The thoughts of death were bitter. To die thus in the wild forest ǎlōne, with none to help! Thoughts of home and friends coursed like lightning through my brain. At that moment, when hope herself had fled, deep and clear over the neighboring hill came the baying of my gallant Bravo! 6 I 9. "I should have known his voice among a thousand. pealed fōrth, in one faint shout: On, Bravo, on!' The next moment, with tiger-like bounds, the noble dog came leaping down the hill, scattering the dried autumnal leaves like a whirlwind in his päth. No pause he knew;' but fixing his fangs 1 in the stag's throat, he at once commenced the struggle. 66 10. "I fell back, completely exhausted. Blinded with blood, I only knew that a terrific struggle was going on. In a few moments all was still, and I felt the warm breath of my faithful dog as he licked my wounds. Clearing my eyes from gōre, I saw my late adversary dead at my feet, and Brāvo standing over me. He had gnawed in two the rope with which he had been tied, and following his måster through all his windings, arrived in time to rescue him from a horrible death." SECTION VIII. I. 26. ARAB'S FAREWELL TO HIS STEED. M Y beautiful, my beautiful! that standèst meekly by, With thy proudly arched and glossy neck, and dark Fret not to roam the desert now with all thy winged speed; 2. Fret not with that impatient hoof-snuff not the breezy wind; The farther that thou fliest now, so far am I behind; 1 Făngs, tusks; long, pointed teeth by which the prey is seized and held. The stranger hath thy bridle rein; thy måster hath his gold;Fleet-limbed and beautiful, farewell!-thou'rt sold, my steed, thou'rt sold! 3. Farewell!-Thōse free, untired limbs full many a mile must roam, To reach the chill and wintry clime that clouds the stranger's home; Some other hand, less kind, must now thy corn and bed prepare; That silky mane I braided once must be another's câre. 4. The morning sun shall dawn again-but never more with thee Shall I gallop o'er the desert päths where we were wont1 to be. Evening shall darken on the earth; and, o'er the sandy plain, Some other steed, with slower pace, shall bear me home again. 5. Only in sleep shall I behold that dark eye glancing bright— 6. Ah! rudely then, unseen by me, some eruel hand may chide, Till foam-wreaths lie, like crested waves, along thy panting side, And the rich blood that's in thee swells, in thy indignant pain, Till careless eyes that on thee gaze may count each starting vein! 7. Will they ill use thee? If I thought-but no-it can not be ; Thou art so swift, yet easy cûrbed, so gentle, yet so free ;And yet, if haply when thou'rt gone, this lonely heart should yearn, Can the hand that casts thee from it now, command thee to return? 1 Wont (wǎnt), uged; accustomed. 2 Curbed, restrained; subdued. 8. "Return!"—alås! my Arab steed! what will thy måster do, When thou, that wast his all of joy, hast vanished from his view? When the dim distance greets mine eyes, and through the gathering tears Thy bright form for a moment, like the false mirage,1 appears? 9. Slow and unmounted will I roam, with wearied foot, alone, Where, with fleet step and joyous bound, thou oft hast borne me on; And sitting down by the green well, I'll pause, and sadly think, ""Twas here he bowed his glossy neck when last I saw him drink." 10. When last I saw thee drink?-Away! the fevered dream is ō'er! I could not live a day, and know that we should meet no more; They tempted me, my beautiful! for hunger's power is strongThey tempted me, my beautiful! but I have loved too long. 11. Who said that I had given thee up? Who said that thou wert sold? "Tis false! 'tis false! my Arab steed! I fling them back their gold! Thus thus, I leap upon thy back, and scour the distant plains! Away! who overtakes us now shall claim thee for his pains. MRS. NORTON.3 THE II. 27. DON FULANO. HERE they came! Gerrian's whole band of horses in full career! First their heads suddenly lifted above a crest of 1 Mirage (mi räzh'), an optical illusion, arising from an unequal refraction in the lower strata of the atmosphere, and causing distant objects to appear double, as if reflected in a mirror or suspended in the air. It is frequently seen in deserts, presenting the appearance of water. 2 Scour, to run swiftly over. 3 Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton, granddaughter of the famous Irish orator and dramatist, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, was born in 1808. She is a poetess of unusual power, and has also written some prose works of fiction which are of more than ordinary excellence in style and careful delineation of character. She died in 1877. the prai'rie; then they bûrst over, like the foam and spray of a black, stormy wave when a blåst strikes it, and wildly swept by us, with manes and tails flâring in the wind. It was magnificent.1 My heart of a horseman leaped in my breast. “Hurräh!" 