The Century illustrated monthly magazine . open for the entrance of the sixth bull,Sancho has well-nigh lost all hope and interestin the game. The bull is small, dark robed, well anned,and bears the brand of Veragua: in a fewbounds he reaches the center of the arena andpauses to look around. The glaring light afterthe darkness of his cage, the noisy clamoringof ten thousand excited spectators, and thesetwo-legged moving things in gaudy colors, thelike of which he has never seen before, arousehis curiosity and astonish him. By the nerv-ous twitching of his tail and the quick, sharpmovements of
The Century illustrated monthly magazine . open for the entrance of the sixth bull,Sancho has well-nigh lost all hope and interestin the game. The bull is small, dark robed, well anned,and bears the brand of Veragua: in a fewbounds he reaches the center of the arena andpauses to look around. The glaring light afterthe darkness of his cage, the noisy clamoringof ten thousand excited spectators, and thesetwo-legged moving things in gaudy colors, thelike of which he has never seen before, arousehis curiosity and astonish him. By the nerv-ous twitching of his tail and the quick, sharpmovements of his head it is evident that heis no coward. The toreadores instinctivelyrecognize him for an exceedingly dangerousadversary, and so it is with more than ordi-nary prudence that they spread their capas be-fore him and run away. But all this fails tomove him: slowly and steadily he advances,looking at the man, not at the rag. Now it isSanchos turn. The bull throws up his head,stops, then plunges forward with such light- SANCHO MITARRA. 453. SANCHO TURNS, STANDS, AND STRETCHES OUT ONE HAND. ning-like rapidity that the boy feels it is too lateto run. The long, smooth horns are alreadyon each side of him; and, scarcely realizingwhat he is doing, Sancho leaps forward uponthe animals back, and a second later to theground. How they applaud, how they yell !But he has no time to think, for the bull is com-ing at him again, heedless of the others whoseek to intercept him, and now Sancho knowsthat the animal has singled him out and thatthe fight is merely a duel between them. Thecase is rare, but he has heard of such ; the dan-ger is great, but he is not afraid; the chances ofhis escaping unscathed are few, but he feels con-fident and happy, for at last his opportunity hascome. He flings away his useless capa and turnsto run, not towards the refuge, the luiiiadero,but straight towards the center of the arena,while the older men shake their heads: aclever bull and a rash youth, there is but
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Keywords: ., bookauthornicolayj, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookyear1890
