178 



F0RES1 AND STREAM. 



Hod. Sometimes a horse will be recovered after being lost 

 for years. Iiis wheraboutfl a mystery, but the saddle marks 

 B ill show that he has been in use, and has probably taken 

 image of the first moment of liberty to return to the 

 rnnche where he was foaled. 



We had scarcely finished dinner when the clatter of 

 spurs and saddle accoutrements outside announced the tir- 

 i aval of a new comer, and a few momenta afterward he 

 entered the room. 



"Ah, Bill,", said the Colonel, "vou're just the man I 

 wanted." 



"Well, here I am Colonel," responded the individual so 

 addressed. 



"Senoritas, a su servicio; Don "Pablo, como tr Wj stran- 

 eer, I'm glad to know you," aud about six feet six inches 

 of attenuated humanity crossed the loom, and a hand of 

 rough parchment grasped my poor fingers like a vise. 



"Well, Bill," continued the Colonel, "what's the news 

 from the mountains; how are the bees and the honey?" 



"All serene up yonder." said Bill, jerking his linger over 

 his shoulder in the direction indicated. ,r The bees are as 

 lively as crickets, and makin' lols of honey; I've brought 

 down a pail full for the senora. But the wild cats are get- 

 tin' awful troublesome— two or three chickens carried, off 

 every night, and I'm afeard the honey is goingto bring a. bar 

 down the gulch some of these nights, and the varmint 

 will do a sight of damage among the hives." 



"Been along the foot hills lately?" said the Colonel. 

 "Are there many deer there now?" 



"I haven't killed a venison in a week," replied Bill, "but 

 there's a smart sprinklin' of deer. I saw a buck and fcwn 

 dors this morning as I came through the chaparal." 



"Well, I want you to take Mr Irving for a hunt, and 

 perhaps we may all go up and camp for a night or two at 

 your place. I should like to catch a £ew trout myself. Do 

 you think you could show our guest a grizzly?" 



"2To grizzly in mine, thank you, Colonel. I haven't lost 

 any of them bars lately, and don't, go huntin' them. Now 

 a black bar, or a eiunamnn, 1 don't "mind tucklin', but I've 

 had my allowance of grizzlies. The stream is alive with 

 trout; I caught forty or fifty in an hour the other dav. with 

 nothing but a little piece of rabbit meat for bait." 



"Bill, or Grizzly, as he was commonly called, was not a 

 handsome man to' look at, and might have curried the jack 

 knife for a life time against all comers; but his bronzed 

 skin, his huge joints, and great muscular development, in- 

 dicated wonderful strength and endurance. The lower 

 part of his face, which was surmounted by a crop of thick 

 gray hair, was one huge scar, and looked as though some 

 violent blow had dislocated bones, muscles, and everything 

 about his jaws. It was, indeed, the result of an encounter 

 with the boast from whom he derived his soubriquet. His 

 deeply sunken blue eye was soft and pleasant, and its ex- 

 pression indicated a warm heart and the greatest .simplicity 

 of character. Bill was a fair specimen"of a type of men 

 only to be met within California and the border Slates. 

 Wanderers from youth, with apparently no home ties, el- 

 even a name, beyond the nickname bestowed by their com- 

 panions. Hardened by contact with the rougher side of 

 the world, but with an under current of warm humanity 

 hidden by a rough exterior. Living independent, lives, 

 happy in having more than sufficient for their wants, and 

 tearing neither dun or creditor. 



It was finally arranged that on the dav succeeding the 

 mxtero, we were all to go to Bill's ranche and remain there 

 for a day or two hunting and fishing Don Pablo consented 

 to be of the party; the girls were delighted at the prospect 

 of a change, and even the stately senora deigned to unbend 

 a little and express approval of the arrangements. 



