THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 197 



parly in the boats, caring little for an enemy unpro- 

 vided with fire-arms, rowed confidently along the 

 shore. The Guassos meanwhile were watching their 

 opportunity, and the moment the boats came suffi- 

 ciently near, dashed into the water, and throwing their 

 lassos round the necks of the officers, fairly dragged 

 every one of them out of their boats. 



The idea of being thrown, let the horse do what 

 it likes, never enters the head of a Guacho : a good 

 rider is a man who can manage an untamed colt, or 

 who, if his horse falls, alights on his own feet, or can 

 perform other such exploits. " I have heard," says 

 Mr. Darwin, " of a man betting that he would throw 

 his horse down twenty times, and that nineteen out 

 of these he would not fall himself. I recollect seeing 

 a Guacho riding a very stubborn horse, which three 

 times reared so excessively high as to fall backwards 

 with great violence. The man judged with uncom- 

 mon coolness the proper moment for slipping off, not 

 an instant before or after the right time. Directly 

 the horse rose, the man jumped on his back, and at 

 last they started at a gallop. The Guacho never 

 appears to exert any muscular force. I was one day 

 watching a good rider, as we were gallopping along 

 at a rapid pace, and thought to myself, surely if the 

 horse starts, you appear so careless on your seat, you 

 must fall. At this moment a male ostrich sprang 

 from its nest right beneath the horse's nose. The 



