But when she hears the crowd yelling, "Pedro! Pedro! Olé! Olé!" she knows that she must uncover her eyes, for soon it will be her turn to act.
A cry from the crowd. The bull has charged and has caught young Pedro by the coat. But Pedro is quick. He finds his feet and twists himself to safety. The crowd cheers loudly.
Backward and forward he dances like a graceful reed, playing with the great beast, and the crowd are wild at his skill. Some throw their hats into the ring.
But Carmen sees the fury and the pain in Rey's eyes. He is wounded. He is frantic. She knows that now her turn has really come and she must call to him with her castanets. There is no time to lose.
| BULLFIGHT, MADRID |
Oh, will he remember those peaceful fields and come to her when she plays? For if he does, it has been arranged that he shall live.
But should he not, the end must be the same with Rey as with every other bull in every other fight. Pedro will have to plunge a dagger into the head of his friend.
"Oh, let us win!" prays little Carmen, and she opens her bag where she keeps her castanets.
The magic castanets are gone!
For a moment the world turns around in a crazy whirl. Fear clutches sharply at Carmen's heart. The beast is blind with rage. Soon Pedro will be obliged to make the final dagger thrust or—!