Theodore Winthrop

“ He and I divided the attention of the herd. He seemed to be, not their leader, but rather one who disdained leadership. Facile princeps! He was too far above the noblest of the herd to care for their unexciting society.
I slipped quietly down from my little Mexican caballo, and, tethering him to a bush with the lariat, stood watching the splendid motions of this free steed of the prairie.
He was an American horse, — so they distinguish in California one brought from the old States, — a superb young stallion, perfectly black, without mark. ”

“ He gave me a Mexican’s sulky stare, muttered a caramba at my rashness, and lounged off, first taking a lasso from its peg in the court.
“Come in, stranger,” said Gerrian, “before we start, and take a drink of some of this here Mission Dolorous wine.”
“How does that go down?” said he, pouring out golden juices into a cracked tumbler.
It was the very essence of California sunshine, — sherry with a richness that no sherry ever had, — a somewhat fiery beverage, but without any harshness or crudity. Age would better it, as age betters the work of a young genius ”

“ A horse knows a friend by instinct. So does a man. But a man, vain creature! is willing to repel instinct and trust intellect, and so suffers from the attempt to revise his first impressions, which, if he is healthy, are infallible. ”