The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-28

remember once seeing, when lad at school,
hight between two bulls. Although l could
not have been more than eight years Of age,
l shall never forget the spectacle. 1t happened
in this wise Close by the schoolhouse--a very
unpretending edifce it was-ran a deep ard
rapid river. Across it had been thrown high
wooden bridge, the hand railing (which, time
and the winds and the weather had entirely
destroyed. The land on the opposite aides OF
the stream was owned by different persons, and
harmed by them respectively. One bright cum
mer dag--l remember it as it were ye yesterday
the hour of noon had arrived, and frolicsome,
fun-seeking troop OF school boys were let loose
for an hours recreation.
All at once, the below ng and roaring of two
bulls, that had broken out OF their enclosure on
each side OF the river, attracted our attention
Inc animals were not yet in sight of each other,
but we're approaching along the highway at a
rate OF speed which would cause them TO meet
near the centre OF the high bridge which have
DESCRIBED, and beneath which, M some thirty
feet ran the river, between steep banks. The
more daring OF US gathered near the bridge.
lining it, to see the anticipated fight. We were
not disappointed. Nearer and nearer they Ap-
proached-the proud, paving combatants. Ba.
shan never produced two bIutes of 6ercer as
pect. They dashed their sides with their tails
they tore the ground with their feet Occasion
ally they kneeled down, trying to gore the earth
with their horns. And as vet they were cor.
cealed, each from the other, by the ascent of
the bridge at either end.
Presently, as they simultaneously ascended
the respective abutments, they came foil in
sight OF each other The roar was mutual. and
actually tremendous. Every urchn Of us sprapg
into the fields, aud ran. Finding, however.
that We were not pursued, we hastily retraced
our steps. There they were, the ferocious duel.
lists, quite as sensibly employed as some oftheir
human imitstors. Front to front, their horns
locked, every muscle strained, they we're fight
ing as only bulls can fight 1t seemed an even
match. Now one would press back his oppo-
nent few PAGES. and presently you would hear
quick, sharp, sht 1T steps, and his adversary
would be pressed back in return. The strug.
gnng was hard, was long, was savage. For a
while, neither obtained an advantage.
Hitherto, they had been pushing each other
lengthwise of the bridge; suddenly they began
to wheel, and in a moment were facing each
other crosswise. They we're at right angles
with the length of the old bridge, which shook
and creaked and rocked again with their tramp
ing and their terrible strife. II was the work
OF single moment; one of the beasts could
not tell which-cne of them, however, as if
conscious of his position, made violent. q des.
perate plunge forward, and pressed his sntago
mist back-back-ti there was but an
other step of the plank behind him-betweep
him and nothing The moment was one of
intense interest to US juvenile spectators. Never
was the amphitheatre of Rome the scene of a
more exciting combat Another step back
ward-Tes. the untqrRpsis hnl was forged. 10
such sight never, saw probably shall
never see again. Imagine bull pitched back
u CUar n hid oa ell.
feet, over and over He turn, once or twice
probably; | thought he turned fifty times, there
seemed such a confusion of horns aud feet re-
voivlng, flying through the air. But down he
went the water was deep, and he disappear
ed, leaving whirlpool of foam behind bin.
ana making the river undulate far and wide
with the conclusion of his ponderous bulk.
The other bull did not laugh-merely be-
cause bulls, az | suppose, could not. But we
laughed and shouted our applause. There stood
the victor, looking directly down into the abvss
below, into which he had hurried his unlucky
re. DE stood, however, but moment, and
then, as If frightened at the prospect, he began
to snort and step backward Back, back he
relreated with his head in the came pugnacous
attitude rs when in combat-back-sti an
o her step bsck-and over be too went, on the
opposite side Of the bridge, performing just as
many and as ludicrous sum mersets as his adver.
sary had done a minute before.
1t was sceGe to remember and the perform
ance called forth immense applause from the
group of juvenile amateurs who witnessed IL.
In about five minutes, both bulls might be seen,
we'll sobered by their ducking, dripping wet.
scratching up the steep, gravelly banks, each
on his own side of the river. "Those bulls will
never fight any MORE" said boy behind me.
His prediction turned cut correct for two more
peaceably' disposed bulls than they, ever after
wards, coald not have been found.