carried taut; and, scarcely
checking the animal, it slipped along the smooth horn and spun out into
the air. The cast was a failure.

The second vaquero now flung his lazo with more success. The heavy
loop, skilfully projected, shot out like an arrow, and embraced _both_
horns in its curving noose. With the quickness of thought the vaquero
wheeled his horse, buried his spurs deep into his flanks, and, pressing
his thighs to the saddle, galloped off in an opposite direction. The
bull dashed on as before. In a moment the lariat was stretched. The
sudden jerk caused the thong to vibrate like a bowstring, and the bull
lay motionless on the grass. The shock almost dragged the mustang upon
his flanks.

The bull lay for some time where he had fallen; then, making an effort,
he sprang up, and looked around him with a bewildered air. He was not
yet conquered. His eye, flashing with rage, rolled around until it fell
upon the rope leading from his horns to the saddle; and, suddenly
lowering his head, with a furious roar he rushed upon the vaquero.

The latter, who had been expecting this attack, drove the spurs into his
mustang, and started in full gallop across the prairie. On followed the
bull, sometimes shortening the distance between him and his enemy, while
at intervals the lazo, tightening, would almost jerk him upon his head.

After running for a hundred yards or so, the vaquero suddenly wheeled
and galloped out at right angles to his former course. Before the bull
could turn, himself the rope again tightened with a jerk and flung him
upon his side. This time he lay but an instant, and, again springing to
his feet, he dashed off in fresh pursuit.

The second vaquero now came up, and, as the bull rushed past, launched
his lazo after, and snared him around one of the legs, drawing the noose
upon his ankle.

This time the bull was flung completely over, and with such a violent
shock that he lay as if dead. One of the vaqueros then rode cautiously
up, and, bending over in the saddle, unfastened both of the lariats, and
set the animal free.

The bull rose to his feet, and, looking around in the most cowed and
pitiful manner, walked quietly off, driven unresistingly towards the
corral.

We commenced descending into the place, and the vaqueros, catching a
glimpse of our uniforms, simultaneously reined up their mustangs with a
sudden jerk. We could see from their gestures that they were frightened
at the app