220 The Rough Riders 



could have been no more appropriate gift from such 

 a regiment, and I was not only pleased with it, but 

 very deeply touched with the feeling which made 

 them join in giving it. Afterward they all filed past 

 and I shook the hand of each to say good-by. 



Most of them looked upon the bronze with the 

 critical eyes of professionals. I doubt if there was 

 any regiment in the world which contained so large 

 a number of men able to ride the wildest and most 

 dangerous horses. One day while at Montauk Point 

 some of the troopers of the Third Cavalry were 

 getting ready for mounted drill when one of their 

 horses escaped, having thrown his rider. This at- 

 tracted the attention of some of our men and they 

 strolled around to see the trooper remount. He 

 was instantly thrown again, the horse, a huge, vic- 

 ious sorrel, being one of the worst buckers I ever 

 saw ; and none of his comrades were willing to ride 

 the animal. Our men, of course, jeered and mocked 

 at them, and in response were dared to ride the 

 horse themselves. The challenge was instantly ac- 

 cepted, the only question being as to which of a 

 dozen noted bronco-busters who were in the ranks 

 should undertake the task. Tliey finally settled on 

 a man named Darnell. It was agreed that the 

 experiment should take place next day when the 

 horse would be fresh, and accordingly next day the 

 majority of both regiments turned out on a big open 



