THE MEXICAN BIT AND CURB 7 1 



descent, who always whinnied at my step, expecting his 

 frequent caress. The man, with a sad shake of his head, 

 told me the result of having hired him out to two young 

 men who were very ambitious to drive him. He warned 

 them that the horse was not thoroughly broken. "In 

 what way?" said they. "Well, you see, he is very good 

 under the saddle, but objects strongly to being hitched, 

 and it isn't everybody who can manage him." 



' " Let us have him, and we will break him to harness 

 for you." 



'"All right," said the proprietor; "he has cost me a 

 pretty penny kicking things to pieces, but if you've a mind 

 to try him don't forget I warned you." 



'"Well, we'll take him, and tame him too, but first I'll 

 go for my Mexican bit." 



'Returning shortly, he placed the bit in the young horse's 

 mouth, and the horse was finally hitched to the buggy. As 

 he was led out of the stable, he pranced proudly and playfully, 

 lifting his feet daintily, and glancing from side to side, 

 already uneasy at what seemed ever approaching his hind 

 legs. A tug at the bit warned him to go quietly, and he 

 proceeded, still uneasy and half scared, until the smooth 

 country road was reached.' 



Then did he run away ? 



' No ; but he protested with his hind legs, for he had 

 felt the insulting whip, and his mouth ! The cruel two- 

 edged sword was doing its work, cutting into his palate, 

 his gums, his tongue. In vain he tried to run away from 

 the agony of it, but the bit held him. He could not shake 

 it off or ease his aching mouth. The blood flowed down 

 in streams, until his breast and fore-legs were red and 

 dripping. Maddened with pain and fright he went at a 



