esume its plungings till it is almost subdued, when they gradually draw
near and breathe into its nostrils. But the violence and strength of
this animal rendered this an apparently hopeless task. We have already
seen that the hobbles and noose in the lower jaw had been fixed, so that
Dick had nothing now to do but to choke his captive, and tire him out,
while Crusoe remained a quiet, though excited spectator of the scene.

But there seemed to be no possibility of choking this horse. Either the
muscles of his neck were too strong, or there was something wrong with
the noose which prevented it from acting, for the furious creature
dashed and bounded backwards and sidewise in its terror for nearly an
hour, dragging Dick after it, till he was almost exhausted, and yet, at
the end of that time, although flecked with foam and panting with
terror, it seemed as strong as ever. Dick held both lines, for the
short one attached to its lower jaw gave him great power over it. At
last he thought of seeking assistance from his dog.

"Crusoe," he cried, "lay hold, pup."

The dog seized the long line in his teeth, and pulled with all his
might. At the some moment Dick let go the short line and threw all his
weight upon the long one. The noose tightened suddenly under this
strain, and the mustang, with a gasp, fell choking to the ground.

Dick had often heard of the manner in which the Mexicans "break" their
horses, so he determined to abandon the method which had already almost
worn him out, and adopt the other, as far as the means in his power
rendered it possible. Instead, therefore, of loosening the lasso and
re-commencing the struggle, he tore a branch from a neighbouring bush,
cut the hobbles, strode with his legs across the fallen steed, seized
the end of the short line or bridle, and then, ordering Crusoe to quit
his hold, he loosened the noose which compressed the horse's neck, and
had already well-nigh terminated its existence.

One or two deep sobs restored it, and in a moment it leaped to its feet
with Dick firmly on its back! To say that the animal leaped and kicked
in its frantic efforts to throw this intolerable burden would be a tame
manner of expressing what took place. Words cannot adequately describe
the scene. It reared, plunged, shrieked, vaulted into the air, stood
straight up on its hind-legs, and then almost as straight upon its fore
ones, but its rider held on like a burr. Then the mustang raced wi