THE LASSO. 



153 



which he always wears in his girdle ; and, instant- 

 ly afterwards, dispatches him, by a dexterous cut 

 across the back of the neck. The most surpris- 

 ing thing is, the manner in which the horse, after 

 being left by his rider, manages to preserve the las- 

 so always tight ; this would be less difficult if the 

 bull were to remain steady, but it sometimes hap- 

 pens, that he makes violent struggles to disentangle 

 himself from the lassos, rushing backwards and 

 forwards in a furious manner. The horse how- 

 ever with wonderful sagacity alters his place, 

 and prances about, as if conscious of what he is 

 doing, so as to resist every movement of the bull, 

 and never to allow the lasso to be relaxed for a 

 moment. 



When a wild horse is to be taken, the lasso is 

 always placed round the two hind legs, and, as 

 the guasso rides a little on one side, the jerk pulls 

 the entangled feet laterally, so as to throw him 

 on his side, without endangering his knees or his 

 face. Before the horse can recover the shock, the 

 rider dismounts, and snatching his poncho or 

 cloak from his shoulders, wraps it round the pro- 

 strate animal's head ; he then forces into his 



