DIFFICULT TO TAMK. 321 



tlic assurance that he was a horse of the purest blood, 

 " muy bonito," as he said ; and the brilliant manner in 

 which the brave beast had accomplished this long course 

 was, according to him, the best proof of his excellence. 

 As, however, I was not without a horrible fear lest he 

 should cripple my horse by his too violent means of educa- 

 tion, I resolved to mount him myself on the morrow. 



I rose at daybreak, and approached him without any 

 great precaution, despising the reiterated warning of 

 my guide, who kept shouting " No, no, por Dios ! " I 

 was punished for my temerity. At the very moment 1 

 was about to lay my hand on his mane, the mustang gave 

 a start, wheeled round abruptly, and darted his two hind- 

 feet so near my face, that I could distinctly read on the 

 sole of his hoof a counsel not to draw near him again with- 

 out the greatest wariness ! 



Furious at so uncourteous a reception, and indignant at 

 the ingratitude of the brute, whom I had wished to save 

 from & day's ill-treatment, I delivered him anew into 

 the hands of the Mexican, recommending him to kill or 

 drive out of his body the evil spirit with which he was 

 possessed. My recommendation was superfluous; but I 

 have always since believed that the horse understood the 

 meaning of my cruel words, and that he resolved from 

 that moment to execute the startling vengeance which he 

 afterwards took, as the reader will duly learn. 



My travelling companions were all as joyous as brave, 

 and gaiety reigned throughout our ranks. The ad- 

 venturous life which they led furnished, for the greater 

 part of the time, the theme of their conversation, and 

 to the astonishing stories they related, I listened with the 



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