"I am proceeding to Llano Grande, for the purpose of collecting horses,
and training them for our cavalry, as a large number of those in my
troop have died from hard work and exposure on the Paramo of Purace,
when we crossed the mountains to attack the Spanish convoy. I earnestly
hope that you, Duncan, will join me; you will be of the greatest
assistance, and I am certain that you are not required to help your
father or mother. They are less likely to be molested than if it were
known that you had joined them."
I felt a great desire to accept Juan's proposal, and put it to Uncle
Richard whether I might not do so.
He considered a minute. "Yes; I see no objection," he answered. "I
will continue my journey with Antonio, and try to communicate with Mr
Laffan. Possibly he may join you, and be of service."
Accordingly, without hesitation, I at once agreed to accompany Juan; and
wishing my Uncle Richard and his two companions farewell, I embarked
with my friend.
"As soon as I have seen Senor Ricardo safe, I intend to make my way back
to rejoin you," said Antonio. "If you are going to tame wild horses,
you will find it a long business, and are not likely to have left the
neighbourhood before I can get back to you."
Juan told me that he intended to ride some miles further before camping,
as we were near a Spanish force; and should the enemy gain intelligence
of us, they might attempt to surprise us.
When Lion saw me embark, he gave a look at his former master, as if to
ask which of us he should accompany; but Uncle Richard pointed to me,
and he immediately leaped on the raft.
By the time we landed, Juan's small troop were in readiness to move on.
He had, fortunately, a spare horse, which I mounted; and I confess that
I felt my spirits rise wonderfully when I found myself in the saddle,
after so many days' journeying on foot.
We rode on until we reached the borders of a wood which would serve to
shelter our camp-fires. There the horses were picketed, while patrols
were sent out to give due notice of danger. Though in our native land,
we had to act as if in an enemy's country. However, we invariably found
the country-people ready to give us all the information we required as
to the whereabouts of the Spaniards, and were thus able to avoid them.
Had it not been for this, the Patriots would have been crushed by the
superior force the Spaniards were bringing against them. While we could
always learn the movements of our enemies, and obtain an ample supply of
food, the Spaniards were unable even to trust their own spies; and it
was only by means of strong foraging-parties that they could collect
provisions.
We thus reached our destination,--a farmhouse situated on a slope at the
foot of the mountains, with the wide llanos stretching out before it.
Having an extensive view over the plain from this point, we could see
the approach of an enemy from a great distance; and, according to the
strength of their force, we might either prepare for resistance, or make
our escape. An enclosure ran round it, formed by trunks of trees driven
into the ground close together. It had been formed years before, for
the purpose of resisting attacks by the Indians, and would still enable
a body of men to hold their own against any small force of infantry or
cavalry, though, for the present, we did not expect to be molested.
The men Juan had brought with him were accustomed to the life of the
llanos, and no time was lost in commencing the work for which they had
come. The very next morning the whole party started off provided with
lassoes,--Juan and I accompanying them. The herds of wild horses were
accustomed to come close up to the farm, so that we had not to go far
before we fell in with a herd. The men then separated into parties of
two, forming a circle round the animals they wished to capture. The
wild horses, seeing strangers advancing from all sides, closed up
towards the centre, not knowing in which direction to make their escape;
when the men galloped forward, lasso in hand, each singling out an
animal, round whose neck he seldom failed to throw the noose. The horse
would then dash forward, but was as speedily brought up by the rope; and
the well-trained steed of the Llanero, throwing itself back, and
pressing its fore, feet against the ground, effectually checked it, and
threw it upon its haunches, or right over on its back. Another Llanero
would then dexterously cast his lasso round the animal's fore-feet, and
by a jerk bring it round its legs. By slightly slackening the rope
round its neck, the horse was enabled to get up, when its first impulse
was to dash forward; but it was brought to the ground by the lasso round
its legs, with a jerk sufficient, it would seem, to break every bone in
its body. The horse would then lie motionless while its hind feet were
secured.