The next day was cloudless and bright, as twenty-nine 

 out of every thirty days are in this climate, and after an 

 early breakfast the Colonel, Don Pablo and myself started 

 for the scene of action. Pablo in his picturesque riding 

 costume of chaqueta, or jacket of velvet profusely orna- 

 mented with silver buttons; calzoueras, or pantaloons of the 

 same material, lield in plaee by a rich scarlet sash, and 

 broad brimmed hat, or sombrero, with its gilt cord, was a 

 perfect specimen of the Mexican Caballero. His saddle 

 trappings and bridle were so covered with silver as almost 

 to conceal the leather. His prancing and perfectly trained 

 mustang, showed strong marks of his barb, or Moorish 

 origin, and was probably a lineal descendant of one of the 

 horses ridden by some of Hernando Cortez's fiery followers. 

 Poor old Pinto remained in the pasture enjoying his well- 

 earned rest, but the Colonel had mounted me splendidly 

 from his own stable. All borsea broughl from the Eastern 

 States, or bred from sueh, are called American horses, 

 distinguish them from the native animals, and for draught 

 purposes, owing to their greater weight, they are far 

 superior; but for riding, or for long journeys, give me the 

 wiry little mustang. Nj road is too long for him, and hav- 

 ing never been pampered, he is by no means particular as 

 to his diet. Our route, running parallel with the 

 mountains, carried us os r er twelve or fifteen miles of plain 

 and undulating country, across an occasional arroyo, or 

 water course, cut by the mountain- streams. The ranch, 

 when i-eached, was found to possess a cam, or house like 

 Colonel Forrester's in size and shape, but entirely without 

 the adornments, both interior and exterior, which wore the 

 results of his more advanced ideas of comfort, as well as 

 the fruits of his greater industry and perseverence. There 

 was a vineyard, a peach orchard, and numbers of old olive 

 trees shading the house, and from the courtyard rose a 

 magnificent palm, topping the roof and serving as a land 

 mark for miles; but large" flakes of plaster had peeled from 

 the walls without being renewed; the barred windows re- 

 minded one of a prison, and the floors, iustead of being 

 boarded and carpeted, were formed of the native mud 

 pounded dry and scraped smooth. A few game cocks were 

 tied by the leg to the pillars of the verandah, and without, 

 a string of horses tethered by their lariats, indicated that 

 the company were already assembled. 



Entering the house we found fifteen or twenty persons 

 who, from their all talking and gesticulating at once, a 

 stranger would have supposed were engaged in a violent 

 altercation. So shrouded were they in smoke from the 

 cigarette which each one was smoking that it was dillieult 

 to distinguish faces. Remarkably handsome were some of 

 the men, particularly the older ones, who, with white 

 whiskers aud moustaches, and air of great dignity, were 

 unusually distingue looking. All were in ridiug costume, 

 aud some wore cliaquetai of the skin of the wild cat or 

 leopard. One old rice had a silver hiked sword across the 

 pommel of his saddle, a relic of years past wheu it was 

 the custom to go so armed, more as an indication of rank 

 than through any necessity for protection. There was a 



constant clicking, as little classes of ugundiente, or native 

 wine, were quaffed tO,each other's, health. The arrival of 

 our party was the signal of adjournment, and mounting 

 their horses the whole party cantered off to where two 

 large oorrels, guarded by a number Of vaqueros, contained 

 the horses and cattle. A fire was burning near, in which 

 the branding irons were being heated for the benefit of the 

 poor little colts and calves. And now the scene became 

 intensely interesting and exciting. A ranch ero discovering 

 in the crowded carrel an animal marked with his brand 

 would direct his vaquero to bring him out. Nothing loth, 

 the vaquero, taking his Avot, or lariat, in his hand, would 

 enter the gates and drive the affrighted crowd before nim 

 around the correl, until he had succeeded in separating the 

 particular animal a little from his fellows, when, swinging 

 the lariat two or three times around his head to give it 

 impetus, it leaves his band, ami with unerring precision the 

 noose falls over the animal's head, and he is led awav a 

 captive. Sometimes an old mare, wdio had been caught too 

 often, would be up to a very bright trick. At the moment 

 the la/.., n- :1 s thrown she would duck her head to her knees 

 and allow the noose to pass over her amid shouts of "brum) 

 yuega" from the crowd. The knowing mare would then 

 be separated from the band and driven outside the correl. 

 where, being chased at speed on the open plain she was 

 unable to dodge. 



