM
leaped lively into the saddle. He first directed hi
!, horse walk along the cliff, and within few fee
of its edge This was to strengthen both himself an
:, the animal Presently the walk became a trot, an
y then gentle canter. Even this was an exhibitio
:. fearful to behold To those regarding it from below
4 twas beautiful but terrible spectacle After Twill
be headed back towards the plain, and then stretel
4 ing into fair gallop-the gait in which he intende
= to approach the clit-he suddenly refined up agair
y SO as to throw his horse nearly on his TANKS.
gain he resumed the same aOp, anu again. iclle
~ up and this maneuvre he repeated at least doze
~ times now with his horses head turned towards til
W cliffs and now in the direction of the plain At La
~ he was seen to turn his horse toward the cliff and tax
"a his rmes seat in the saddle The determined glat
of his eye showed that the moment had come for I'll
w final trial slight touch of the spur set the mob
e brute in motion, and in another second he was in u
t gallop, and heading directly for the cliff The 81
o' Derse was of short duration Twenty strides broug
horse and horsean close to the verge, within half
81, 81 dozen lengths. The rein still hung loose-CaIl
, ho dared not tighten t-a touch he knew would brir
me his horse to q halt and that before he had cross
M the line wouldlonly be failure Anotherleal
II, III er-yet another! Ho he is inside. Great God
~ ~ will be over! Just as the horse appeared about
Il spring over the horrd brink, the reins were obsery
,a suddenly to tighten the forehoofs became fixed a.
spread and the hips of the noble animal rested up
IN the plain. He was poised at scarce three 1eet re
Hc the edge of the cliff! While in this attitude t
ch horseman raised his right hand, lifted his sombre
fo and after waving it round returned it to his he;
# A splendid picture from below The dark forms
aid both horse and rider were perceived as they drew
ia on the cliff, and the imposing and graceful atttu
Nv was fully developed against the blue back ground
od the sky. The arms the limbs the oval outlines Of
ION steed the very trappngs could be seen dstn
Aid ly; and for the short period in which they W
ad poised and smotionless, the spectator might h;
iii fancied an equestrian statue Of bronze, its pede
80 tha NINA RI IF the cliff