e was not without ambitions of his own, and determined to seize the
first opportunity to remind his companions that the son of Don Tiburcio
Carillo, the greatest ranchero of that section of the Californias, had
not the habit to occupy the humble position of tag-behind even to so
brilliant and adventurous a guest as Roldan Castanada.

He soon found his opportunity.

As they reached the first hill they saw a bull feeding on its summit.
"Aha!" cried the young don of the Rancho Encarnacion. "Now I will make
for you a little morning entertainment, my friends. Coliar! coliar!"

"No! no!" cried the boys. "The hill is too steep. It is like the side
of a house. You will break your neck, my friend."

Roldan said: "It is dangerous, but it could be done."

"I can do it," said Rafael, proudly, "and I shall."

The other boys, good sportsmen as they all were, shouted, "No! no!"
again; but Rafael laughed gaily, and forced his horse up the almost
perpendicular declivity, leisurely unwinding his lariat from the high
pommel of his saddle, and tossing it into big snake-like loops, which
he gathered one by one into his hand, the last about his thumb. The
bull fed on unsuspecting, for the early green of winter was very
delicious after eight months of unrelenting sunshine. When Rafael
reached the summit he rode back for some distance, then came at the
bull full charge, yelling like a demon. The bull, terrified and
indignant, gave a mighty snort and leaped over the brow of the hill. It
was much like descending the slightly inclined side of a cliff, but he
kept his footing. The boys held their breath as Rafael rode straight
over the brow in the wake of the bull. With one hand he held the bridle
in a tight grip, in the other he held aloft the coils of the lariat. It
looked like a huge snake, and quivered as if aware that it was about to
spring. There was no cheering; the boys were too much alarmed. A
mis-step and there would be a hideous heap at the foot of the hill.

The little mustang appeared scarcely to touch the uneven surface of the
descent. He looked as if galloping in air, and tossed his head fiercely
as though to shake the rising sun out of his eyes. The bull seemed
continually gathering himself for a great leap, his clumsy bulk heaving
from side to side. But a quarter of the distance had been traversed
when the great curves of the lasso sprang forward, and, amidst a hoarse
murmur from the boys, caught the bull below the horns. Bu