CHAPTER XXVII.
THE BULL–FIGHT AT SEVILLE.
“Now we are under the meteor flag of old England,”said Clyde Blacklock, the fourth lieutenantof the Prince, after the squadron had come toanchor off the Rock.
“Do you call that the meteor flag of England?”laughed Murray, as he pointed to the stars and stripesat the peak of the steamer.
“We are in British waters anyhow,” replied Clyde.
“That’s so; but the flag you are under just now isthe glorious flag of the United States of America—longmay it wave!”
“They are both glorious flags,” said Dr. Winstock;“and both nations ought to be proud of what theyhave done for the human race.”
“And Johnny Bull is the father of Brother Jonathan,”added Clyde.
“There is the sunset gun,” said the doctor, as thereport pealed across the water, and a cloud of smokerose from one of the numerous batteries on the shore.“The gates of the town are closed now, and no one isallowed to enter or leave after this hour.”
The surgeon continued to point out various buildingsand batteries, rather to prevent the students fromengaging in an international wrangle, to which a fewwere somewhat inclined, than for any other reason,though he was always employed in imparting informationto them.
The next morning, as soon as the arrangements werecompleted, the several ships’ companies landed at thesame time, and marched in procession to the top of thehill, where the students were formed in a hollow squareto hear what Professor Mapps had to say about theRock. The view was magnificent, for the hill is fourteenhundred and thirty feet above the sea level.
“Young gentlemen, I know that the view from thisheight is grand and beautiful,” the professor began,“and I cannot blame you for wishing to enjoy it atonce; but I wish you to give your attention to thehistory of the Rock for a few minutes, and then I shallask Dr. Winstock, who is more familiar with the placethan I am, to point out to you in detail the variousobjects under your eye.”
In addition to the twenty non–commissioned officerswho had been detailed to act as guides for the party,quite a number of superior officers, and not a fewladies, formed a part of the professor’s audience. Thelatter had been attracted by curiosity to follow the students;and the majors, captains, and lieutenants werealready on speaking–terms with the principal, the vice–principals,and the professors, though no formal introductionshad taken place; and, before the day was over,all hands had established a very pleasant relation withthe officers of the garrison and their families.
“When the Phœnicians came to the Rock and toCadiz, they believed they had reached the end of theworld; and here they erected one of the two Pillarsof Hercules, which have already been mentioned toyou. The Berbers were the original inhabitants of theBarbary States; and Tarìk, a leader of this people,captured the place. He gave his own name to hisconquest, calling it Ghebal–Tarìk, or the Hill of Tarìk.This was in 711; but Guzman the Good, the first ofthe Dukes of Medina Sidonia, recovered it in 1309.Soon after, the Spanish governor of the Rock stolethe money appropriated for its defence, employing it ina land speculation at Xeres; and the place surrenderedto the Moors. In 1462 another Duke of Medina Sidoniadrove out the Moslems; and Spain held the Rocktill 1704. In this year, during the war of the Spanishsuccession, the fortress was attacked by the combinedforces of the English and the Dutch. The Spanishgarrison consisted of only one hundred and fifty men;but it killed or disabled nearly twice this number ofthe assailants before the Rock was surrendered, whichshows that it was a very strong place even then; andits defences have been doubled since that time. TheSpaniards have made repeated attempts to recover possessionof the fortress, but without success; and it hasbeen settled that it is entirely impregnable.”
The English officers applauded this last statement;and Dr. Winstock, stepping upon the rock which servedthe professor for a rostrum, proceeded to point out theobjects on interest in sight.
“You have two grand divisions before you,” said thesurgeon. “On the other side of the strait is Africa,with its rough steeps. The nest of white houses yousee at the head of the deep bay is Ceuta; and the hillis the Mount Abyla of the ancients, on which the otherPillar of Hercules was planted. Turning to the west,the broad Atlantic is before you. Below is the beautifulBay of Gibraltar, with Algeciras on the oppositeside. The village north of us is San Roque; and thelofty snow–capped mountains in the north–east are theSierra Nevadas, which you saw from Granada. Nowlook at what is nearer to us. The strait is from twelveto fifteen miles wide. Perhaps you saw some of themonkeys that inhabit the Rock on your way up the hill.Though there are plenty of them on the other side ofthe strait, they are not found in a wild state in anypart of Europe except on this Rock. How they gothere, is the conundrum; and some credulous peopleinsist that there is a tunnel under the strait by whichthey came over.
