Litchfield enquirer., 1865-05-04

l duties. was alone though Icould hear the hoarse believing of tie bulls confined near me
 and now forthe first time had leisure to real 4 ize the rashness of my undertaking. I had followed the bidding Of my impulse in what
 had done, and now, as I looked around, and re-
 membered that the thousands of spectators Hwould gloatsaver my dying agonies as greedlly as over those of tie brute victims of tieir cruel sport. I realized the full danger of my position
 But qnieted my apprehensions by the though, of Alice It was for her dear sake, to earn her fathers ransom, that I was crouching where I was, in this mummar's garb waiting tiii I should be called forth ike gladiator of the old pa gan days, to redden the sand of the bull-ring with my blood-for of escape from serious in- 1 jury l had little hope. I knew that very few even of the agile spaniards, accustomed from childhood to every detail of these repulsive spectacles, were willing to accept the perils of 1 the matador's trade. I had seen bull-fghts be- fore, at Seville, at Vigo, and elsewhere, and re. membered well how formidable were the huge animals bred in the lonely pastures of Murcia and Castle expressly for the arena. But I drove away these thoughts, and took deliber- ate survey of the ampitheater. @ looked up at the endless tiers of spectators, the ladies, with their flashing eyes and waving fans, some in the old Spanish dress, but most in Parisiab 6nery; at the dandies of Malaga the crowds of shopkeepers and artisans whole families together, from the delighted old grand motherto the child in arms that was being taught to clap it's little hands and crow at the sight of bloodshed; at the multitude of peas ants in holiday attire such as their ancestors wore in the days of Ferdinand and Isabella. I gave glance to tbe place where the captain general, in his uniform blazing with decorations sat amid brilliant group of officers and ladies, whose diamonds and courtly splendor seemed oddly placed in such scene. And then I looked down at the ring. $ f
 As yet the sports had been metely of an in troductory character. Three or four young bulls had been worried with tridents and flags. A craven as those pacific animals are called whose temper is known to be meek, had been tormented with sqnibs, barbed darts aud the
 ncessant brandishing of red scarfs before his eyes, and had finally been dispatchedb by Choco. who didswhat may be called the comic business of the theatre. And now fine bull, with wide spreading horns, was in possession of the ring. This animal, however, disappointed the anna teurs of the arena by showing more desire to escape. than ferocity. He ran round and round, seeking anaoutlet, and belowing piteously, as the Active toreadors on foot, with banners and scarfss, ran nimbly around him, taunting and teasing him u4tna his hide was like pincushion colored paper Of this too, the people grew weary, and a genera shout arose :-
 { eToros toros! the Murcian bull at once No, the Portueuese! Let the English mata. dor show us whit stuff he is made of! Toros r
 The manager looked up appealingly to the captain genelsl and. receiving an august nod of =nerynis issioIs led outss- Xesz soon there was flourish of trumpets, and then deep roar, and then, amid clapping of hands and huzzaing of countless voices. the brindled Mur- clan bull came at heavy canter into the riHg, stopped short, lifted his head, and gave sec ond roar of impatient anger. A noble beast he was, and the populace enthusiastically shouted forth their comments on his tossing main, his deep chest his dauntless look. the strength of his limbs, and the sharpness of his horns. Then, to the sound of martial music. in poured the mounted picadors, two and two, 1utteriug with bright ribands, and dressed in the old Castilian garb. They lowered their lances before the captain general, and rode three times round the arena to exhibit their scarfs and rich jackets, while the symbals clash ed and the drums rolled out their loudest notes. The bull paved the ground, distended his nos trils, and with short believing cry, stopped his head and began the attack. The words, Bravo toro ? rent the air.
 It was butchery business at the best though 1 admit that the rich dresses. the long lances. and waving of scarf and riband and plume, gave false glitter and gallantry to what was really a very dastardly and disgusting scene. The picadors, padded as they were, and furn
 ished with immense boots through which the bulls horns could not pierce, while scores of watchful attendants stood ready to distract the animals attention in case of need, or to carry of aaprostrate combatant, were safe enough. But the bull, itself bleeding from the repeated ,a"s> thrusts, did great execution among the no:ses p'aereing his sharp horns into their qu'se,lus hau uks-Tain and again, and infiicting ghastly wounds, while s.;ll the wretched steeds went reeling round the ring. -atil loss of blood made them drop down dying on tnDansanguin- ed sand. And still the music played le~ most stirring strains, and still the people shouteo
 while the ladies waved fans and handkerchief in token of applause, and all the gory savager' of the Spanish national sport, went on witt sickening repetition. At last, nine horses be | ing dead or frightfnlly injured. two pica dor having been bruised by falling against the, oak en barriers, and the bull being much spe nt, tb
 remaining horsemen left-the ring. Ropes an, hooks were fixed to the carcases of the slail horses, and they were dragged away, a,nd fresl sand and sawdast were thrown down. It wa time for the matador to appear.
 Nov, Englsbman, they are waitiu g for you Remember the thrust, and be cool, whispere, the manager. He led me into the ring. and
 made my bow to the captain general, and an other to the audience, while the mhnager witt much grandiloquence presented mel to the pub lie as Don Enriquez, of Loudort, the distin guished volunteer, who had so kindly under taken to fill the office of the eminent Manue Zagal.' Scarcely had he finished this speech before the bull began to advance, and my in troducer hastily retired. Il stood alone in th' ring, my heart beating thickly, 3 ud a red film seeming to obscure my dazzled eyes, while th'
 clamor of the crowd, and the consciousness
 that was the mark on which thousands wer
 gazing in pitiless expectation. almost unuervet
 me. had faced danger before, but not il such shape, and I am not ashamed to owl that for a moment my knees felt strangel,
 weak. and my pulses futtered like bird ove which the hawk hovers. Then came back tn l thought of Alice, and was myself once more Disregarding the spectators, bent my who'll ] attention to the bull, which was slowly ap 1 preaching me, with its head bent down an,