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THE BATTLE OF THE HORSES 59 



east I was fortunately mounted upon the Cruzado, who had by 

 this time learned to stand to shot and to remain standing when his 

 reins were dropped over his head. He was infinitely the best 

 shooting-horse in the troop, and 

 I used always to ride him when 

 game was wanted, although, 

 owing to his being a large horse, 

 his canter was not suited to 

 riding behind the tropilla. He 

 had come to us with a very bad 

 name for throwing himself back, 

 which is one of the nastiest 

 tricks a horse can possess. But 

 this he soon gave up, and ex- 

 cept that he always remained 

 rather hard to catch in the 

 mornings, was what an adver- 

 tiser would call "a thoroughly 

 ■confidential horse." I am glad 



to think that when I left Patagonia he became the property of 

 Burbury. 



The Cruzado seemed to enter into the spirit of the chase, and 

 in the present instance went off at a fast canter towards the hills. 

 The-guanaco had moved from his point of vantage upon the top of 

 a conical hill of mud, and had probably, according to the custom of 

 these animals, sought another eminence. I thought he had seen me, 

 in which case he would at once have made for the highest point 

 within reach, but, as I came into the throat of the gorge where there 

 were some mud hills, I saw him again upon the side of a large 

 hummock one hundred feet or so in height. I immediately tied up 

 my horse. 



The guanacos of the valley of the Chico were very wild owing 

 to the fact that the Tehuelche Indians hunt them there during the 

 months of October and November. This valley was once celebrated 

 for the abundance of its game, but of recent years the herds seem 

 to have moved westwards and northwards. This guanacb was the 

 first we had seen that day. 



THE AUTHOR S TWO BEST HORSES, THE CRUZADO 

 AND ALAZAN 



