320 THE HUNTER AND HIS STEED. 



awaited their return with some anxiety ; for, in expedi- 

 tions of this kind, not only the comfort but safety of the 

 cavalier depend in a great degree on the quality of his 

 steed. As for myself, I deeply regretted the noble animal 

 I had lost ; but my regrets were as vain as the impre- 

 cations which I hurled against all those scoundrels, the 

 Mexicans. The conclusion of my story will show of what 

 urgent importance to us were the qualities of our horses. 



When the detachment returned, and presented me with 

 the charger intended for my own use, I was agreeably 

 surprised to find an animal of magnificent bearing, whose 

 glances were full of fire; but my joy was singularly abated 

 when I found, at the first essay, that he had never been 

 broken in. What was I to do with an untamed mustang, 

 vigorous, it is true, and strong as a bison, but, on the 

 other hand, as wild as a mountain-cat? My comrades 

 watched my attempts, and laughed at my embarrassment. 

 When they had jeered me to their hearts' content, they 

 assured me that I had but to give a few dollars to one 

 of our Mexican guides, and he would willingly ride the 

 horse for a day or two, and render him as supple as a 

 glove. 



In the twinkling of an eye, a copper-complexioned 

 groom sprang on the back of my steed, and started off 

 like the wind, leaving me alone with my jesters, who con- 

 tinued to affirm that, at the end of a day or two, I should 

 have a capital charger. The Mexican did not return until 

 very late in the evening, bringing back the animal white 

 with foam, and spent with fatigue, thanks to a gallop of 

 twenty miles out and in. He returned him to me with 



