my flesh; my gråsp upon his antlers was growing less and less firm, and yet I relinquished not my hold. 4. "The struggle had brought us near a deep ditch, washed1 by autumn rains, and into this I endeavored to force my adversary; but my strength was unequal to the effort: when we approached to the věry brink, he leaped over the drain. I relinquished my hold, and rolled in, hoping thus to escape him; but he returned to the attack, and throwing himself upon me, inflicted numerous severe cuts upon my face and breast befōre I could again seize him. 5. "Locking my arms around his antlers, I drew his head close to my breast, and was thus, by great effort, enabled to prevent his doing me any serious injury. But I felt that this could not låst long; every muscle and fiber of my frame was called into action, and human nature could not long bear up under such exertion. Faltering a silent prayer to Heaven, I prepared to meet my fate. 6. "At this moment of despair? I heard the faint bayings of the hound; the stag, too, heard the sound, and springing from the ditch, drew me with him. His efforts were now redoubled, and I could scarcely cling to him. Yet that blěssèd sound came nearer and nearer! Oh, how wildly beat my heart as I saw the hound emerge3 from the ravïne, and spring forward with a short, quick bark, as his eye rested on his game! 7 7. "I released my hold of the stag, which tûrned upon the new enemy. Exhausted, and unable to rise, I still cheered the dog, that, dastard 6-like, fled before the infuriated animal, which, seemingly despising such an enemy, again threw himself upon me. Again did I succeed in throwing my arms around his antlers, but not until he had inflicted several deep and dangerous wounds upon my head and face, cutting to the věry bone. 8. "Blinded by the flowing blood, exhausted and despâiring, I cûrsed the coward dog, which stood near, baying furiously, yět refusing to seize his game. Oh, how I prayed for Bravo! 5 Exhausted (egz hast'ed), deprived wholly of strength; fatigued. 6 Dǎs'tard, one who meanly shrinks from danger; a great coward. 7 Wound (wond), a hurt; an injury; damage. 1 Washed (wŎsht). 2 Despair (de spâr'), loss of hope. 3 Emerge (e merj'), come forth from; rise out of and appear. 4 Ravine (ra vēn'), a deep and narrow hollow, usually worn by water. The thoughts of death were bitter. To die thus in the wild forest ǎlōne, with none to help! Thoughts of home and friends coursed like lightning through my brain. At that moment, when hope herself had fled, deep and clear over the neighboring hill came the baying of my gallant Brāvo! 9. "I should have known his voice among a thousand. I pealed fōrth, in one faint shout: On, Bravo, on!' The next mōmènt, with tiger-like bounds, the noble dog came leaping down the hill, scattering the dried autumnal leaves like a whirlwind in his päth. No pause he knew;' but fixing his fangs1 in the stag's throat, he at once commenced the struggle. 66 10. "I fell back, completely exhausted. Blinded with blood, I only knew that a terrific struggle was going on. In a few moments all was still, and I felt the warm breath of my faithful dog as he licked my wounds. Clearing my eyes from gōre, I saw my late adversary dead at my feet, and Bravo, 'my own Bravo,' as the heroine of a modern novèl would say, standing over me. He had gnawed in two the rope with which he had been tied, and following his måster2 through all his windings, arrived in time to rescue him from a horrible death." SECTION VIII. I. 26. THE BLOOD HORSE. AMARRA is a dainty steed, Strong, black, and of a noble breed, Full of fire, and full of bone, With all his line of fathers known; Fine his nose, his nostrils thin, But blown abroad by the pride within! Făngs, tusks; long, pointed teeth by which the prey is seized and held. 2 Master (mås'ter). 3 Strong, see Note 5, p. 18. し 2. Look-how 'round his straining thrōat And the red blood gallops through his veins— Through the bōasting heart of man! He can trace his lineäge1 higher 3. He, who hath no peer, was born, And yet he was but friend to one, By some lone fountain fringed with green; He lived-(none else would he obey PROCTER. II. TH 27. DON FULANO. HERE they came! Gerrian's whōle band of horses in full career! First, their heads suddenly lifted above a crest of 1 Lin'e age, descendants in a line from a common forefather; race. 2 Bourbon (bor'bon), the name of a French royal family which traces its origin to Louis IX. 3 Douglas, here refers to a Scottish family which has been connected with the royal houses of Scotland and England, and with the most distinguished nobles of Europe. 4 Guzman (goth män'). 