124 A BOOK-LOVER'S HOLIDAYS 



too far back it usually made its escape and re- 

 joined the huddle of cattle from which it had 

 been cut out. The men were riders of such 

 skill that shaking them in their seats was 

 impossible, no matter how quickly the horse 

 turned or how violent the shocks were; nor 

 was a single horse hurt in the rough play. It 

 was a wild scene, and an exhibition of prowess 

 well worth witnessing. 



Other exhibitions of horsemanship followed, 

 including the old feat of riding a bull. The 

 bull, a vicious one, was left alone in the ring, 

 and his temper soon showed signs of extreme 

 shortness as he pawed the dirt, tossing it above 

 his shoulders. Watching the chance when the 

 bull's attention was fixed elsewhere, a man ran 

 in and got to the httle fence before the bull 

 could charge him. Then, while the bull was 

 still angrily endeavoring to get at the man, the 

 corral gate opposite was thrown open and six 

 or eight horsemen entered, riding with quiet 

 unconcern. The bull was obviously not in the 

 least afraid of the footman, w^hereas he had a 

 certain feeling of respect for the horsemen. 

 Two of the latter approached him. One got 

 his rope over the bull's horns, and the other 

 then dexterously roped the hind legs. The 

 footman rushed in and seized the tail, and the 



