“Go on, McGill,” he said, with a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders. “When you have caught five hundred mules behind your back, I will pay you well for your trouble.”
The gaucho took his place in the centre of the yard, and, as the mules were driven around the circle, threw his lasso with unerring skill; first one, then another, then a third, rolled over upon the ground, always falling upon the head in a particular manner.
Don Antonio suspected the gaucho, and perceiving his object in throwing the mules upon their heads, protested against it.
“You will break the necks of half of them!” he exclaimed to the gaucho, who at the same moment, with a dexterous jerk on the lasso, sent another mule, stunned, upon the ground.
“Stop!” he shouted. “McGill, what mean you by throwing the mules in that manner?”
“What do I mean?” replied the herdsman, as another mule shared the same fate of the last one. “What do I mean? Why, man, I mean to break the necks of all your mules, that I may give you a certain proof that I can throw the lasso equal to, and better than, any San Juanino.”
“Enough! enough!” replied the excited don. “You have proved it; there is no necessity of further effort. Besides, these mules are to be driven across the Cordillera into Chili, and if you break their necks it’s money out of my pocket. Had we not better enter the house? I believe Doña Trinidad is ready to serve maté.”
When McGill rode forth upon a feast day as Gaucho Porteño, or Buenos Ayrean herdsman, the peons of San Juan gazed with astonishment upon his rich trappings. I have the list of articles that he and his animal wore. Upon his favorite black horse were first placed three bageras, or skins, to preserve the animal’s back from the chafing of saddle-gear. Upon these were laid a heavy, fine-wrought jergon, or blanket, to absorb the perspiration; over these were laid, first, a corona de vaca, or cow’s hide covering, to give firmness to the saddle; secondly, a corona of fine leather, to hide the rougher pieces beneath.
The latter article, which was richly embossed, was very ornamental, and drew from the gauchos many admiring remarks. Upon this platform, or foundation the recardo was placed, and kept firmly in position by a wide cincha, or girth, cut from softened, untanned hide. A pellon, or sheepskin, was laid upon the saddle, and kept in its place by a smaller girth. The pellon was then covered with a small piece of embroidered cloth, worked by the hands of some fair damsel. The lasso lay upon the animal’s croup, behind the rider, and was attached to an iron ring in the broad cincha. A pair of alforjas, or saddle-bags, were thrown across the peak of the saddle, and around the animal’s neck hung a leather rope, the fiador, used to tie him when feeding, though the lasso is generally employed for that purpose.
Upon the peak of the saddle were swung the chifles, two cows’ horns, in which was carried wine or water,—fluids absolutely indispensable upon the travesia of San Luis.