“Below you is Europa Point; or, rather, threecapes with this name. You see the beautiful gardensnear the Point; and in the hands of the English peoplethe whole Rock blossoms like the rose, while, if anyother people had it, it would be a desolate waste.Stretching out into the bay, near the dockyard, is thenew mole, which is seven hundred feet long. The onenear the landing–port is eleven hundred feet; but itshelters only the small craft. The low, sandy strip ofground that bounds the Rock on the north is the NeutralGround, where the sentinels of the two countriesare always on duty. This strip of land is diked, sothat it can be inundated and rendered impassable to anarmy in a few moments.”
The doctor finished his remarks, but we have notreported all that he said; nor have we space for thespeeches of a couple of the English officers who wereinvited to address the students, though they gave muchinformation in regard to the fortress and garrison lifeat the Rock. The crowd was divided into small parties,and spent the rest of the day in exploring the fortificationswith the guides. As usual, the doctor hadthe captain and first lieutenant under his special charge.
“The east and south sides of the Rock, as youobserved when we came into the bay from Malaga,”said he, “are almost perpendicular; and at first sightit would seem to be absurd to fortify a steep which noone could possibly ascend. But an enemy would finda way to get up if it were not for the guns that coverthis part of the Rock. The north end is also too steepto climb. The west side, where we came up by thezigzag path, has a gentler slope; and this is protectedby batteries in every direction.”
“I can see the guns of the batteries; but I do notsee any on the north and east sides of the Rock,” saidSheridan.
“The edges of the Rock on all sides are tunnelled:and these galleries form a series of casemates, withembrasures, or port–holes, every thirty or forty yards,through which the great guns are pointed. These galleriesare in tiers, or stories, and there are miles ofthem. They were made just before the French Revolutionbegan, nearly a hundred years after the Englishgot possession.”
“They must have cost a pile of money,” suggestedMurray.
“Yes; and it costs a pile of money to support them,”added the doctor. “Five thousand troops are kepthere in time of peace. Some British statesmen haveadvocated the policy of giving or selling the Rock toSpain; for it has been a standing grievance to thispower to have England own a part of the peninsula.But in other than a military view the Rock is valuableto England. Whatever wars may be in progress on theface of the earth, her naval and commercial vessels canalways find shelter in the port of Gibraltar.”
“But I don’t see how it could prevent ships ofwar from entering the Mediterranean Sea,” addedSheridan.
“I doubt whether it could ever do that except bysheltering a fleet to do the fighting; for no gun inexistence could send a shot ten or twelve miles,” repliedthe doctor.
By this time the party had reached the entrance ofthe galleries, and they went in to view what the surgeonhad described. The students were amazed at the extentof the tunnels, and the vast quantities of shot and shellpiled up in every part of the works; at the great guns,and the appliances for handling them. They walke
dtill they were tired out; and then the party descendedto the town for a lunch.
“This isn’t much of a city,” said Murray, as theywalked through its narrow and crooked streets to CommercialSquare, where the hotels are located.
“I believe the people do not brag of it, though itcontains much that is interesting,” replied the doctor.“You find all sorts of people here: there are Moors,Jews, Greeks, Portuguese, and Spaniards, besides theEnglish. This is a free port, and vast quantities ofgoods are smuggled into Spain from this town.”
They lunched at the Club–House; and it was a luxuryto sit at the table with English people, who do notwear their hats, or smoke between the courses. Afterthis important duty had been disposed of, the partywalked to the _alameda_, as the Spaniards call it, orthe parade and public garden as the English have it.It is an exceedingly pleasant retreat to an English–speakingtraveller who has just come from Spain, forevery thing is in the English fashion. It contains amonument to the Duke of Wellington, and another toGeneral Lord Heathfield. The party enjoyed thisgarden so much that they remained there till it wastime to go on board of the ship.
Three days were spent at the Rock, and many courtesieswere exchanged between the sailors and the soldiers.The students saw a review of a brigade, andthe officers were feasted at the mess–rooms of the garrison.The principal was sorely tried when he saw thewine passing around among the military men; but thestudents drank the toasts in water. In return for thesecivilities, the officers were invited on board of thevessels of the squadron; the yards were manned; thecrews were exercised in the various evolutions of seamanship;and a bountiful collation was served in eachvessel. Everybody was happy.
