UP A TREE IN THE JUNGLE 189 
size and weight are generally matched to fight, and 
when once the bulls have been let go, the fight con- 
tinues till one turns tail and leaves the field. 
Each bull has three or four men who encourage 
it to greater efforts and when the fight is over lead 
it away. 
Sometimes one of the bulls declines to fight al- 
~ together and rushes away the moment he is faced 
by his adversary. The victor then performs a 
strange sort of war dance alone, whirling round 
and round, tossing his head, bellowing and snort- 
ing and finally dashing off in pursuit of the enemy, 
demoralizing and scattering the crowd of specta- 
tors who fall over each other in their efforts to 
get out of his dangerous path. 
Usually there is a fight more or less prolonged 
and when at last one bull gives way and runs for 
the field, he is followed, caught and brought back 
again to face his adversary. If he fights again, 
well and good, but the second bout rarely lasts. 
any time and the beaten bull again saves himself 
by flight. That settles the matter as far as backers 
are concerned and the bets are paid. It very seldom 
happens that a bull is killed or even seriously in- 
jured. As soon as the bulls arrive on the ground, 
they are inspected at close quarters by the backers, 
while the setters-on give the last touches to their 
champion. They take the cover from the points 
of their horns, squeeze and rub a lemon on their 
nose and tongue, and tickle their back and sides. 
