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"the gods of the gallery," seated on the highest part of the paling and looking down into the

arena.

At last, through utter shame and disgust, no one being bold enough to play out the game with the calf, the poor little starveling was driven

away.

Three bulls of a respectable size were next introduced. These gave work to the men. Several of the amateurs were unhorsed, and saved only by the timely interference of the toreros, who, opening their red scarves before the animals, drew away their attention from the unhorsed cavaliers. One of the bulls made an onslaught on my part of the palizada, by which he shook some of the men off, several in their hurry to descend fell off. One unfortunately fell inwards, when another bull coming up at that moment, playfully selected the softest and most capable part of his body, and by a gentle application of his horns, sent the man rolling over on the sand. It was a very pretty one-sided somersault that he made, caught as he was, just rising

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on all fours, his head yet on the ground. It seemed as if the tables had turned, and the bulls were now to sport with men. At this moment a horseman doubting the continuance of the playful humour of the bull, or supposing that what was sport to him might probably end in death to the unlucky man, rode up and diverted the animal's attention, thus permitting the man to scramble up and over the palizada, to the great amusement of the unsympathising spectators.

After a good deal of play, during which the lances of several of the horsemen were exercised, some taking effect, a 'torero' played with a bull, now infuriated, and until after many feints both on the part of the man and of the animal, a stab between the horns killed the bull instantly.

This mode of dispatching the animals continued until the three were hors de combat.

A black bull, larger than any of the preceding ones, was next introduced. It was a noble-looking creature, and evidently was not intended for the amateurs, who, although they continued within the arena, kept at respectful distances from the

bull. It was then that the men of the hatos-the true Llaneros-had room to exhibit their skill in horsemanship and the manipulation of wild cattle.

The horse galloping furiously, the rider stooping low to the side and neck of it so as to be unseen by the bull, turned quickly and caught its tail, the horse leaning almost to fall on one side, the bull, in a somewhat similar manner, leaning the other way, while the horseman seemed to be the connecting link, his body and one arm extending between, then by a sudden experienced twist of its tail he threw the bull.

When the animal was down, one of the men afoot carelessly approached, and taking it by the tail compelled the bull to rise. Then there was sport to see the bull kicking up and attempting to butt, turning round and round to get at the man, who, still holding on, then changed the play by turning his bovine adversary whichever way he pleased. After that he let go his hold of the tail, and facing the bull dodged cleverly at every thrust of the horns, and at every plunge fluttering

Death of the Bull.

295

his scarf, and while making it seem to go one way himself taking another direction.

Thus he continued until it was plainly to be seen that the animal acknowledged the superior skill of the man.

At last came another torero, who, after playing with the bull for a time, caught hold of his tail, and jumping on his back plunged his long knife in behind the horns, and sprang to his feet as the beast dropped lifeless to the earth.

CHAPTER XXXI.

CLOSING SCENES.

SEVERAL months had passed since the Saturday morning on which my two fellow-travellers on the Llanos left me in the posada at Soledad, and crossed over the Orinoco to the city of Bolivar or Angostura, as it is popularly called, when I was surprised by a visit from Mr M'Donald. He had found employment in one of the river steamers trading up the Apure, and was contented and happy in his work.

"The Llanos that we passed over in company," he said, "having deep ravines and numerous streams, drain naturally of themselves; but in the wet season of the Apure the whole land is submerged, and live stock of all kinds fatten the voracious monsters of the water-the Kaiman and the culebra de agua.

"He had had the mortification," he said, "of

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