-7- 



began to lose ground as he bucked - rather to buck 

 backwards, as it were. (I may say that, as long as 

 a bucker travels forwards, he is a little easier to 

 sit). Then as he bucked he twisted and turned, tied 

 and untied himself in all his best knots, doing full 

 and complete .iustice to his very evil reputation. 

 Still the little man sat on - not only sat on, but 

 dealt him at intervals shrewd blows with his raw-hide 

 whip. Then the climax came, for the little man leant 

 right forward and smacked the sweating neck with both 

 his hands. Prom those who knew best a little gasp of 

 admiration went up. With that the little man seemed 

 to think that he had made good, and soon after, swinging 

 his right leg over the neck, landed, lightly on his feet, 

 leaving the "big Zaino" to clear out to his own troop 

 and to ponder over what kind of adhesive plaster shaped 

 like unto a man he bad come in cont ct with! If, as 

 he strolled back to the corral, there was a slight 

 suggestion of swagger in his walk, who can blame the 

 little man? It was a fine feat of horsemanship, and 

 he had made good. he was actually given a cheer - a 

 very, very "are exhibition of feeling with the peons - 

 and was chaffed no more. 



To those who have not ridden buck- jumping horses 

 I may explain that to lean forward and remain, when 

 a horse is bucking badly, is a terribly difficult 

 feat even in stirrups. ho write have In my time 

 leant forward several times (on my part, I may remark, 

 an entirely involuntary movementTT anc ^ the next moment 

 found myself no longer riding, but flying. I never 

 liked the change; the flight was comparatively short, 

 and the ground very hard when : r ou hit It. 



Those peons of Entre Rios have left with me a very 

 kindly recollection. I liked their keen but immovable 

 Indo-Spanish faces, liked their easy grace and superb 

 horsemanship. It is true they had their faults - their 

 big knives and their quick tempers - and I admit those 

 Englishmen who knew them best were the most careful (I 

 talk of the early 'eighties) never to take off their 

 revolvers. Still, they were brave men and they could 

 ride. 



