SHOOTING IN CHILE. 



203 



Of course all three carried — coiled up behind their saddles 

 — a lasso of twisted hide. 



As I knew that the haciendado was a well-known 

 breeder of good horses,, and as they come well mounted 

 to a meeting of this sort, I was of course anxious to see 

 some feats of horsemanship, and whispered my desires 

 to the Doctor. '^ Nothing easier ; Don Carlos, allow me 

 to introduce to you a friend of mine.^^ We bow, he 

 with the air of a prince, and we exchange cigarettes. 

 "That^s a nice horse of yours, Don Carlos.^^ "Pretty 

 good, Senor Doctor, but I have better.^' " My young 

 friend here would like to see some trifling little feat, 

 and I daresay you will oblige him.^^ "With great 

 pleasure, Sir; Jose, place your poncho out there," 

 pointing across the yard. Jose, who knew what was 

 required, took his poncho off" and placed it on the 

 ground about 150 yards distant. Don Carlos, without 

 removing his cigarette from his mouth, clapped spurs to 

 his horse and darted off like the wind at full gallop; 

 when he appeared almost over the garment there was a 

 sudden cloud of dust from the horse^s feet, and when it 

 cleared away the animal was standing motionless as a 

 statue on the poncho ! It really was marvellous. Don 

 Carlos shouted out for us to keep still, and immediately 

 galloped back at full tilt straight for the spot where we 

 were watching him. When within a few yards only of 

 me, it appeared that he was going to charge me, but 

 suddenly rushing close by my left-hand side, so close as 

 almost to touch my stirrup, he wheeled round so quickly 

 that he was alongside of my right hand literally before I 

 knew where he was. Although he had passed me at 

 full speed, he had pulled up his horse and turned round 

 in a space of a few yards ! "You see, senor," he said to 