Dr. Winstock was a little more “gamy” than theprincipal; and, when he heard that there was to be abull–fight at Seville on Easter Sunday, he declared thatit would be a pity to take the students away from Spainwithout seeing the national spectacle. He suggestedthat the ceremonies of Holy Week would also be veryinteresting. The question was discussed for a longtime. All the rest of their lives these young menwould be obliged to say that they had been to Spainwithout seeing a bull–fight. The professors were consulted;and they were unanimously in favor of makinga second visit to Seville. It was decided to adopt thedoctor’s suggestion.
“But it will be impossible to get into the hotels,”added Dr. Winstock. “They all double their prices,and are filled to overflowing for several days before theceremonies begin.”
“Then, why did you suggest the idea of going?”laughed the principal. “The boys must have somethingto eat, and a place to sleep.”
“I think we can do better than to go to the hotels,even if we could get into them,” replied the doctor.“The Guadalquiver is very high at the present time,and the fleet will go up to Seville without quarrellingwith the bottom. We can anchor off the _Toro del Oro_,and save all the hotel–bills.”
This plan was adopted; and the order to coal thesteamer for the voyage across the Atlantic was rescinded,so that she might go up the river as light aspossible. Half a dozen officers of the garrison weretaken as passengers, guests of the officers, for the excursion,as the steamer was to return to the Rock. OnTuesday morning the fleet sailed. While the schoonersremained off Cadiz, the Prince ran in and obtainedthree pilots,—a father and his two sons,—and distributedthem among the vessels. At the mouth of theriver the Prince took her consorts in tow. They werelashed together, and a hawser extended to each ofthem. Off Bonanza the vessels anchored for thenight; for the pilots would not take the risk of runningin the darkness. In the morning the voyage wasrenewed. Portions of the country were flooded withwater, for the ice and snows in the mountains weremelting in the warm weather of spring. Indeed, therewas so much water that it bothered the pilot of thesteamer to keep in the channel, for the high watercovered some of his landmarks. There were somesharp turns to be made; and the pilots in the Tritoniaand Josephine had to be as active as their father in thesteamer; for, in making these curves, the hawser of theouter vessel had to be slacked off; and, when the ropeswere well run out, the steamer was stopped, and theywere hauled in. But, before sunset, the fleet was atanchor off Seville.
The next day was Holy Thursday, and all handswere landed to see the sights. The city was crowdedwith people. All along the streets through which theprocession was to pass, seats were arranged for thespectators, which were rented for the occasion, as inthe large cities at home. The trip to Seville had beendecided upon a week before the vessels arrived, andwhile they were at Malaga. Couriers had been sentahead to engage places for the procession, and inthe _Coliseo de Toros_. Lobo and Ramos were on thequay when the boats landed; and the students wereconducted to the places assigned to them. They wentearly, and had to wait a long time; but the peoplewere almost as interesting as the “_Gran Funcion_” asthey call any spectacle, whether it be a bull–fight or achurch occasion.
Not only was the street where they were seated fullof people, but all the houses were dressed in the gayestof colors; and no one would have suspected thatthe occasion was a religious ceremony. Printed programmesof all the details of the procession had beenhawked about the streets for the last two days, andLobo had procured a supply of them; but unfortunately,as they were in Spanish, hardly any of the studentscould make use of them, though the surgeon,the professors, and the couriers, translated the mainitems for them.
“I suppose you both understand the meaning of theprocession we are about to see,” said the doctor, whilethey waiting.
“I don’t,” replied Murray. “My father is aScotchman, and I was brought up in the kirk.”
“The week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemoratesthe entry of Christ into Jerusalem, whenthe people cast palm–branches before him; HolyThursday celebrates the institution of the Lord’s Supper;Good Friday, the crucifixion; Holy Saturday iswhen water used in baptism is blessed; and EasterSunday, the greatest of all the holy days exceptChristmas, is in honor of the resurrection of theSaviour. On Holy Thursday, in Madrid, the latequeen used to wash the feet of a dozen beggars, asChrist washed the feet of his disciples. I hear music,and I think the procession is coming.”
It was not church music which the band at the headof the procession played, but lively airs from theoperas. A line of soldiers formed in front of the spectatorsthat filled the street, to keep them back; and theprocession soon came in sight. To say that the boyswere amused would be to express it mildly as the leadingfeature of the show came into view. It seemed tobe a grand masquerade, or a tremendous burlesque.First came a number of persons dressed in long robesof white, black, or violet, gathered up at the waist by aleather belt. On their heads they wore enormous fools’caps, in the shape of so many sugar–loaves, but at leastfour feet high.
