FEROCITY OF BULL-FIGHTS. 



37 



companions had been struck down and carried off 

 the field ; the bull, pierced in several places, with 

 blood streaming from him, but fresh as when he be- 

 gan, and fiercer, was roaming round the ring, and 

 they held back, evidently afraid to attack him. The 

 spectators showered upon them the opprobrious 

 mme of cobardes ! cobardes r "cowards! cowards!" 

 The dragoon enforced obedience to their voice, and, 

 fortifying themselves with a strong draught of agua 

 ardiente, they once more faced the bull, poised their 

 spears before him, but with faint hands and trem- 

 bling hearts, and finally, without a single thrust, amid 

 the contemptuous shouts of the crowd, fell back, 

 and left the bull master of the field. 



Others were let in, and it was almost dark when 

 the last fight ended. With the last bull the ring was 

 opened to the boys, who, amid roars of laughter, 

 pulled, hauled, and hustled him till he could hardly 

 stand, and, amid the solemn tones of the vesper bell, 

 the bull-fight in honour of San Cristoval ended. 



Modern laws, we are told, have done much to 

 abate the danger and ferocity of bull-fights. The 

 horns of the bull are sawed ofi*, so that he cannot 

 gore, and spears are not allowed of more than a cer- 

 tain length, so that the bull cannot be killed by a 

 direct blow ; but, in my opinion, it would be really 

 better for effect upon moral character that a bull- 

 fight should be, as it once was, a battle for life be- 

 tween man and beast, for then it was an exhibition 

 of skill and daring, around which were sometimes 



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