all others, had no prejudice against the fair
skin of Carlos. Even over their benighted minds the future had cast
some rays of its light. A sort of mysterious presentiment, apparently
instinctive, existed among them, that their deliverers from the yoke of
Spanish tyranny would yet come from the East--from beyond the great
plains!

The cibolero scarce deigned to make any preparation. He did not even
divest himself of his manga, but only threw it carelessly back, and left
its long skirt trailing over the hips of his horse.

Obedient to the voice of his rider, the animal sprang into a gallop; and
then, guided by the touch of the knees, he commenced circling round the
plain, increasing his speed as he went.

Having gained a wide reach, the rider directed his horse towards the
glittering coin. When nearly over it he bent down from the saddle,
caught the piece in his fingers, flung it up into the air, and then,
suddenly checking his horse underneath, permitted it to drop into his
outstretched palm!

All this was done with the ease and liability of a Hindoo juggler. Even
the prejudiced could not restrain their applause; and loud _vivas_ for
"Carlos the cibolero" again pealed upon the air.

The sergeant was humiliated. He had for a long time been victor in
these sports--for Carlos had not been present until this day, or had
never before taken part in them. Vizcarra was little better pleased.
His favourite humbled--himself the loser of ten golden onzas--no small
sum, even to the Comandante of a frontier Presidio. Moreover, to be
jibed by the fair senoritas for losing a wager he had himself
challenged, and which, no doubt, he felt certain of winning. From that
moment Vizcarra liked not "Carlos the cibolero."

The next exhibition consisted in riding at full gallop to the edge of a
deep "zequia" which passed near the spot. The object of this was to
show the courage and activity of the rider as well as the high training
of the steed.

The zequia--a canal used for irrigation--was of such width that a horse
could not well leap over it, and deep enough to render it no very
pleasant matter for a horseman to get into. It therefore required both
skill and daring to accomplish the feat. The animal was to arrive upon
the bank of the canal in full run, and to be drawn up suddenly, so that
his four feet should rest upon the ground inside a certain line. This
line was marked at less than two lengths of himself from the ed