But it was at the correl containing the cnttle that the fun 

 was growing fast and furious. Such feats of horseman- 

 ship, and such narrow escapes, I am sure were never wit- 

 nessed beTore. In a little while the cows, calves aud steers 

 in the con el became perfectly wild with fear and excite- 

 ment, and it was anything but a joke to enter this den of 

 wild beasts. A man on foot would have been instantly 

 gored, and for viciousness commend me to an angry Mexi- 

 can cow with a young calf. She's worse than a dozen 

 bulls. Yet the vaqueros rode among them with perfect 

 fearlessness, now dodging a horn on one side, and now one 

 on the other. And the traininti of I lie horses was marvel- 

 lous; turning to the right or to "the left, at Iheslightesl pres- 

 sure of the rein upon the neck, or sometimes, when both 

 tie- rider's hands were engaged with the lar'"t mibiprt h« 

 (he knee alone; again, stopping suddenly 



speed, the rider re 

 glued there. One po> 

 jammed againsl the 



rushed at him and fai 



firm in his scat as though 

 T fellow had his arm broken by being 

 fence as the crowd of angrv beasts 

 •ly took his horse off his f pet, He 

 seat and escape from the correl, but 

 the day. Not unfrequentry men are 

 'cularly after imbibing sufficient 

 r.ireless. Occasionally a partic- 

 er would be turned out on the 

 started after her. It was almost 

 hoinhre would throw his lariat 

 hen she would charge htm 



killed at tic— W - pari 



aguadiente to render them 



ularly vicious cow or 5tc 



plain and several rat [Usros 



equal to a bull fight. One 



dexterously over her hori 



furiously. " Meanwhile, while he was dodging her, a 



would throw a noose on fop of the. first one, so that as she 



-ili:/! one man the other would jerk her in a contrary 



direction, until her strength being exhausted she would 



submit to be led a.vay. 



The last claimant for horse or cow had appeared, and 

 those remaining had been handed over to the maestro ,1k los 

 l/unos for future recognition, or, after a specified time, to be 

 sold to pay the expense of keeping them; hut the sports of 

 the day were by no means at an end. One rauchero ban- 

 tering another regarding the speed of their respective 

 horses, a race between them would lie immediately arranged- 

 A judge aud starter having been appointed and the'dis- 

 tance marked oil', the horses appear at the score. Their 

 riders, who have handkerchiefs tied tightly around their 

 heads, dispense with saddles and are fastened to the horse 

 by a finch, or girth, passing over their thi<j;hs and buckled 

 under the horse's belty. After considerable jockeying for 

 theleadthe word is at length given. Inamiuute the decis- 

 ion is announced, the loser hands over his pesos, more vino 

 is consumed, and everybody lights a fresh cigaritto. Now 

 the vaqueros exhibit more feat's of horsemanship, such as 

 picking a dollar from the ground while at full galop, and 

 rolling and lighting a cigaritto while at the same rapid 

 speed. Even some of the Padrone* did not decline to take 

 part in the fun, although they preferred to show oil' the 

 high stepping paces of their horses by making them prance 

 and curvet m front of the house where the ladies were 

 gathering, the riders meanwhile maintaining an air of the 

 utmost gravity and stateliness. Towards sunset we all re- 

 turned to the cam, and upon entering the mtit, or parlor, 

 found the ladies of the house assembled, together with 

 those of Colonel Forrester's and some of the other neigh- 

 bor's families. A perfect babel of sounds ensued, all talk- 

 ing voluble Spanish at the same time. 1 sought out Anita 

 and related to her the events of the day. 

 "Did you lasso any horses?" she asked. 

