Dr. Winstock was a little more “gamy” than the principal; and, when he heard that there was to be a bull-fight at Seville on Easter Sunday, he declared that it would be a pity to take the students away from Spain without seeing the national spectacle. He suggested that the ceremonies of Holy Week would also be very interesting. The question was discussed for a long time. All the rest of their lives these young men would be obliged to say that they had been to Spain without seeing a bull-fight. The professors were consulted; and they were unanimously in favor of making a second visit to Seville. It was decided to adopt the doctor’s suggestion.
“But it will be impossible to get into the hotels,” added Dr. Winstock. “They all double their prices, and are filled to overflowing for several days before the ceremonies begin.”
“Then, why did you suggest the idea of going?” laughed the principal. “The boys must have something to eat, and a place to sleep.”
“I think we can do better than to go to the hotels, even if we could get into them,” replied the doctor. “The Guadalquiver is very high at the present time, and the fleet will go up to Seville without quarrelling with the bottom. We can anchor off the Toro del Oro, and save all the hotel-bills.”
This plan was adopted; and the order to coal the steamer for the voyage across the Atlantic was rescinded, so that she might go up the river as light as possible. Half a dozen officers of the garrison were taken as passengers, guests of the officers, for the excursion, as the steamer was to return to the Rock. On Tuesday morning the fleet sailed. While the schooners remained off Cadiz, the Prince ran in and obtained three pilots,—a father and his two sons,—and distributed them among the vessels. At the mouth of the river the Prince took her consorts in tow. They were lashed together, and a hawser extended to each of them. Off Bonanza the vessels anchored for the night; for the pilots would not take the risk of running in the darkness. In the morning the voyage was renewed. Portions of the country were flooded with water, for the ice and snows in the mountains were melting in the warm weather of spring. Indeed, there was so much water that it bothered the pilot of the steamer to keep in the channel, for the high water covered some of his landmarks. There were some sharp turns to be made; and the pilots in the Tritonia and Josephine had to be as active as their father in the steamer; for, in making these curves, the hawser of the outer vessel had to be slacked off; and, when the ropes were well run out, the steamer was stopped, and they were hauled in. But, before sunset, the fleet was at anchor off Seville.
The next day was Holy Thursday, and all hands were landed to see the sights. The city was crowded with people. All along the streets through which the procession was to pass, seats were arranged for the spectators, which were rented for the occasion, as in the large cities at home. The trip to Seville had been decided upon a week before the vessels arrived, and while they were at Malaga. Couriers had been sent ahead to engage places for the procession, and in the Coliseo de Toros. Lobo and Ramos were on the quay when the boats landed; and the students were conducted to the places assigned to them. They went early, and had to wait a long time; but the people were almost as interesting as the “Gran Funcion” as they call any spectacle, whether it be a bull-fight or a church occasion.
Not only was the street where they were seated full of people, but all the houses were dressed in the gayest of colors; and no one would have suspected that the occasion was a religious ceremony. Printed programmes of all the details of the procession had been hawked about the streets for the last two days, and Lobo had procured a supply of them; but unfortunately, as they were in Spanish, hardly any of the students could make use of them, though the surgeon, the professors, and the couriers, translated the main items for them.
“I suppose you both understand the meaning of the procession we are about to see,” said the doctor, while they waiting.
“I don’t,” replied Murray. “My father is a Scotchman, and I was brought up in the kirk.”
“The week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates the entry of Christ into Jerusalem, when the people cast palm-branches before him; Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the Lord’s Supper; Good Friday, the crucifixion; Holy Saturday is when water used in baptism is blessed; and Easter Sunday, the greatest of all the holy days except Christmas, is in honor of the resurrection of the Saviour. On Holy Thursday, in Madrid, the late queen used to wash the feet of a dozen beggars, as Christ washed the feet of his disciples. I hear music, and I think the procession is coming.”