Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-14
A DARING FEAT.


had proved rather dull and unsatisfactory
to the fiery audience, and at the close the
clown from the center Of the ring an
nounced:
Tomorrow at o'clock Senior Cabalert
will check his horse while riding at full
gallop on the brink of yonder cliff"
within two lengths OF the browi" cam,
from the audience.
within two lengths-within five feetP'
The astonishment created by this an
nouncement held the audience for some
moments in silence. IL was a proposal OF
such reckless daring that il was difficult tC
believe the maker Of IL was In earnest.
The cliff to which the clown had pointed
was part of the bluff that hemmed in the
valley. IL was n sort of promontory, how
ever, that jutted 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 precipice, OF which II
was a sort OF buttress, and grassy turf
that appeared along it's edge was the con
tinuation OF the upper plateau. Its front
to the valley was verticle, without terrace
or ledge. although horizontal seams trav'
ersing its face showed stratified forma
tion. From the sward upon the valley to
that upon the heights was 900 feet. To
gaze up at the precipice was "A trial to deli
cate nerves; to look down put the stoutest
to proof.
The next day at the appointed hour a
surging crowd in the valley stood watch
ing Senor Cabalero on the cliff.
Every motion was noted. He first alight
ed from the saddle, stripped off his manga
and carried il back and placed 1t out OF the
way He next looked to his spurs to see
that the straps were properly buckled.
After this he retied his sash and set his
sombrero firmly on his head He buttoned
his velveted olizoneros down nearly TO his
ankles, so that their leather buttonings
might not flap open and discommode him.
His hunting knife or dirk, along with his
whip, he gave TO Don Juan.
Senor Cabalero next turned to his horse,
which stood at 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 scrutiniZed.
The great bit, mameluke, was carefully
examined lest there be some flaw or crack
i'm the steel. The headstrap was buckled
to proper tightness, and then the reins were
minutely scanned. These were made Of
the hair of horses tail, closely and neatly
plated The saddle now had its turn.
Passing from side to side the athlete tied
both stirrup feathers and examined the
great wooden blocks which formed the stir
rups. The girth was the last as well as the
most important object Of his solicitude.
He loosened the buckles ON both sides and
then frightened them, using his knee TO ef'
feet his purpose When drawn TO his lik.
ing, the tip of his finger could not have
been passed under the strong leather band.
L.. oil htG
caution, rs the swapping OF strap or the
slipping of a buckle at the critical moment
might hurl him into eternity. Having sat
isfied himself that all was right, he gath
cred up the reins and leaped gayly into the
saddle
He first directed his horse in walk along
the edge of the cliff. within few feet of its
edge. This was to steady the nerves OF
both himself and the animal. Presently
the walk became trot, and then gentle
canter. Even this was an exhibition fear
ful to behold, and many a Mexican gazed
breathlessly.
After awhile he headed back toward the
plain, and then stretching into gallop,
the gait in which he intended to approach
the cliff, he suddenly reined up, so as to
throw his horse nearly on his launches.
Again he resumed the gallop, again refining
up, and this maneuver he repeated about a
dozen times, now with his horses head
turned toward the cliff and now in the di.
rection Of the plain.
At last Senor Cabalero was seen to turn
his horses head toward the projecting cliff
and take firm seat In the saddle. The de
termined pose Of his head showed that the
moment had come for the final trial. A
slight touch Of the spurs started the noble
steed, and in another moment he was In full
gallop straight toward the brink Of the cliff.
The noisy Mexicans grew suddenly silent,
breathless The suspense, however, was OF
short duration. The swift strides had
brought horse and rider close to the verge
within half dozen lengths. Yet the rein
still hung loose-the rider dared not tight
en- it-a touch he knew would bring the
horse to stand, and that before he had
crossed the line would be failure. Another
bound-and another-the two length line IL
crossed Another, and great Godl he will
be over.
But another was not taken.
Just as the horse was to rise for the final
leap that would have carried them over the
fatal brink the reins suddenly frightened,
the fore legs became fixed and spread, and
the hips of the noble animal sank to the
plain. There they poised scarcely yard
from the edge of the cliff.
While in this attitude the horseman
raised his right hand, lifted his sombrero
and waved il above his head.
1t was splendid spectacle from below.
The dark forms of both horse and ridel
stood out strong against the light back.
ground of the sky. The oval outlines OF
the steed. the trap2ings, every detail of the
man in his picturesque and dramatic pose,
could be seen distinctly, and for the mo
ment In which they were poised and mo
tionless the spectators might have fancied
It all superb equestrian statue. its pedes.
tai the pinnacle of the cliff.-Exchange.