204 RAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



me^ ^^if I were a robber, and wanted to attack you, 

 you would be completely at my mercy. Just place your 

 horse^s neck along side of mine.'' I did so, when his 

 horse, by the merest touch of the spur, immediately 

 pushed mine completely round. It was evident to me 

 that at any moment he could have knocked me half-way 

 across the yard, horse and all. He did not seem to 

 think, however, that all that sort of thing could be 

 easily and effectually stopped by a half-ounce Deringer, 

 and I did not think it worth while to tell him. Not the 

 least curious part of the business, to me at least, was 

 the fact that the horse stood perfectly still and quiet 

 after all this performance. 



But a still more wonderful feat was exhibited. In 

 front of a range of buildings used as the kitchen and 

 other outhouses was a long oak rail, about six feet in 

 length, and perhaps four feet from the ground ; it was 

 firmly fixed in two uprights at each end. '' Juan,'' said 

 Don Carlos, " let us see how that young horse has been 

 getting on; you ought to have taught him something 

 by this time." "I hope so, senor," said Juan. Don 

 Carlos first of all sent Juan on to " keep the bar," as it 

 is called. Juan placed his horse's chest against the 

 pole, with his head and neck over it, looking into the 

 kitchen. Don Carlos then clapped spurs to his horse, 

 and rushed his horse against the other, trying to push 

 him away from the bar. The young mettlesome horse, 

 however, stood the attack boldly, and urged by the spur 

 and chicote of his rider, actually succeeded in pushing 

 his antagonist away for a moment ; but he was too hot 

 for his work, for Don Carlos's horse adroitly struck him 

 with the point of his shoulder just before the forehand, 

 and as nearly as possible upset him; and despite the 



