32 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



The next was hauled on in the same way by a 

 rope through his nose. He was girt with the rope, 

 tortured with darts, speared by the picadores on 

 horseback, and, as he did not show good fight, they 

 dismounted and attacked him on foot. This is con- 

 sidered the most dangerous contest both for man 

 and beast. The picadores formed in front of him, 

 each with a black or yellow poncha in his left hand, 

 and poising his spear with the right. They stood 

 with their legs extended and knees bent, so as to 

 keep a firm foothold, changing position by a spring 

 forward or backward, on one side or the other, to 

 meet the movement of the bull's head. The object 

 was to strike between the horns into the back of the 

 neck. Two or three struck him fairly with a cutting, 

 heavy sound, and drew out their spears reeking with 

 blood. One man misdirected his blow ; the bull 

 threw up his neck with the long handle of the spear 

 standing upright in it, and rushing upon the picador, 

 hurled him to the ground, and passed over his body, 

 seeming to strike him with all four of his hoofs. 

 The man never moved, but lay on his back, with his 

 arms outstretched, apparently dead. The bull mo- 

 ved on with the handle of the spear still standing up 

 in his neck, a terror to all in the ring. The vaqueros 

 went in pursuit of him with the lazos, and, chasing 

 him round, the spear fell out, and they caught him. 

 In the mean time, the fallen man was picked up by 

 some of his companions, and carried off, doubled up, 



