The Portland daily press., 1893-10-14
A DARING FEAT.

We had just witnessed Mexican bull
fight. Even that exciting eeene, however,
had proved rather dull and unsatisfactory
10 the fiery audience, and at the close the
clown from the center of the ring an
nounced:
Tomorrow at Q O'Clock Senior Cabalero
will check his horse while riding at full
gallon on the brink Of yonder cliff"
Within two lengths of the brow?" came
from the audience.
''Withip two lengths-within five feet!''
The establishment created by this an
nouncen,ent held the audience for some
moments in silence. 1t was proposal of
such reckless daring that it was difficult to
believe the maker of it was in earnest.
The cliff to which the clown had pointed
was part of the bluff that hemmed in the
valley. 1t was a sort o; promontory, how
ever, that jutted out from the general line,
SO as to be a conspicuous object from the
plain below. Its brow was of equal height
with the rest of the precipice, of which it
was sort of buttress, and grassy turf
that appeared along it's edge was the con-
tinuation of the upper plateau. It's front
to the valley was verticle, without terrace
or ledge. althoug. horizontal seams tray
Prsing it's fare showed stratifed forma
tion. From the sward upon the valley to
that upon the heights was 1000 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
Burging crowd in thevalley stood watch
ing Senior Cabalero on the cliff.
Every motion was noted. He first alight-
ed from the saddle. stripped off his manga
and carried it back and placed it out of the
way. lie next looked to his spurs to see
that the straps were properly buckled.
After this be 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.
Senior 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, a nameluke, was carefully
examined lest there be some flaw or crack
in the Steel The headstrap was buckled
to proper tightness, and then the reins were
minutelv 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 eff
feet his purpose. When drawn to his lik-
ing, the tip of his finger could not have
been passed under the strong leather band
No wonder the horseman observed all this
caution as the swapping of strap or the
slipping of buckle at the critical momeni
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 a 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
full to behold, and many 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 refined up, SO as to
throw his horse nearly on his launches.
Again he resumed the gallop, again refining
up, and this naaneuver he repeated about
dozen times, nowwith his horses head
turned toward the cliff and now in the d.
rection of the plain.
At last Senior 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 haG
brought horse and rider close to The verge
within half dozen lengths. Yet the rein
still hung loose-the rider dared not tight
en- tia 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 is
crossed Another. and great God! 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 a yard
from the edge of the cliff.
While in this attitude the horseman
raised his right hand, lifted his sombrero
and waved it above his mead.
It was a splendid spectacle from below.
The dark forms of both horse and rider
stood out strong against the light back
ground of the sky. The oval outlines OF
the steed, the trappings, 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