ers; the creature that was the favorite
for months, petted and cared for day and night, on which were founded
such flattering hopes, is now nothing more than a carcass to be
sold for a peseta or to be stewed with ginger and eaten that very
night. _Sic transit gloria mundi!_ The loser returns to the home
where his anxious wife and ragged children await him, without his
money or his chicken. Of all that golden dream, of all those vigils
during months from the dawn of day to the setting of the sun, of all
those fatigues and labors, there results only a peseta, the ashes
left from so much smoke.

In this foyer even the least intelligent takes part in the discussion,
while the man of most hasty judgment conscientiously investigates
the matter, weighs, examines, extends the wings, feels the muscles of
the cocks. Some go very well-dressed, surrounded and followed by the
partisans of their champions; others who are dirty and bear the imprint
of vice on their squalid features anxiously follow the movements of
the rich to note the bets, since the purse may become empty but the
passion never satiated. No countenance here but is animated--not
here is to be found the indolent, apathetic, silent Filipino--all
is movement, passion, eagerness. It may be, one would say, that they
have that thirst which is quickened by the water of the swamp.

From this place one passes into the arena, which is known as the
_Rueda_, the wheel. The ground here, surrounded by bamboo-stakes, is
usually higher than that in the two other divisions. In the back part,
reaching almost to the roof, are tiers of seats for the spectators,
or gamblers, since these are the same. During the fights these seats
are filled with men and boys who shout, clamor, sweat, quarrel,
and blaspheme--fortunately, hardly any women get in this far. In the
_Rueda_ are the men of importance, the rich, the famous bettors, the
contractor, the referee. On the perfectly leveled ground the cocks
fight, and from there Destiny apportions to the families smiles or
tears, feast or famine.

At the time of entering we see the gobernadorcillo, Capitan Pablo,
Capitan Basilio, and Lucas, the man with the sear on his face who
felt so deeply the death of his brother.

Capitan Basilio approaches one of the townsmen and asks, "Do you know
which cock Capitan Tiago is going to bring?"

"I don't know, sir. This morning two came, one of them the _lasak_
that whipped the Consul's _talisain_." [127]