2 I cried. "Hurrah 't is !" said Gerrian. 2. The herd dashed by in a huddle, making for the eorral. Just behind, aloof from the rush and scamper of his less noble brethren, came the black--my purchase. It was grand to see a horse that understood and respected himself so perfectly. One, too, that meant the world should know that he was the very chiefèst chief of his race, proud with the blood of a thousand kings. How måsterly he looked! How untamably he stepped! 3. The herd was galloping furiously. He disdained to break into a gallop. He trotted åfter, a hundred feet behind the hindmōst, with large and liberal action. And even at this hälf speed, easily overtaking his slower comrades, he from time to time paused, bounded in the âir, tossed his head, flung out his legs, and then strode on again, writhing all over with suppressed power. 4. He was an American horse-so they distinguish in Californiä one brought from the old States-a superb young animal, perfectly black, without spot upon him, except whêre a flake of foam from his indignant nostril had caught upon his flank. A thorough-bred horse, with the perfeet tail and silky mane of a noble race. Hard after him came José, the herdsman, on a fast mustang. As he rode, he whirled his lasso with easy turn of the wrist. 5. The black, trotting still, and halting still to cur'vet and 1 Mag nïf'i cent, on a grand scale; grand in appearance. 2 Hurrah (họ rä'), a shout of joy, or triumph, or applause. 3 Cor'ral, an inclosure or yard, especially for cattle, near a house. 4 Su perb', grand; rich; showy. 5 In dignant, greatly provoked, as when a person is excited by unjust treatment, or a mean action; angry. 7 • Mus'tang, the wild horse of the prairies in Mexico, California, &c. Lăs ́so, a rope or cord with a noose, used for catching wild horses, and other animals. 8 Curvet (ker'vet), to leap as a horse, when he raises both his fore legs at once, equally advanced, and, as his fore legs are falling, raises his hind legs, so that all of his legs are in the air at once. căracōle,1 turned back his head contemptuously at his pursuer. "Mexicans may chase their own ponies, and break their spirit by spur and lash; if you are able, I give you leave to do the same with me. Bah! make your cast! Don't tride with your lǎsso! I challenge you. Jerk ǎway, Señor Greaser! I give you as fair a chance as you could wish." So the black seemed to say, with his provoking backward glance, and his whinny of disdain. 6. José took the hint. He dug eruel spurs into his horse. The mustang leaped forward. The black gave a tearing bound, and quickened his pace, but still waited the will of his pursuer. They were just upon us, chased and chaser, thundering down the slope, when the herdsman, checking his wrist at the tûrn, flung his lasso straight as an arrow for the black's head. 7. I could hear the hide rope sing through the summer âir, for a moment breezeless. Will he be taken! Will horse or man be victor! The loop of the lasso opened like a hoop. It hung poised for one instant a few feet before the horse's head, vibrating in the air, keeping the circle perfect, waiting for the herdsman's pull to tighten about that proud neck and those swelling shoulders. 8. Hurräh! THROUGH IT WENT THE BLACK! With one brave bound he dashed through the open loop. He touched ōnly to spurn its vain assault, with his hindmōst hoof. "Hurrah!" I cried. "Hurrah! 't is," shouted Gerrian. José dragged in his spurned lasso. The black, with elated head, and tail waving like a banner, sprung forward, closed in with the herd; they parted for his påssage, he took his leadership, and presently was lost with his suite over the swell of the prairie. 9. When we had come in sight of the corral, we discovered, to our surprise, the whole band of horses had voluntarily entered. Gerrian sent in José, who drove all but the black out of the staked enclosure. He trotted about at his ease, snuffing at the stakes and bars, and showing no special disposition to follow. 1 Căr'a cōle, a semi-round, or hälf turn, which a horse makes, either to the right or left. 2 Poised, balanced or suspended by equal weight or power. 4 E la'ted, lifted up; raised by success or pride. 4 Suite (swēt), attendants or followers; a set ; a series; a collection; as a suite of rooms. |