Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-08-31
An American Boys Feat.
HOW JOE BENTLEY WON A BOUQUET FROM
TIE QUEEN OF PORTUGAL.

Joe Bentley was un American boy who
bud been brought up on cattle farm in
tho interior of one of the New England
States; but who bad left home for the moro
congenial life on hoard u man of-war. Ills
first voyage took him to Lisbon, where to
his great delight he learned that there was
great bull fight. The widest bulls had
teen brought from Andalusia, large mum.
loF of horses from the royal stables were to
DC in the ring, the queen herself would
preside and distribute the favors, and. in
short, it was to be tho grandcst bull-fght
seen in Portugal for many years.
All this Ind peculiar fascination for
Joe. ln all his illusions to Portugal and
Spain he had declared to the boys that the
only thing he cared to see in those countries
was bull fight.
The bullstights of Portugal arc different
from those Of Spain in several important
particulars. At every such fight in Spain,
where this cruel sport is conducted in the
most borbarous manner, many horses are
killed and sometimes men, too, fall victims
aud at the close of the fight tho bull is
Dispatched by the matndor, or bull-kilcr.
The law of Portugal does not allow the bull
to be killed, and his horns are always
padded or tipped with brass, 30 that he
cannot gore the horses. Once in while,
however, man is killed in spite of this
prevoution. The excitement is intense, as
the object is to drive or drag the bull from
the inclosnrc.
Accordingly, having obtained permission
to so ashore on the Gay Of the fight, he
made his way at on carly hour to tho bull
ring, and obtained one of the best seats
He thought that ull Lisbon must be there.
All waited in suspense for the queen to
enter the royal box. Presently she ap-
poarcd opd was greeted with repeated cries
of applause. Then the sport began and
Joe watched with interest and enthusiasm
the mad rush of tho bull into tho ring, and
admired che agility Of his tormentors in
evadiug his onslaughts. Finally, however,
the superb animal has driven all his oppo-
ncnts from the enclosure.
For an instant the bull wos master of the
RUG. The most pcrilous feat of the bull
ring was now attempted. a young man,
covered with silver laco hung all over with
little bells, undertook to throw himself be-
tween the bulls horps and cling to them till
tho bull should bo sufficiently exhausted to
be oycrpowcred ard taken from tho ring.
Ho courogcously mado the attempt, but
unhappily missed his aim and fell directly
in front of tho cnragcd animal.
At this moment of terrible suspense,
moreover, Joe suddenly saw what had:not
yet been discovered by any one eIse--that
the bull had lost the padding from one of
his horns. lie stood over the young man,
his oyos glaring and his whole attitude ono
Of furious anger. He refused to be di-
verted by tho coors glancing all around
him, and he seemed to be considering
whether he should tramplo on bis victim
or pierce him with tho naked horn The
young man did not daro to move, for he was
aware that tho bull possessed ovcry advan
tago. The excitement of tho audience was
at its highest point, and tho overswrought
feelings of our hero would allow him to
retain his seat no longer.
With the sprightlincss of sailorsboy he
leapcd tho paling. Everybody was as
founded at his tomerity. An Englishman
present fearing for tho life of tho unprao.
aloed lad, cried out, "Como back!' Several
Americans shouted for Kim to leave tho