THE HORSE 359 



sired to master a wild horse is of a nature to show 

 us how the ancient horse-tamers accomplished the 

 same object. A herd of horses, skilfully turned 

 aside from its feeding ground and surrounded little 

 by little on all sides, is driven without suspecting 

 the ruse into a large enclosure called a corral. 

 There those of finest appearance are selected. Im- 

 mediately a dexterous hand throws the lasso, the 

 long leather thong weighted with balls of lead, which 

 catches them round the neck and legs and prevents 

 their moving. A halter is quickly put on the cap- 

 tive. A practised horseman wearing sharp spurs 

 mounts the animal, the fettering lasso is removed by 

 helpers, and there stands the animal, free, but trem- 

 bling after its misadventure. " 



"Now the horseman had better look out," said 

 Jules. 



"Certainly, the first moment is not without dan- 

 ger. The indignant animal rears, kicks, bounds, and 

 tries to roll on the ground to get rid of its burden; 

 but the horseman masters this rage with the bleeding 

 prick of the spur; he keeps his seat as if he were one 

 with his mount. Then the gate of the enclosure is 

 opened, and the horse darts out and gallops away at 

 breakneck speed until utterly winded. This unbri- 

 dled run suffices to tame the animal, after which the 

 horseman rides it back, unresisting and already obe- 

 dient to bit and spur, to the corral: Henceforth it 

 can be left with the domesticated horses without fear 

 of its trying to escape. 



1 i Horses are classed, according to the rearing and 



