Some of the students turned pale, and were made sick by the cruel sight. A few of them were obliged to leave their places, which they did amidst the laughter of the Spaniards near them. But the audience applauded heartily, and appeared to be satisfied now that a horse had been gored so terribly. The picador was lifted upon the mangled steed, and he rode about the ring with the animal’s entrails dragging under him. The chulos played with the bull for a time, till the people became impatient; and then he was permitted to attack the horses again. The one injured before dropped dead under the next assault, to the great relief of the American spectators. The audience became stormy again, and two more horses were killed without appeasing them.
“Now we shall have the banderilleros,” said the doctor, as a flourish of trumpets came from the bandstand.
“I have got about enough of it,” said Sheridan faintly.
“Brace yourself up, and you will soon become more accustomed to it. You ought to see one bull killed,” added the surgeon.
Two men with banderillas in their hands now entered the ring. These weapons have barbs, so that, when the point is driven into the flesh of the bull, they stick fast, and are not shaken out by the motion of the animal. These men were received with applause; but it was evident that the temper of the assembled multitude required prompt and daring deeds of them. There was to be no unnecessary delay, no dodging or skulking. They were bold fellows, and seemed to be ready for business. One of them showed himself to the bull; and the beast made for him without an instant’s hesitation.
The banderillero held his ground as though he had been tied to the spot; and it looked as if he was surely to be transfixed by the horns of the angry bull. Suddenly, as the animal dropped his head to use his horns, the man swung the banderillas over his shoulders, and planted both of the darts just behind the neck of the beast, and then dexterously slipped out of the way. This feat was applauded tremendously, and the yells seemed to shake the arena. Vainly the bull tried to shake off the darts, roaring with the pain they gave him.
Another flourish of trumpets announced the last scene of the tragedy, and one of the espadas bounded lightly into the ring. He was greeted with hearty applause; and, walking over to the front of the marquesa’s box, he bent down on one knee, and made a grandiloquent speech, to the effect that for the honor of the city, in the name of the good people there assembled, and for the benefit of the hospital, he would kill the bull or be killed himself in the attempt, if her highness would graciously accord him the permission to do so. The infanta kindly consented; and the espada whirled his hat several times over his head, finally jerking it under his left arm over the fence. In his hand he carried a crimson banner, which he presented to the bull; and this was enough to rouse all his fury again.
The Bull-fight at Seville. Page [406].