The first horse I saw caught in this manner, I thought was dead; but
after a time it regained its consciousness, and, giving some convulsive
plunges, again got on its legs. Before it had even time to look about,
it was led off by some of the Llaneros to a post near the farm, where,
in spite of its desperate struggles, it was saddled and bridled. Its
strength regained, it began to bite, plunge, and kick in all directions,
the Llaneros nimbly getting out of the way. One of the more experienced
riders, watching his opportunity, then leaped into the saddle, and
signed to one of his companions to cast off the lasso from its legs.
The animal, finding itself free, darted off, and then commenced to back,
plunge, and whisk round and round, sometimes dashing on for a few paces
at a furious pace, and then recommencing its eccentric movements. The
rider, however, stuck on; and another Llanero coming behind,
administered a lash with his long cutting whip, which made the poor
animal start off with a snort like a scream. No one but a well-trained
horseman could have kept his seat in the way our men did. As it darted
ahead, two other Llaneros rode on either side to keep the wild animal
straight. Off it went across the level country for a league or more,
occasionally stopping to back and kick; each time its efforts grew
fainter, until at last we saw it come back, its eyes bloodshot, its
whole body covered with foam and blood, and perfectly bewildered. It
was then unsaddled and tied to a post, there to remain until hunger made
it willing to accept the food and water offered to it. Thus, in the
course of a day a number of horses were captured; but they were all
young animals, and as yet scarcely fit for work.
Next came the operation of breaking them in, which occupied a much
longer time. In this, Juan and I took a part. Every man we had with us
was engaged from sunrise to sunset--or even later, when the moon shone
brightly--as it was of the greatest importance to have some well-trained
animals ready for service as soon as possible.
Fresh men continued to arrive, having made their way over the mountains
to avoid the Spaniards, bringing their saddles and bridles, arms and
accoutrements. Of course, they at once took part in catching and
training the horses. The young animals were most easily broken-in, but
they were less capable of enduring fatigue than the older horses.
We had been about a month thus engaged, when, as Juan and I were leaving
the farm for an afternoon's sport, as we called it, we caught sight of a
horseman--evidently, from his costume, not one of our own men--galloping
across the plain towards us. As he drew nearer, I thought I recognised
his bearing and figure.
"Hurrah!" I exclaimed; "I believe that's Mr Laffan."
"I hope so, indeed," answered Juan. "He will be a host in himself; and
I suspect he will be able to train a horse as well as the best of us."
Mounting our steeds, we galloped forward to meet him; and with unfeigned
pleasure I soon saw that it was no other than my former tutor.
"I am thankful to fall in with you again, my dear fellows," he
exclaimed. "I thought at one time that I should never have got here.
Mr Duffield told me where to find you, but those rascally Spaniards
nearly caught me. I escaped them, but I had to hide away for several
days until the coast was clear. However, here I am, and shall be mighty
glad of some food, for I'm desperately sharp-set."
We returned to the farm with Mr Laffan, where we gave him our usual
fare,--dried beef and plantains; for we were not living luxuriously.
Except some chica, we had no beverage stronger than coffee or cocoa to
offer him; but he declared that such provender would serve him as well
as any other.
As soon as the meal was over, Mr Laffan begged to have a fresh horse,
and insisted on accompanying us. "I have had a little experience in
this sort of work," he said, "and may be able to catch a horse or two.
At all events, I can break-in a few. I have no wish to eat the bread of
idleness."
Mr Laffan was as good as his word, and took good care to select a
first-rate animal for himself, which, by dint of constant practice, he
got well broken-in. Juan and I were equally fortunate, and were much
indebted to him for the training of our steeds.
As few persons came near the farm, which was remote from all
thoroughfare, the Spaniards did not get notice of our proceedings; and
we were thus, by dint of hard work, and the valuable assistance rendered
by Mr Laffan, able to get together a very efficient body of cavalry.