by Cortez. There
were priests in his army who rode upon asses, and, although we cannot
imagine that the "fathers" charged with the cavaliers and were unhorsed,
or, rather, un-assed in battle, yet, somehow, the asses got rid of their
riders and joined the Spanish chargers in their joyous bound into a new
life of freedom. Hence wild asses also are found in the western
prairies. But think not, reader, of those poor miserable wretches we
see at home, which seem little better than rough door-mats sewed up and
stuffed; with head, tail, and legs attached, and just enough of life
infused to make them move! No, the wild ass of the prairie is a large,
powerful, swift creature. He has the same long ears, it is true, and
the same hideous, exasperating bray, and the same tendency to flourish
his heels; but, for all that he is a very fine animal, and often wages
_successful_ warfare with the wild horse!

But to return. The next drove of mustangs that Dick and Crusoe saw were
feeding quietly and unsuspectingly in a rich green hollow in the plain.
Dick's heart leaped up as his eyes suddenly fell on them, for he had
almost discovered himself before he was aware of their presence.

"Down, pup!" he whispered, as he sank and disappeared among the grass
which was just long enough to cover him when lying quite flat.

Crusoe crouched immediately, and his master made his observations of the
drove, and the dispositions of the ground that might favour his
approach, for they were not within rifle range. Having done so he crept
slowly back until the undulation of the prairie hid him from view; then
he sprang to his feet, and ran a considerable distance along the bottom
until he gained the extreme end of a belt of low bushes, which would
effectually conceal him while he approached to within a hundred yards or
less of the troop.

Here he made his arrangements. Throwing down his buffalo robe, he took
the coil of line and cut off a piece of about three yards in length. On
this he made a running noose. The longer line he also prepared with a
running noose. These he threw in a coil over his arm.

He also made a pair of hobbles and placed them in the breast of his
coat, and then, taking up his rifle, advanced cautiously through the
bushes--Crusoe following close behind him. In a few minutes he was
gazing in admiration at the mustangs which were now within easy shot,
and utterly ignorant of the presence of man, for Dick had taken care to