Hard Riding in California 363 



Reins were of little use here as a rider needed 

 both hands to raise above him to push aside the 

 limbs; if he missed, why, he was dragged out 

 of the saddle to be run down by the wild pirates 

 of the spur that were coming behind. I have 

 read of abandon, of the wild excitement of the 

 cavalry charge, of the desperate courage often 

 witnessed, but I can imagine no more reckless 

 run than this rush after sheep on the slope of 

 Black Jack cailon. 



Some of the animals escaped, leaped the fence, 

 went over the divide into a caiion whose sides 

 were seemingly up and down, but after them 

 went some of the herders; some of the horses, 

 settling back so that their haunches were on 

 the ground, slid down, gathering headway, 

 until an avalanche of rock, sand, and debris 

 bore them on. When a horse went down, the 

 men sprang off to aid it, holding onto the pom- 

 mel and running on the trail just above until 

 they got headway, then flinging themselves into 

 the saddle and rushing on with an abandon and 

 pure delight in the wildness of it all that was 

 inspiriting, infectious, and irresistible. There 

 were many marvellous feats of horsemanship 

 performed that morning, but these reinless riders 

 were not aware that they were doing anything 

 remarkable. It was what they were paid for, 

 and more than that, it was what the horses 

 were bred to. They did not need leaders, they 



