78 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



over their heads, evidently dreading a repeti- 

 tion of the severe falls they had experienced 

 during their first apprenticeship. Three of 

 them bore my brand, but the other two not 

 being marked, I took possession of them pro 

 tern. ; and very useful animals they turned out, 

 not having a chance of ever being claimed. 



We all retraced our steps to look at the 

 captured horse ; he was a fine black horse, evi- 

 dently born and bred in the forest, and about 

 five years old ; and liking the cut of him, I 

 offered the party eight dollars (about 1 1. 12s.) 

 to keep him myself, which offer was gladly 

 accepted ; one man, whom I knew very well, 

 engaging, if I sent him some help, to drag 

 him to my "corral " the next morning. How- 

 ever, the horse made his escape in the night- 

 time, and was heard of no more in that 

 part of the country, so I lost my money and 

 the horse also ; the latter I was sorry for, as 

 he would have made a valuable hunter, from 

 his size, strength, and woodland education. 

 The forest was searched for several days 

 afterwards in a circle of at least five miles, 

 but no trail or trace of him could be dis- 

 covered, though there were trails of Cimar- 

 ron horned cattle, and also a fresh one of a 

 panther. 



