184 NEIGHBORS WITH CLA WS AND HOOFS. 



by the madrineros, those treacherous guides trained to 

 ensnare their kindred, while the horsemen barricaded the 

 mouth of the funnel with the breasts of their horses. 



13. Everything proceeded satisfactorily as far as the 

 end of the funnel the madrineros, with all the cunning 

 of semi-civilized brutes, redoubling their pace at the mo- 

 ment of entering the great inclosure. Then, their wild 

 brethren, perceiving their treachery, turned upon their 

 captors, and a most fearful struggle ensued. The bulls, in 

 spite of the deafening shouts of the men, and the formi- 

 dable array of garrochas leveled at their heads, endeavored 

 to force their way back to the open plain, and many of 

 them actually succeeded in breaking through the barricade 

 .of horses. 



14. That most of the men escaped unhurt, appeared 

 little less than miraculous, as not only were they exposed 

 at every moment to the vindictive attacks of the bulls, but 

 it often happened that some of them were unhorsed, when 

 they were in imminent danger of being trampled by the 

 retreating foe. The superior skill and intrepidity of man, 

 however, triumphed at length over mere brute resistance, 

 and the whole herd was in a short time securely quartered 



in the corral. 



Paez. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



WOOL-BEARERS OF THE PASTURES. 



1. IT is an interesting fact that sheep were the first 

 domestic animals to yield support to man. They were his 

 original cattle, or pecus, and therefore constituted the main 

 substance of Ins pecuniary condition. No other animals 

 could have done so much for man. If we want other ani- 



