by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER SEVEN.
All stood watching him with interested eyes. Every movement was noted.
He first alighted from the saddle, stripped off his manga, had itcarried back and placed out of the way. He next looked to his spurs, tosee that the straps were properly buckled. After this he re-tied hissash, and placed the sombrero firmly on his head. He buttoned hisvelveteen calzoneros down nearly to his ankles, so that their leathernbottoms might not flap open and discommode him. His hunting-knife alongwith his "whip" were sent back to the charge of Don Juan.
His attention was next turned to his horse, that stood all this whilecurving his neck proudly as though he divined that he was to be calledupon for some signal service. The bridle was first scrutinised. Thegreat bit--a Mameluke--was carefully examined, lest there might be someflaw or crack in the steel. The head-strap was buckled to its propertightness, and then the reins were minutely scanned. These were of thehair of wild horses' tails closely and neatly plaited. Leather mightsnap, there was no fear of breaking such cords as these.
The saddle now had its turn. Passing from side to side, Carlos triedboth stirrup-leathers, and examined the great wooden blocks which formedthe stirrups. The girth was the last as well as most important objectof his solicitude. He loosed the buckles on both sides, and thentightened them, using his knees to effect his purpose. When drawn tohis liking, the tip of the finger could not have been passed under thestrong leathern band.
No wonder he observed all this caution. The snapping of a strap, or theslipping of a buckle, might have hurled him into eternity.
Having satisfied himself that all was right, he gathered up the reins,and leaped lightly into the saddle.
He first directed his horse at a walk along the cliff, and within a fewfeet of its edge. This was to strengthen the nerves both of himself andthe animal. Presently the walk became a trot, and then a gentle canter.Even this was an exhibition fearful to behold. To those regarding itfrom below it was a beautiful but terrible spectacle.
After a while he headed back towards the plain, and then stretching intoa fair gallop--the gait in which he intended to approach the cliff--hesuddenly reined up again, so as to throw his horse nearly on his flanks.Again he resumed the same gallop and again reined up; and thismanoeuvre he repeated at least a dozen times, now with his horse's headturned towards the cliffs, and now in the direction of the plain. Ofcourse this gallop was far from being the full speed of the animal.That was not bargained for. To draw a horse up at race-course speedwithin two lengths of himself would be an utter impossibility, even bysacrificing the life of the animal. A shot passing through his heartwould not check a racer in so short a space. A fair gallop was all thatcould be expected under the circumstances, and the judges expressedthemselves satisfied with that which was exhibited before them. Carloshad put the question.
At length he was seen to turn his horse towards the cliff, and take hisfirmest seat in the saddle. The determined glance of his eyes showedthat the moment had come for the final trial.
A slight touch of the spur set the noble brute in motion, and in anothersecond he was in full gallop, and heading directly for the cliff!
The gaze of all was fixed with intense earnestness upon that recklesshorseman. Every heart heaved with emotion; and, beyond their quickbreathing, not an utterance escaped from the spectators. The onlysounds heard were the hoof-strokes of the horse as they rang back fromthe hard turf of the plain.
The suspense was of short duration. Twenty strides brought horse andhorseman close to the verge, within half-a-dozen lengths. The reinstill hung loose--Carlos dared not tighten it--a touch he knew wouldbring his horse to a halt, and that before he had crossed the line wouldonly be a failure.
Another leap,--another,--yet another! Ho! he is inside--Great God! Hewill be over!
Such exclamations rose from the spectators as they saw the horsemancross the line, still in a gallop; out the next moment a loud cheerbroke from both crowds, and the "vivas" of those in the valley wereanswered by similar shouts from those who witnessed the feat from above.
Just as the horse appeared about to spring over the horrid brink, thereins were observed suddenly to tighten, the fore-hoofs became fixed andspread, and the hips of the noble animal rested upon the plain. He waspoised at scarce three feet distance from the edge of the cliff! Whilein this attitude the horseman raised his right hand, lifted hissombrero, and after waving it round returned it to his head!
A splendid picture from below. The dark forms of both horse and riderwere perceived as they drew up on the cliff, and the imposing andgraceful attitude was fully developed against the blue background of thesky. The arms, the limbs, the oval outlines of the steed, even the verytrappings, could be seen distinctly; and for the short period in whichthey were poised and motionless, the spectator might have fancied anequestrian statue of bronze, its pedestal the pinnacle of the cliff!
This period was but of a moment's duration, but, during its continuance,the loud "vivas" pealed upon the air. Those looking from below saw thehorseman suddenly wheel, and disappear beyond the brow-line of thebluff.
The daring feat was ended and over; and hearts, but a moment agothrobbing wildly within tender bosoms, now returned to their soft andregular beating.