operation
on the hair of its tail--both acts being done, as they explained, to
indicate that the horse had been once mounted.

Meanwhile Pizarro quickly put a strong hide halter on the animal's head,
and a piece of hide in his mouth to serve as a bit. He also girthed a
saddle on him, and, when all was ready, ordered the men who held him to
let go. At the same moment he sprang into the saddle and held on.

Holding on was the point on which Pizarro had to concentrate all his
attention and power during the next few minutes, for the way in which
that outraged and intensely fierce creature strove to unseat him is
alike beyond the power of description and conception. Jumping,
plunging, kicking, rearing, bounding, and pirouetting are all
sufficiently expressive terms in their way, but they are mild words with
which to describe the proceedings of that creature of the Pampas while
under the influence of temporary insanity. With ears flat on its neck,
nostrils distended, and eyes emitting something almost like flames, the
young horse absolutely screamed in its fury; but all was in vain. As
well might it have tried to shake off its own tail as Pizarro!

Suddenly it changed its plan, and stretched out its sinewy length to its
longest stride. Pizarro fell in with the idea, encouraged it with his
long sharp spurs and heavy lash, and away they went over the mighty
plain like a streak of personified lightning.

It is useful sometimes to let wilful people not only have their way, but
compel them to continue it. John Gilpin's spirit, when he said--

"'Twas for your pleasure you came here;
You shall go back for mine."

is not unknown on the Pampas and the prairie:

After sailing away over the plain, like a ship going out to sea, until
it was a mere speck on the horizon, Pizarro's horse thought it time to
reduce its pace; but here Pizarro did not agree with it. He applied
whip and spur until his steed was quite exhausted. Then he turned
homewards, and galloped back to the corral, into which he turned the
animal in a very broken and humble state of mind. There it found
several young friends who had just been subdued in a similar manner, and
it is not altogether improbable that they spent the remainder of that
evening in comparing notes!

"A roughish method, but--aw--effective," remarked the sportsman to his
friend.

This was true. Perhaps Quashy's remark to Lawrence was equally true:--

"Dat dood it pritty slick,