This matter having been settled, we heard some talk about ``caballos’’ and ``carrera,’’ and seeing the people streaming off in one direction, we followed, and came upon a level piece of ground, just out of the town, which was used as a race-course.  Here the crowd soon became thick again, the ground was marked off, the judges stationed, and the horses led up to one end.  Two fine-looking old gentlemen—­ Don Carlos and Don Domingo, so called—­ held the stakes, and all was now ready.  We waited some time, during which we could just see the horses twisting round and turning, until, at length, there was a shout along the lines, and on they came, heads stretched out and eyes starting,—­ working all over, both man and beast.  The steeds came by us like a couple of chain shot,—­ neck and neck; and now we could see nothing but their backs and their hind hoofs flying in the air.  As fast as the horses passed, the crowd broke up behind them, and ran to the goal.  When we got there, we found the horses returning on a slow walk, having run far beyond the mark, and heard that the long, bony one had come in head and shoulders before the other.  The riders were light-built men, had handkerchiefs tied round their heads, and were bare-armed and bare-legged.  The horses were noble-looking beasts, not so sleek and combed as our Boston stable horses, but with fine limbs and spirited eyes.  After this had been settled, and fully talked over, the crowd scattered again, and flocked back to the town.

Returning to the large pulperia, we heard the violin and guitar screaming and twanging away under the piazza, where they had been all day.  As it was now sundown, there began to be some dancing.  The Italian sailors danced, and one of our crew exhibited himself in a sort of West India shuffle, much to the amusement of the bystanders, who cried out, ``Bravo!’’ ``Otra vez!’’ and ``Vivan los marineros!’’ but the dancing did not become general, as the women and the ``gente de razon’’ had not yet made their appearance.  We wished very much to stay and see the style of dancing; but, although we had had our own way during the day, yet we were, after all, but ’fore-mast Jacks; and, having been ordered to be on the beach by sunset, did not venture to be more than an hour behind the time, so we took our way down.  We found the boat just pulling ashore through the breakers, which were running high, there having been a heavy fog outside, which, from some cause or other, always brings on, or precedes, a heavy sea.  Liberty-men are privileged from the time they leave the vessel until they step on board again; so we took our places in the stern sheets, and were congratulating ourselves upon getting off dry, when a great comber broke fore and aft the boat, and wet us through and through, filling the boat half full of water.  Having lost her buoyancy by the weight of the water, she dropped heavily into every sea that struck her, and by the time we had pulled out of the surf into deep water, she was but just afloat, and we were up to our knees.  By the help of a small bucket and our hats, we bailed her out, got on board, hoisted the boats, eat our supper, changed our clothes, gave (as is usual) the whole history of our day’s adventures to those who had stayed on board, and, having taken a night-smoke, turned in.  Thus ended our second day’s liberty on shore.