“You mustn’t laugh so as to be observed,” said thedoctor to the first lieutenant. “These are the penitents.”
“They ought to be penitent for coming out in such arig,” laughed Murray.
A pointed piece of cloth fell from the tall cap of thepenitents over the face and down upon the breast, withround holes for the eyes. Some carried torches, andothers banners with the arms of some religious orderworked on them. These people were a considerablefeature of the procession, and they were to be seenthrough the whole length of it.
After them came some men dressed as Roman soldiers,with helmet, cuirass, and yellow tunic, representingthe soldiers that took part in the crucifixion. Theywere followed by a kind of car, which seemed to floatalong without the help of any bearers; but it was carriedby men under it whose forms were concealed bythe surrounding drapery that fell to the ground, forminga very effective piece of stage machinery. The carwas richly ornamented with gold and velvet, and boreon its top rail several elegant and fancifully shapedlanterns in which candles were burning.
On the car was a variety of subjects represented bya dozen figures, carved in wood and painted to the life.Above all the others rose Christ and the two thieves onthe crosses. The Virgin Mary was the most noticeablefigure. She was dressed in an elegant velvet robe,embroid
ered with gold, with a lace handkerchief in herhand. A velvet mantle reached from her shouldersover the rail of the car to the ground. Her train wasin charge of an angel, who managed it according to herown taste and fancy. On the car were other angels,who seemed to be more ornamental than useful.
The rest of the procession was made up of similarmaterials,—holy men, women and children, crosses,images of saints, such as have often been seen and described.During the rest of the week, the studentsvisited the cathedral, where they saw the blackenedremains of King Ferdinand, and other relics that areexhibited at this time, as well as several other of thechurches. Easter Sunday came, and the general joywas as extravagantly manifested as though the resurrectionwere an event of that day. Early in the afternooncrowds of gayly dressed people of all classes and ranksbegan to crowd towards the bull–ring. All over thecity were posted placards announcing this _Gran Funcion_,with overdrawn pictures of the scenes expected totranspire in the arena. We have one of these billsbefore us as we write.
“As we are to take part in the _Funcion_, we will goto the _plaza_” said the doctor, as he and his friendsleft the cathedral.
“Take part!” exclaimed Murray. “I have no ideaof fighting a bull. I would rather be on board of theship.”
“Perhaps I should have said ‘assist in the _Funcion_,’which is the usual way of expressing it in Spain.”
“Who is this?” said Sheridan, as a couple of youngmen wearing the uniform of the squadron approachedthe party. “Upon my word, it is Raimundo!”
The young men proved to be Raymond and BarkLingall, just arrived from Gibraltar. The fugitive hadresumed his uniform when he expected to join the Tritonia;and, if he had asked any officer of the garrisonwhere the fleet had gone, he could have informed him.In the evening one of them spoke to Raymond at thehotel, asking him how it happened that he had notgone to Seville. This led to an explanation. Raymondand Bark had taken a steamer to Cadiz the nextday, and had just arrived in a special train, in seasonfor the bull–fight. The surgeon, who knew all aboutRaymond’s history, gave him a cordial greeting; andso did his shipmates of the Tritonia.
“You are just in time to assist at the bull–fight,”said Scott, who readily took up the Spanish style ofexpressing it, for it seemed like a huge joke to him.
“I don’t care for the bull–fight, but I am glad to bewith the fellows once more,” replied Raymond, as heseated himself with the officers of the vessel.
Before the show began, he had reported himself toMr. Lowington and Mr. Pelham; and some of the studentswho did not understand the matter thought hereceived a very warm greeting for a returned runaway.But all hands were thinking of the grand spectacle;and not much attention was given to Raymond andBark, except by their intimate friends.
“If the people are so fond of these shows, I shouldthink they would have more of them,” said Sheridan.“This is the first chance we have had to see one; andwe have been in Spain four months.”
“They cost too much money; and only the largeplaces can afford to have them,” replied the doctor.“It costs about two thousand dollars to get one up ingood style. I will tell you all about the performers asthey come in.”
“But what are all those people doing in the ring?”asked Murray; for the arena was filled with spectatorswalking about, chatting and smoking.
