Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/218

205 LIEUTENANT PEREZ IN TRAINING. 205 has had years ot practice in the saddle, herding and driving cattle and horses on the plains, he wilL know the truth thereof when it is aflSrmed that a herdsman on a weU-trained cattle pony will tie the reins over the horn of a saddle and with whip4n hand will cut out a single animal from a herd without touching the reins^ the horse wUl turn the instant he feels the pressure of the thighs of the rider, or the sway of the body, and so proficient do both rider and horse become that one will assist the other, as it were, in avoiding the sudden shock in too sudden a change of direction. As before asserted, there is something remarkable about this experience in rid- ing, and cannot be appreciated by the uninitiated. And this was part of Alonso's tasls, to traiti, toughen and teach his horse not new but old tricks. It may be interesting to learn that the Mexicans are now conceded to be the most expert with the lariat, but they acquired this from the SpaniardSj who, by reason of their contact with the Arabs (Moors) of Spain, were bold and experienced horsemen, so Alonso had early been taught the use of the lasso, and like aU good horsemen carried one aU the time, and this was practiced with, as he expected to give an exhibition of its use. While our ideal character was training his steed he did not neglect his own per-, son, but took a plunge bath every night and morning in the spa,rkling Blue river. It was a busy time for all parties, what with. perfecting their equipments, fitting their horses, arranging the program of pro- cedure, gave very little time for loafing around.