"The first thing is to get a halter on their heads, and a leather bit in their mouths, señor," said Pietro, coming to his side. "Then the saddle must be fitted. That troubles them more perhaps than does the bit. Look, now, at the young horse our friend is selecting."
The big gaucho who had shown his friendliness was striding about in the corral, and eyeing the wild young horses there with the utmost care. Presently he selected a fine beast, well grown, and possessing a large amount of bone and muscle. It was as wild almost as the first had been, but not quite so courageous, for it kept its distance from these men. However, it was gradually driven into a corner, and then, finding its tormentors closing in, it swung round and galloped past them.
"A fine shot, señor! Our comrade can use the bolas," sang out Pietro, as the tall gaucho swung his implement and flung it at the heels of the horse. In a moment the animal was down, its legs entwined by the thongs, and as it lay there helplessly a halter was placed over its head, and then a bit of strong but soft leather was placed in its mouth.
"It would never do to use an iron one, señor," explained Pietro. "That would be asking too much of a horse. See how he frets now. But he has worse to bear, and in a moment there will be a struggle."
Having safely placed the bit in position, the big gaucho knotted the reins on the neck of the beast so that they would be ready to hand when the moment came to mount. Then he beckoned to a comrade, who ran up with the saddle. At the same moment three of the gauchos took firm hold of the halter by means of the rope attached to it and pulled till the animal was lying almost on its heels.
"On with the saddle," sang out their leader, and at the word the flaps were dropped on either side.
"Now let go the heels."
The thongs which encircled its legs were carefully unwound, leaving the horse free to rise. But it lay for a few seconds, bewildered at such unaccustomed treatment. Then, feeling more freedom in its legs, it rose to its feet with a jerk, and stood looking about, uncertain how to act or where to run. The big gaucho took instant advantage of the delay. Speaking in a soothing voice to the animal, he stepped silently to its side, stretched under the belly, and made the girths fast. Then he placed a hand on the neck, unknotted the reins, and leaped into the saddle with an agile bound. The spell under which the poor beast labored was broken instantly. It staggered under the weight for one brief second, and then rose on its hind legs till it seemed that it would topple over.
"The real fight begins now," said Pietro, who still stood beside Dudley. "Our friend has work before him, for that is a strong young horse, which will not give in without a struggle. Ah, he has his stirrups, and his feet are well home! Our comrade is one of the best of horse breakers."
Dudley watched the scene which followed with breathless interest, for he had never seen its like. He had heard of cowboys and their feats of horsemanship, but had never conceived it possible that any man could keep in his saddle as on this occasion. For the horse was maddened. The load on his back terrified it, and for a quarter of an hour it raged up and down the corral, rising on its heels, bucking, and giving such enormous leaps that had it attempted the same close to the rails it would have easily cleared them. And all the while the gaucho clung like a leech to it, while the cruel rowels of his spurs struck the heaving flanks incessantly, till the blood trickled from many a wound.