CORRAL. 



165 



selves on a pile of firewood close to the corral ; 

 and being each armed in his way, with a lasso 

 made of a small strip of hide, or of whip cord, got 

 the first chance to noose the animals as they rush- 

 ed out. They seldom failed to throw successfully, 

 but their slender cords broke like cob-webs. One 

 wicked urchin, indeed, more bold than the rest, 

 mounted himself on a donkey that happened to 

 be on the spot ; and taking the lasso which be- 

 longed to it — for no description of animal that is 

 ever mounted is without this essential equipment 

 — and placing himself so as not to be detected by 

 the men, he threw it gallantly over the first bul- 

 lock''s neck. As soon as it became tight, away 

 flew the astonished donkey and his rider : the ter- 

 rified boy soon tumbled off ; but poor Neddy was 

 dragged along the ground, till a more efficient 

 force was made to co-operate with his imavailing 

 resistance. 



When a sufficient number of bullocks had been 

 killed, they were dragged away by means of a 

 small car, to which the heads were tied, with the 

 bodies trailing behind on the ground. The cor- 

 ral or place to which they were removed was an 



