iving the wild horses towards the
river with shouts. All were armed with the lasso, which was swinging
over their heads, to be in readiness to entrap the first that attempted
to break through the gradually contracting segment; the dogs serving
with the riders to head the horses in. They continued to advance, when
suddenly a horse with furious speed broke the line, passing near one of
the horsemen, and for a moment it was thought he had escaped; the next
he was jerked round with a force that seemed sufficient to have broken
his neck, the horseman having, the moment the lasso was thrown, turned
round and braced himself for the shock. The captured horse now began to
rear and plunge furiously to effect his escape. After becoming somewhat
worn out, he was suffered to run, and again suddenly checked. This was
repeated several times, when another plan was adopted. The dogs were set
on him, and off he went at full run, in the direction of another
horseman, who threw his lasso to entangle his legs and precipitate him
to the ground. The dogs again roused him, when he again started, and was
in like manner brought to a stand. After several trials he became
completely exhausted and subdued, when he stood perfectly still, and
allowed his captors to lay hands upon him. The shouts of the men, the
barking of the dogs, and the scampering of the horses, made the whole
scene extremely exciting.
FIGHT BETWEEN A WHALE AND A KILLER.
This day, on board the Peacock, they witnessed a sea-fight between a
whale and one of its many enemies. The sea was quite smooth, and offered
the best possible view of the whole combat. First, at a distance from
the ship, a whale was seen floundering in a most extraordinary way,
lashing the smooth sea into a perfect foam, and endeavouring apparently
to extricate himself from some annoyance. As he approached the ship, the
struggle continuing and becoming more violent, it was perceived that a
fish, apparently about twenty feet long, held him by the jaw, his
contortions, spouting, and throes, all betokening the agony of the huge
monster. The whale now threw himself at full length from the water with
open mouth, his pursuer still hanging to the jaw, the blood issuing from
the wound and dyeing the sea to a distance around; but all his
flounderings were of no avail; his pertinacious enemy still maintained
his hold, and was evidently getting the advantage of him. Much alarm
seemed to be felt by the many other
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