 "No, Miss Rita," I replied, "I think I shall be more suc- 

 cessful in capturing the deer. It's more in more in my 

 line, you know." Whereupon I was favored with a be- 

 witching smile, and was about saying something very 

 sweet, when a boy appeared at the door and announced 

 "to sena," and the whole party moved oil towards the din- 

 ing room. Before supper was finished the tuning of a 

 violin and the twanging of guitar strings' indicated that the 

 baile was about commencing. Contrary to the custom else- 

 where, it is not fashionable there to be" late, and when we 

 returned to the aula a number of persons had assembled, 

 all anxious for the dancing to begin. Miss Nita invited me 

 to a seat by her side and explained that I was about to wit- 

 ness one of ihe customs of the country, which would 

 probably appear new- and strange to inc. "You must 

 know," she said, "that annually on this day a number of 

 7>ersons assemble for a dauce and to select their mwpudres 

 and comadres for 1he ensuing year. You will see how it is 

 done directly, so I will not describe it, but the rule is that 

 those wjiose names are drawn together shall address each 

 other afterwards as Con, padre aud Coiuadre. It means 



closer together, and at others affords much amusement." 



The drawing was about to commence. An equal number 

 of names of ladies and gentlemen were written on slips of 

 paper and deposited in two hats held by children. A per- 

 son selected for the purpose drew from one hat a slip and 

 read out the name of a lady; then drawing from the other. 

 hat announced the name of a gentleman, and that the 

 couple were coiuadre and coutpadre for the ensuing year. 

 When the names of persons varying greatly iu age, or of 

 two supposed already to be lovers, or of husband aud wife, 

 were drawn, much amusement was created, aud many jokes 

 made at their expeDse. Nearly all had been drawn, aud as 

 each lady's name was called I was in terror lest mine should 



come with it, and I should be compelled to attempt a speech 

 in Spanish in acknowledgment of tec honor. "Senorita 

 Anita Forrester," announced the drawer. A moment of 

 breathless expectation. "Don Guiuremo ln-uiu!'' "You 

 see it is fate, Miss Nita," said I. and the lovelvairl turned 

 her head to hide her blushes ami escape the significant 

 glances which were cast from every part of the room. 

 "We must shake hands, comadre. I notice that all the rest 

 have done SO." And the soft, plump little ham! of mv 

 connidrita was put in mine and very affectionately squeezed. 

 The drawing being over, the guitars and violins" struck up 

 one of the slow measured Spanish waltzes, and each com- 

 padre taking his comadre for a partner, whirled her off. 

 not with the rapid step of the deuxtemps or the lonii elide 

 of the "dip," but iu slow and stately measure. Brown'8 

 young men would probably have found niuch to he amused 

 at in the manner of some of the dancers. Many were 

 very graceful and moved their bodies in unison with the 

 music, while others were as stiff as ramrods and moving 

 nothing but their feet resembled for all the world the waltz- 

 ing figures on an old-fashioned hand organ. Quadrilles 

 followed, aud other dances that were unknown to me by 

 name. Que,— the jota^ was very peculiar. A lady stepping 

 out on the floor placed a knotted handkerchief around her 

 ankles aud holding her dress so that the handkerchief could 

 be seen, began to dance with a shuffling step. The crowd 

 formed iu a circle around her and encouraged her to greater 

 exertions. Faster plays the music and quicker move the 

 little feet, until the dancer steps out; of the handerchicf and 

 bows to some gentleman in the circle who is to take her 

 place. To dance into the handkerchief and set it around 

 his ankles is the difficult part of the- performance, and 

 sometimes three or four attempt it Without success. The 

 fortunate one, after dancing his measure, gives his arm to 

 the lady and they promenade off to make room for another 

 couple. 



The correct costume for men at a baile is full riding dress, 

 from hat to jingling spurs. The ladies wore old-fashioned 

 heavy brocades or simple muslins, aud some of the donnas 

 were ornamented with a profusion of heavy and substan- 

 tial looking gold jewelry, evidently of Mexican manu- 

 facture. All of the men and many of the ladies were con- 

 stantly smoking cigarittos, not laying them aside even while 

 dancing. Coffee, wine and panicitos, or little cakes, were 

 offered to the guests during the evening, and in au adjoin- 

 ing room aguadiente and milk punch were provided lor 

 those who preferred them, but no one showed the slightest 

 signs of intoxication, and the utmost courtesy and decorum 

 prevailed. 