5 Guelph (gwělf), a line of German princes, originally Italian, and traced to the 9th century, from which the present royal family of England claims its descent. 6 O'Brien, the name of a family ranking among the most ancient in Ireland. 'Bedouin (běd'o en), one of a tribe of Arabs. 8 Balkh (bälk). the prai'rie; then they bûrst over, like the foam and spray of a black, stormy wave when a blåst strikes it, and wildly swept by us, with manes and tails flâring in the wind. It was magnificent.1 My heart of a horseman leaped in my breast.. "Hurräh!"2 I cried. "Hurrah 't is !" said Gerrian. 2. The herd dashed by in a huddle, making for the eorral. Just behind, aloof from the rush and scamper of his less noble brethren, came the black--my purchase. It was grand to see a horse that understood and respected himself so perfectly. One, too, that meant the world should know that he was the věry chiefèst chief of his race, proud with the blood of a thousand kings. How måsterly he looked! How untamably he stepped! 3. The herd was galloping furiously. He disdained to break into a gallop. He trotted after, a hundred feet behind the hindmōst, with large and liberal action. And even at this hälf speed, easily overtaking his slower comrades, he from time to time paused, bounded in the air, tossed his head, flung out his legs, and then strode on again, writhing all over with suppressed power. 4. He was an American horse-so they distinguish in Californiä one brought from the old States a superb 4 young stallion, perfectly black, without spot upon him, except where a flake of foam from his indignant nostril had caught upon his flank. A thorough-bred horse, with the perfeet tail and silky mane of a noble race. Hard after him came José, the herdsman, on a fåst mustang. As he rode, he whirled his lasso with easy turn of the wrist. 1 5. The black, trotting still, and halting still to curʼvet and Mag nif'i cent, on a grand scale; grand in appearance. 2 Hurrah (họ rä'), a shout of joy, or triumph, or applause. 3 Cŏr'ral, an inclosure or yard, especially for cattle, near a house. 4 Su perb', grand; rich; showy. * Mus'tang, the wild horse of the prairies in Mexico, California, &c. 'Lǎs'so, a rope or cord with a noose, used for catching wild horses, and other animals. 8 Curvet (ker'vet), to leap as a horse, when he raises both his fore legs at once, equally advanced, and, as his fore legs are falling, raises his hind legs, so that all of his legs are in the air at once. căracole,1 târned back his head contemptuously at his pursuer. "Mexicans may chase their own ponies, and break their spirit by brutality; but an American horse is no more to be touched by a Mexican than an American man. Bah! make your cast! Don't trifle with your låsso! I challenge you. Jerk ǎway, Señor Greaser! I give you as fair a chance as you could wish.” So the black seemed to say, with his provoking backward glance, and his whinny of disdain. 6. José took the hint. He dug eruel spurs into his horse. The mustang leaped forward. The black gave a tearing bound, and quickened his pace, but still waited the will of his pursuer. They were just upon us, chased and chaser, thundering down the slope, when the herdsman, checking his wrist at the tûrn, flung his lasso straight as an arrow for the black's head. 7. I could hear the hide rope sing through the summer âir, for a moment breezeless. Will he be taken! Will horse or man be victor! The loop of the lasso opened like a hoop. It hung poised for one instant a few feet before the horse's head, vibrating in the air, keeping the circle perfect, waiting for the herdsman's pull to tighten about that proud neck and those swelling shoulders. "Hur 8. Hurrah! THROUGH IT WENT THE BLACK! With one brave bound he dashed through the open loop. He touched only to spurn its vain assault, with his hindmost hoof. rah!" I cried. "Hurrah! 't is," shouted Gerrian. José dragged in his spurned lasso. The black, with elated head, and tail waving like a banner, sprung forward, closed in with the herd; they parted for his påssage, he took his leadership, and presently was lost with his suite over the swell of the prairie. 4 9. When we had come in sight of the corral, we discovered, to our surprise, the whole band of horses had voluntarily entered. Gerrian sent in José, who drove all but the black out of the staked enclosure. He trotted about at his ease, snuffing at the stakes and bars, and showing no special disposition to follow. 1 Căr'a cōle, a semi-round, or hälf turn, which a horse makes, either to the right or left. 2 Poised, balanced or suspended by equal weight or power. E la'ted, lifted up; raised by success or pride. 4 Suite (swēt), attendants or followers; a set; a series; a collection; as a suite of rooms. |