“Who is this?” said Sheridan, as a couple of young men wearing the uniform of the squadron approached the party. “Upon my word, it is Raimundo!”
The young men proved to be Raymond and Bark Lingall, just arrived from Gibraltar. The fugitive had resumed his uniform when he expected to join the Tritonia; and, if he had asked any officer of the garrison where the fleet had gone, he could have informed him. In the evening one of them spoke to Raymond at the hotel, asking him how it happened that he had not gone to Seville. This led to an explanation. Raymond and Bark had taken a steamer to Cadiz the next day, and had just arrived in a special train, in season for the bull-fight. The surgeon, who knew all about Raymond’s history, gave him a cordial greeting; and so did his shipmates of the Tritonia.
“You are just in time to assist at the bull-fight,” said Scott, who readily took up the Spanish style of expressing it, for it seemed like a huge joke to him.
“I don’t care for the bull-fight, but I am glad to be with the fellows once more,” replied Raymond, as he seated himself with the officers of the vessel.
Before the show began, he had reported himself to Mr. Lowington and Mr. Pelham; and some of the students who did not understand the matter thought he received a very warm greeting for a returned runaway. But all hands were thinking of the grand spectacle; and not much attention was given to Raymond and Bark, except by their intimate friends.
“If the people are so fond of these shows, I should think they would have more of them,” said Sheridan. “This is the first chance we have had to see one; and we have been in Spain four months.”
“They cost too much money; and only the large places can afford to have them,” replied the doctor. “It costs about two thousand dollars to get one up in good style. I will tell you all about the performers as they come in.”
“But what are all those people doing in the ring?” asked Murray; for the arena was filled with spectators walking about, chatting and smoking.
“They are the men who will occupy the lower seats, which are not very comfortable; and they prefer to walk about till the performance begins. They are all deeply interested in the affair, and are talking it over.”
“I don’t see many ladies here,” said Sheridan. “I was told that they all attend the bull-fights.”