who looked so pretty in their short
leather skirts and leggings. One of them threw pieces of silver in the
air and shot them in two with her rifle. Everything was wonderful.

Duke Sermoneta, who went with us, having read on the posters that
Buffalo Bill professed to tame any wild or vicious horse, wished to
test Buffalo Bill's ability, and perhaps with a little maliciousness
had ordered some of the wild horses from his estate to be brought to
Rome.

These untamed horses are like those that used to run in the _corsi dei
Barberi_ during the carnival in Rome when Rome had carnivals. The Duke
was very sure that no one could tame them, much less put a saddle on
them; the audience, no doubt, thought the same. There was quite an
excitement when the frightened things came rushing into the arena and
stood looking about them with terrified eyes. But the cowboys knew very
well what to do. They quickly lassoed them, and somehow, before we
could see the whole process, they were forced to the ground, plunging
about and making desperate efforts to get up. Finally, after many
attempts, a saddle was placed on them, and lo and behold! the ferocious
wild horses were conquered and, as meek as Mary's little lamb, were
ridden around the arena to the accompaniment of great clapping,
screaming, and applause. Every one was as enthusiastic as the Duke
Sermoneta over the stubborn and agile young Wild-Westers. Then Buffalo
Bill's herald came forward and proposed that the Italian _campagna_
boys, who had brought the Duke's horses, should mount the American
bucking horses. The Duke gave his consent readily. He was very willing
that his men should show what they could do. Well, they showed what
they could _not_ do; they could not keep on the horses a minute, even
if they managed to get on; they turned somersaults in every direction,
fell off, and rolled about on the ground. The audience roared.

Buffalo Bill appeared on a beautiful horse, holding his gray sombrero
in his hand, acknowledging the applause. He looks very handsome with
his long, fair hair falling on his shoulders and his Charles-the-Second
fine face.

The Duke said, "How I should like to speak to that man!"

We said that we knew him and that perhaps we could get him to come to
us. I wrote on my card: "It would give M. de Hegermann and myself much
pleasure to speak with you. We traveled in the same train with you to
California some years ago, if you remember." I sent the card by a