“They are the men who will occupy the lower seats,which are not very comfortable; and they prefer towalk about till the performance begins. They are alldeeply interested in the affair, and are talking it over.”
“I don’t see many ladies here,” said Sheridan. “Iwas told that they all attend the bull–fights.”
“I should think that one–third of the audience wereladies,” replied the doctor, looking about the _plaza_.“At those I attended in Madrid, there were not fivehundred ladies present.”
The _Plaza de Toros_ at Seville, which the people dignifyby calling it the _Coliseum_, is about the same sizeas the one at Madrid, open at the top, and will seatten or twelve thousand people. It is circular in form,and the walls may be twenty or twenty–five feet high.Standing in the ring, the lower part of the structurelooks much like a country circus on a very large scale;the tiers of seats for the common people sloping downfrom half the height of the walls to the arena, whichis enclosed by a strong fence about five feet high.Inside of the heavy fence enclosing the ring, is another,which separates the spectators from a kind of avenueall around the arena; and above this is stretched arope, to prevent the bull, in case he should leap theinner fence, from going over among the spectators.This avenue between the two fences is for the use ofthe performers and various hangers–on at the _funcion_.
Above the sloping rows of seats, are balconies, orboxes as they would be called in a theatre. They areroofed over, and the front of them presents a continuouscolonnade supporting arches, behind which are slopingrows of cushioned seats. In hot weather, awningsare placed in front of those exposed to the sun. Oppositethe gates by which the bull is admitted is an elaboratelyornamented box for the “_autoridad_” and theperson who presides over the spectacle. The latterwas often the late queen, in Madrid; and on the presentoccasion it was the _infanta_, the Marquesa de Montpensier.This box was dressed with flags and bright colors.
During the gathering of the vast audience, whichsome estimated at fifteen thousand, a band had beenplaying. Punctually at three o’clock came a flourishof trumpets, and two _alguacils_, dressed in sober black,rode into the ring; and the people there vacated it,leaping over the fences to their seats. When the arenawas clear, another blast announced the first scene of thetragedy.
“Now we have a procession of the performers,” saidthe doctor to his pupils. “The men on horseback are_picadores_, from _pica_, a lance; and you see that eachrider carries one.”
These men were dressed in full Spanish costume,and wore broad sombreros on their heads, somethinglike a tarpaulin. They were mounted on old hacks ofhorses, worn out by service on the cabs or omnibuses.They are blindfolded during the fight, to keep themfrom dodging the bull. The legs of the men are casedin splints of wood and sole–leather to protect themfrom the horns of the bull. Each of them is paid ahundred dollars for each _corrida_, or performance.
“Those men with the red and yellow mantles, orcloaks, on their arms, are the _chulos_, whose part is toworry the bull, and to call him away from the _picador_,or other actor who is in danger,” continued the surgeon.“Next to them are the _banderilleros_; and thedart adorned with many colored ribbons is called a_banderilla_. You will see what this is for when thetime comes. The last are the _matadors_, or _espadas_;and each of them carries a Toledo blade. They arethe heroes of the fight; and, when they are skilful,their reputation extends all over Spain. Montes, oneof the most celebrated of them, was killed in a _corrida_in Madrid. Cuchares was another not less noted; and,when I saw him, he was received with a demonstrationof applause that would have satisfied a king of Spain.I don’t know what has become of him. I see that thenames of four _espadas_ are given on the bill, besides asupernumerary in case of accident. The _espadas_receive from two to three hundred dollars for a _corrida_;the _banderilleros_, from fifty to seventy–five; andthe _chulos_, from fifteen to twenty.”
An _alguacil_ now entered the ring, and, walking overto the box of the authorities, asked permission tobegin the fight. The key of the bull–pen was given tohim. He returned, gave it to the keeper of the gate;and made haste to save himself by jumping over thefence, to the great amusement of the vast audience.
Most of the students had been informed what allthis meant by the interpreters and others; and theywaited with no little emotion for the conflict to commence.The bull had been goaded to fury in thepen; and, when the gates were thrown open, he rushedwith a bellowing snort into the ring. At first heseemed to be startled by the strange sight before him,and halted at the gate, which had been closed behindhim. Two _picadores_ had been stationed on oppositesides of the arena; and, as soon as the bull saw thenearest of these, he dashed towards him. The _picador_received hi
m on the point of his lance, and turned himoff. The animal then went for the other, who wardedhim off in the same way. The audience did not seemto be satisfied with this part of the performance, andyelled as if they had been cheated out of something.It was altogether too tame for them.
