The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-02-11
Tanning a Mexican wild Horse.

wild horse, no easy task, for, In order 10
,addle him, it was necessary TO keep him
On his legs and, Is II he guessed the OBJ
iect of the vaqueros, he began to kick up
A lasso wee passed under the
fetlock of the left hind ieg, and fastened
tightly TO the breast-lea &ker OF, the horse.
. as to Press the thigh against the
The right front leg was bent by the
same means, and, thus kept In equili-
brium, the horse was condemned to i'm
mobility.
Benito seized his heavy saddle by the
pummel and threw It over the back Of
the horse, who shook and trembled when
his loins felt the burden, and the large
wooden stirrups rebounded against his
side. The girth was violently frightened
under the belly, and the vaquero seated
himself on the ground to fasten the spurs
on his feet.
At this moment glanced toward the
stand. Maria Antonio was motiOnless,
but her large black eyes, immoderately
open, sparkled in her now pale face, and
the agitation of her bosom betrayed her
agony.
Don Ramon himself seemed frightened,
and once hoped he was about to recall
the permission which exposed the intrepid
young man to almost certain death. But
he said nothing. "A
When Benito had fastened his spurs,
the bonds which kept the horses legs
were loosened,, and the leather bandage
tied over his eyes. ~ 49,
Yet, though held by the rope which
twisted his lip, the furious leaps of the
animal prevented his being mounted.
He was forced down on his knees, and
two vaqueros, each biting one of the ears,
kept him thus second. Benito sprang
on the horses back. Az
Let him CO." he exclaimed in firm
voice.
The two yaqueros quickly jumped
back whilst the wild animal started up
as if moved by some concealed mechan-
| ism. ~ ~ ~ fTT
Owing to the leather bandage that
blinded him, he at first stood on his legs,
trembling with upturned nOstrils.
Benito availed himself of this short
respite to seat himself firmly in the sad
die, leaned forward, and raised the band
age that covered the animals eyes.
Then commenced truly admirable
struggle between the man. and the beast.
Frightened ut the sudden light which
dazzled his bloOdshOt eyes, shaking his
tangled name, which stood erect with
rage, the fiery animal neighed terribly
and bounded toward the four points Of
the compass, as if to scent the wind.
BenitO, without seeming shaken by
these impetuous bounds, still kept on the
defensive, roughly kicking away at thu
beasts mouth, as it tried to bite his legs
The foiled animal reared suddenly on hi
launches. In vain the spurs running
into his groins made him rear. Instead
of falling on his legs, he threw himsel
violently on his back.
The spectators all screamed; but tn,
pummel of the saddle alone had knocked
against the earth with lugubriou
sound. Benito, foreseeing the shock, Ia,
sprung to the ground.
In the midst of cloud of dust the AZ
tonished spectators soon beheld the horse
tanner leap into the saddle by the offside
against all equestrian rules, at the me
ment when the bewildered horse got u
neighing. The vaquero, in his turn, al
peared mad with fury. For the first tim
. in his life he had been endorsed. In
patient to revenge this insult, his leg
never ceased pressing the horses sides, bu
! to trace bloody burrows with the spur
! under his belly his hands only left hol
of the horse-hair snaffle but to shove
9 down blows on the enraged animal
bruised skin.
But, as yet, neither had the adval
tage and, after few minutes of furiOr
, struggle; the two antagonists stood sti
, for moment.
o Applause resounded on all sides; an
!. certainly, to merit the admiration I
6 those centaurs, it was necessary to ha,
= plished more than it is usual
q given man to accomplish.
n Either the vaquero was one of tho
y whom danger or applause intoxicated, ,
! he thought himself able to do still NOR
e for he profited by his truce to draw
q sharp knife out of the garter of his boo
Is Hollo!' exclaimed Don Ramon,
, less impassive spectator of a struggle
= which, apparently, the life of horse W
n in question is the rascal going to C,
the horses throat %
- Indignation flashed from Maria A
?. tonio's black eyes at the supposition tn
,f man whom she had distinguished cou
q be coward, and superb smile of pri'
Il lighted up her features at the sight
Il Benito, who, in fit ofwild temerity, i
4 toxicated, no doubt, by the presence
N his beloved, had cut the horses snaffl
a and thus placed himself, without brid
~ at the mercy of an untamable animal.
% Freed from the bOzel which compress
y his nostrils, the horse nOisily breath
n the air of the forests, shook the waves
4 his golden name, and set off in the dire
n ton of the Topped tree.
20 Such was the impetuosity of his care
rs that it seemed impossible to prevent
n dashing against the obstacle in his wa
20 Nothing, therefore, could prevent {
rider from the fate awaiting him.
q The horse was only few yards or t
70 fatal trunk, when, by a sudden and D
ii expected movement, Benito pulled of
- broad-brimmed hat, and, at the nome
q. when final bound was about TO end
l. struggle, the hat, interposed between
y tree and the horse, made the latter spri
% with terror in another direction. y
Il then witnessed the singular spectator
= a rider without bride guiding his I
10 manageable horse. which sprang fro
n side to side as the bugbear passed fro
or one eye to the other.
y The horse, shuddering with raj
passed thus beneath the stand VIII,
Maria Antonio rewarded Benito's +
tunate temerity, with glance.
m The pride of triumph, which broug
,k out the energetic and masculine beau
to of the horseman, and lighted up his bro
= over which the wind waved his foati
n. hair, wonderfully justified the you
u girls choice.
nc Giving fresh impulse to the hor
III which was painting and disconnected
iy this unexpected resistance, Benito
en- lowed him to take the direction of
n, forest. We beheld him for few secor
g, shaken like reed by the furious boun
ur Of the animal, but we soon lost sight
Ie him.
IL A few horsemen followed him but
ne course was so rapid that they soon
III. | t,rroJ IN tho sfa nd OF mo- nm the MI r.