The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-09-26

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seat. His voice stuck in his threat as
he tried to speak, but could not move
from my chair. All this time the bull
was plunging about the ring, first after
this color and then that, though no
longer with the same intensity of ardor
as at first.
And now as he began to tire a little in
his fight, there suddenly appeared before
him one of those wiry young banderillos
with arms stretched out over his very
head. No bull would ever take a chal-
lenge like that. and so lowering his head
he made dive for his enemy, but, alas,
only to toss his head in vain to the air,
for the banderillo had sprung to one side,
in second it seemed, but he had waited
long enough-whcn he did | could not
see-to have thrust his daggers into the
shoulders of the bull, for there they hung,
streamers to the breeze, and from each
was trickling down the sides of the bull
a little stream of blood. 1t was like
sleight of hand performance to me, but the
success with which it was done brought
out deafening roar of applause of the
multitude Bravo! bueno! vival viva!
resounded on every side; hands clapped,
handktrchiefs waved, and the banderillo
was the hero of the hour Nothing sue
ceeds like success. When a bull pitches
man into the air or rips up horse
the multitude cry bravo tora When
it is the man who skilIfully sticks the
bull, or nimbly leaps out Of the way,
the same crowd cries bravo torero
1t was evident now that the bull
needed constant stimulus to fire him up.
Sweat was dripping from his TANKS, and
the quick palpitation of his heart was
visible through his side. But the stimu
lus was never lacking. The chulos con
tinucd to agSravate him with their capes
and the banderillos stuck him with their
knives. The bull was still savage,
savage as bull, ;" but only at intervals.
When he was let alone he showed that he
had enough But the salies he still
made under the exasperating torture of
his enemies were often fearful to see in
that there was now no reason in his mad
ness. He would make the blindest on
slaughts on the horses, those already dy
ing on the ground as well as those
mounted, always burying his horns in
them to the base until all four of the
original horses lay sweltering in blood
on the ground. When his presence was
diverted sufficiently far from the horses
a man not in uniform, armed with a
small dagger, would quietly step into
the ring and dexterously stick his dag
ger into the back of the horses neck to
put him out OF misery, as we say. But
the wound inflicted by the bull must be
mortal to secure for the victim this hap
by relief. One of the poor horses
on this occasion struggled to his feet
and staggered across the arena, tangling
and dragging his protruding intestines
with his feet. This horse was killed
when he finally fell; but if the intestines
can be replaced with the hand the
operation is quickly done, the external
wound sewed up with stitch, and the
poor mute is made to do duty for the
rest of the fight. This last official, to
secure euthanasia, is known as the each
etero, and his office is much despised.
At last, when the bull can hardly be
tantalized more, all the subordinates
leave the ring and the espada appears
alone. lie steps into the ring bare
headed, as he had at first appeared in
the procession. He has in his right
hand, a narrow, delicate blade of the fin
est Toledo steel, and in his left swings
a small cape, OF exquisite texture appar-
entity, in color flaming scarlet. He
steps up to the lodge OF. the director,
where he receives permission to kill the
bull. lie then walks over to the animal.
who has now in his rest of a few minutes
recovered some of his fire, and stations
himself directly in front of his face.
Man and bull face to face; thus they
eye each other for moment or two,
when the man suddenly waves his scar
let mantle-muleta, it is called-directly
in front of the eyes of the bull. The
bull dashes at it with all his force. The
espada quickly swings it over the head
of the bull and as quickly steps aside.
And thus he toys with the bull at will.
leading him Just to the spot where
the bull is to die, eau pieds de sa mai
trese," Frenchman told me, if she is
there.
1t is impossible not to admire the ease
and grace with which the espada handles
the bull 1t is impo sible not to recog-
nize the thorough knowledge he has of
the habits of the bull. 1t is the triumph
of dexterty over brute force, of mind
over natter and, though there is the
constant presence of the most imminent
through slip, a false step, an
awkward move would let the horn of the
, bull into his body-there is never the
least mistake. All the while the espada
{ wears on his face quiet smile. One
would not think it possible, but there is
) not the least lack of dignity in his gait.
He does not jump or spring; he merely
steps aside. Arrived at the proper spot,
standing still to face the bull, so close
that he could put his foot on the lowered
head and spring over his whole body, as,
indeed, he is sometimes forced to do, he
} extends his sword and watches his chance
to thrust it in to the hilt. 1t must enter
, to the heart, or to the great vessels about
J it, and must avoid in penetration the
head, the spinal column or any of its nu-
merous prolongations. So he must close
ly watch his chance, as the least move
ment on the part of the bull will derange
5 his calculations. All the while he must
r look out for himself or the bull will
: more recklessly, but with equal effect