MODE OP HUNTING THE JAGUAR. 85 



worn out with fatigue, he falls to the ground and 

 submits. But it is not sufficient that the horse 

 becomes obedient, and carries his master from one 

 country to another, he must also brave the same 

 dangers, and second him in his most hazardous 

 exploits, he must even face the tiger, an enemy 

 from which he turns away with instinctive dread. 



All this is comparatively the work of a short 

 time. The creature which a few hours before had 

 ranged the wide expanse of the desert, free as the 

 air he breathed, now submits to the voice of a 

 master, and in resigning his natural liberty seems 

 actuated solely by the will that guides him. A few 

 hours more, and he goes forth to face an enemy 

 whose deep and sullen roar would but yesterday 

 have made him tremble, and turn round and speed 

 away like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. It 

 is not force but skill that conquers : the Gaucho 

 soon spurs his horse towards the monster he in- 

 tends for a victim, whirls his noosed rope, and 

 shouts aloud to tell him that he is ready. Mean- 

 while, the terrible Jaguar crouches on the ground, 

 astonished that any living creature should await his 

 coming : rolling his glaring eyes, and opening his 

 vast jaws, perhaps red with the blood of his prey, 

 and indignant at finding an opponent, he seeks nar- 

 rowly for the place on which he intends to spring. 

 The Gaucho, unmoved by these terrible menaces, 

 governs his obedient courser with his feet, and makes 

 him retreat without turning his face from the Jaguar, 

 who cautiously advances, and follows, step by step, 

 watching for a false movement. The Gaucho kaows 

 this, he therefore makes his horse rear up, upon 