Then the first _picador_, at these signs of disapprobation,rode to the middle of the ring; and the bull madeanother onslaught upon him. This time he tumbledhorse and rider in a heap on the ground. Then the_chulos_ put in an appearance, and with their red andyellow cloaks attracted the attention of the bull, thussaving the _picador_ from further harm. While the bullwas chasing some of the _chulos_, more of them went tothe assistance of the fallen rider, whose splinted legsdid not permit him to rise alone. He was pulled outfrom beneath his nag; and the poor animal got up,goaded to do so by the kicks of the brutal performers.His stomach had been ripped open by the horns of thebull, and his entrails dragged upon the ground.
Some of the students turned pale, and were madesick by the cruel sight. A few of them were obliged toleave their places, which they did amidst the laughterof the Spaniards near them. But the audience applaudedheartily, and appeared to be satisfied now thata horse had been gored so terribly. The _picador_ waslifted upon the mangled steed, and he rode about thering with the animal’s entrails dragging under him.The _chulos_ played with the bull for a time, till thepeople became impatient; and then he was permittedto attack the horses again. The one injured beforedropped dead under the next assault, to the greatrelief of the American spectators. The audience becamestormy again, and two more horses were killedwithout appeasing them.
“Now we shall have the _banderilleros_,” said thedoctor, as a flourish of trumpets came from the bandstand.
“I have got about enough of it,” said Sheridanfaintly.
“Brace yourself up, and you will soon become moreaccustomed to it. You ought to see one bull killed,”added the surgeon.
Two men with _banderillas_ in their hands now enteredthe ring. These weapons have barbs, so that, when thepoint is driven into the flesh of the bull, they stick fast,and are not shaken out by the motion of the animal.These men were received with applause; but it wasevident that the temper of the assembled multituderequired prompt and daring deeds of them. There wasto be no unnecessary delay, no dodging or skulking.They were bold fellows, and seemed to be ready forbusiness. One of them showed himself to the bull;and the beast made for him without an instant’s hesitation.
The _banderillero_ held his ground as though he hadbeen tied to the spot; and it looked as if he wassurely to be transfixed by the horns of the angry bull.Suddenly, as the animal dropped his head to use hishorns, the man swung the _banderillas_ over his shoulders,and planted both of the darts just behind the neck ofthe beast, and then dexterously slipped out of the way.This feat was applauded tremendously, and the yellsseemed to shake the arena. Vainly the bull tried toshake off the darts, roaring with the pain they gavehim.
Another flourish of trumpets announced the lastscene of the tragedy, and one of the _espadas_ boundedlightly into the ring. He was greeted with heartyapplause; and, walking over to the front of the _marquesa’s_box, he bent down on one knee, and made agrandiloquent speech, to the effect that for the honor ofthe city, in the name of the good people there assembled,and for the benefit of the hospital, he would killthe bull or be killed himself in the attempt, if herhighness would graciously accord him the permission todo so. The _infanta_ kindly consented; and the _espada_whirled his hat several times over his head, finally jerkingit under his left arm over the fence. In his handhe carried a crimson banner, which he presented to thebull; and this was enough to rouse all his fury again.
THE BULL–FIGHT AT SEVILLE. Page 406.]
For a time he played with the furious beast, whichcontinually plunged at the red banner, the man skilfullystepping aside. At last he seemed to be preparedfor the final blow. Holding the banner in hisleft hand, he permitted the bull to make a dive at it;and, while his head was down, he reached over hishorns with the sword, and plunged it in between theshoulder–blades. His aim was sure: he had pierced theheart, and the bull dropped dead. Again the applauseshook the arena, and the audience in the lower part ofthe building hurled their hats and caps into the ring;and a shower of cigars, mingled with an occasionalpiece of silver, followed the head–gear. The victorious_espada_ picked up the cigars and money, bowing histhanks all the time, while the _chulos_ tossed back thehats and caps.
“‘You can take my hat’ is what they mean by that,I suppose,” said Murray.
“That is one of the ways a Spanish audience hasof expressing their approbation in strong terms,” repliedthe doctor.