[Concluded next week.\ 



♦•*■ 



For Foresi and Stream. 

 OCTOBER SPORT IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 



B\' FARRAN WTDE. 



THE wholesome hard work which a man can find with 

 gun and setter in the British Isles in the month of 

 October, is, to the true sportsman, as superior to the mon- 

 otonous grouse potting of August as is the variegated glow 

 of the autumnal landscape to the unvaried green of Sum- 

 mer. At this season there is a certain amount of dubiety 

 as to the result of any gunning expedition, which tends 

 considerably to enhance the sport in the esteem of every 

 practical INimrod, and which is a veritable relief to a man 

 weary, and maybe disgusted, with battues and hot corners, 

 and that kind of constant, cruel popping which bran new 

 breech loaders keep up on a well-stocked" moor in August; 

 The August business, as most English sportsmen would 

 readily admit, is little better thau a pageant, ordered bv a 

 master of ceremonies, in which the heathery heights and 

 hollows are circumnavigated as methodically according to 

 a prearranged plan, as' if men and dogs together were 

 treading the figures of a quadrille. But how different is 

 the prospect before the sportsman on an October morning, 

 and how much worthier of the name of "sportsman" he 

 feels himself to be, as he lounges out of doors after break- 

 fast into the cool aud bracing atmosphere. There may 

 have been a white frost in the night, but whether or not 

 either rime or dew lies thick in the morning, aud in the 

 open spaces where the sun beats, it may be seen rising iu 

 wreaths of vapor into the region of upper air. I am in- 

 clined to think a setter likes an October morning better 

 than any other, for the fellow seems to enjoy the dew 

 under foot, and apparently glories in scattering" the spray 

 from every bush into which he dives with shaggy front. 

 A delightful uncertainty, such as one may feel oh a West- 

 ern prairie, or in a Florida thicket, reigns in the sports- 

 man's mind as to the direction of his day's tramp, and very 

 especially as to the size of the bag he will bring home, anil 

 the nature of its contents. But this uncertainty is, as I 

 have said, to every real sportsman the chief and "crowning 

 charm of sport. I suppose it is because of this doubt as 

 lo what kind of living creature may como within range 

 first, that some people have acquired the queer practice of 

 mixing two sizes of shot; but if oue has a close throwing 

 gun there is no need for such a manoeuvre, a medium size 

 of shot being suitable enough lor all the varieties of game 

 to be found in an October hag. It is just possible the 

 sportsman has not to go very far before he gets a proof of 

 this fad, as well as aii" indication of the kind of sport he 

 may expect during the day, A field of turnips is not un- 

 likely to lie near Ids fuse of operations, and a field of tur 

 Dip? is always worthy of exploration on an October mom. 

 ing. In this month the turnips are of lull growth, and the 

 tops meet in Hi e furrows, making each furrow an aruide 

 under which all sorts of devastators may steal and run 

 concealed. The dog is tolerably sure lo wind game as soon 

 as he enters the green crop, aud not unlikely a partridge 

 will get up undeiMhe sportsman's feet before he has pene- 

 trated very far. He appropriates the bird with one barrel, 

 the report" of which startles something in his rear, and he 

 turns quickly, just iu time to catch a glimpse of a hare 

 bounding up a furrow. Not much more than the tips of 

 Ihe ears are visible, but. the tips of the ears are a good 

 place to aim at, fur in that neighborhood poor puss may 

 generally be lulled without much loss of blood— a precau- 

 tion to be observed, for no cook will thank you for a hare 

 badly shot, ft is not. what .might be called a common oc- 

 currence to bag i i arc and a partridge with an almost sim- 

 ultaneous discharge of both barrels, yet I have seen such 

 a double shot repeatedly, Having picked up both hare 

 and partridge, the sportsman vety naturally turns his at- 

 tention to the dog; but at his approach ten 10 tne the wary 

 brood of partridges takes alarm, aud wings its flight over 

 the fence to some adjacent stubble. There is sometimes a 

 laggard, however, who waits to be shot before he leaves 