A team of half a dozen mules, tricked out in thegayest colors, galloped into the ring; and, when a slinghad been passed over the horns of the dead bull, hewas dragged out at a side gate. The doors had hardlyclosed upon the last scene before the main gates werethrown wide open again, and another bull bounded intothe arena, where the _picadores_ and the _chulos_ werealready in position for action. The second act wasabout like the first. Four horses were killed by thesecond bull, which was even more savage than thefirst. The _banderillero_ was unfortunate in his firstattempt, and was hooted by the audience; but in asecond attempt he redeemed himself. The _espada_ gothis sword into the bull; but he did not hit the vitalpart, and he was unable to withdraw his weapon. Theanimal flew around the ring with the sword in hisshoulders, while the audience yelled, and taunted theunlucky hero. It was not allowable for him to takeanother sword; and the bull was lured to the side ofthe ring, where the _espada_ leaped upon a screen, andrecovered his blade. In a second trial he did thebusiness so handsomely that he regained the credit hehad temporarily lost.
Many of the students did not stay to see the secondbull slain; and not more than half of them staid tillthe conclusion of the _funcion_. One of the last of thebulls would not fight at all, and evidently belonged tothe peace society; but neither the audience nor the_lidiadores_ had any mercy for him.
“_Perros! Perros!_” shouted the audience, when itwas found that the bull had no pluck.
“_Perros! Perros!_” screamed some of the wildestof the students, without having the least idea what theword meant.
“What does all that mean?” asked Murray.
“_Perros_ means dogs. Not long ago, when a bullwould not fight, they used to set dogs upon him toworry and excite him,” answered the doctor.
“Well, will they set the dogs upon him?” inquiredMurray.
“No, I suppose not; for here in the bill it says, ‘Nodogs will be used; but fire–_banderillas_ will be substitutedfor bulls that will not fight at the call of theauthorities.’”
This expedient was resorted to in the present case;the bull was frightened, and showed a little pluck.After he had upset a _picador_, and charged on a _chulo_,he leaped over the fence into the avenue. The loafersgathered there sprang into the ring; but the animalwas speedily driven back, and was finally killed withouthaving done any great damage to the horses.
The last bull was the fiercest of them all; and hecame into the arena roaring like a lion. He demolishedtwo _picadores_ in the twinkling of an eye, andmade it lively for all the performers. “_Bravo, Toro!_”shouted the people, for they applaud the bull as wellas the actors. The _espada_ stabbed him three timesbefore he killed him.
Six bulls and seventeen horses had been slain: thelast one had killed five. Even the most insensible ofthe students had had enough of it; and most of themdeclared that it was the most barbarous spectacle theyhad ever seen. They pitied the poor horses, and someof them would not have been greatly distressed if thebull had tossed up a few of the performers. The doctorwas disgusted, though he had done his best to havethe students see this _cosa de España_. The principalrefused to go farther than the gate of the _plaza_.
“I don’t care to see another,” said Dr. Winstockto his Spanish friend, who sat near him. “It is barbarous;and I hope the people of Spain will soonabolish these spectacles.”
“Barbarous, is
it?” laughed the Spanish gentleman.“Do you think it is any worse than the prize–fights youhave in England and America?”
“Only a few low ruffians go to prize–fights in Englandand America,” replied the doctor warmly. “Theyare forbidden by law, and those who engage in themare sent to the penitentiary. But bull–fights are managedby the authorities of the province, presided overby the queen or members of the royal family.”
All hands returned to the vessels of the squadron;and early the next morning the fleet sailed for Gibraltar.The river was still very high; and, though thePrince stirred up the mud once or twice, she reachedthe mouth of the river in good time, and the squadronstood away for the Rock, where it arrived the next day.
Raymond was delighted to be on board of the Tritoniaagain, and at his duties. Enough of his story wastold to the students to enable them to understand hiscase, and why he had been excused for running away.New rank had been assigned at the beginning of themonth, and Raymond found on his return that he wassecond master, as before; the faculty voting that hewas entitled to his old rank.
Bark Lingall had worked a full month since hisreformation; and when he went on board the Tritonia,at Seville, he was delighted to find that he was thirdmaster, and entitled to a place in the cabin. On thevoyage to Gibraltar, he wore the uniform of his rank,and made no complaint of the sneers of Ben Pardeeand Lon Gibbs, who had not yet concluded to turn overa new leaf.
As soon as the Prince had coaled, and the vesselswere watered and provisioned for the voyage, the fleetsailed; and what new climes the students visited, andwhat adventures they had, will be related in “Isles ofthe Sea; or, Young America Homeward Bound.”
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