of grief, for their
loved masters.

At a Bull Fight

The following is a pathetic narrative entitled "El Moro."

A Cadiz letter says: "Notice had been posted on all the public places
that on a certain day the bull called 'El Moro' would be introduced
into the arena, and that, when he should have been goaded to the
utmost fury, a young girl would appear and reduce the animal to quiet
subjection. The people of Cadiz had heard of 'El Moro' as the most
magnificent bull ever brought into the city, and it soon became known
that the girl just advertised was a peasant girl of Espara, who had
petted the bull, and fed it and cared for it during the years of it's
growth. On the appointed day the vast amphitheatre was filled with an
anxious, eager crowd. Several bulls had been killed and dragged away,
and then the flourish of trumpets announced the coming of the hero of
the day. With a deep, terrific roar, 'El Moro' entered upon the
scene. He was truly magnificent; a bovine monarch, black and glossy,
with eyes of fire, dilating nostrils, and wicked-looking horns. The
picadores attacked him warily, hurling their banderillos (small,
dart-like javelins ornamented with ribbons, and intended to jade and
infuriate). The bull had killed three horses offhand, and had
received eight banderillos in his neck and shoulders, when, upon a
given signal, the picadores and matadores suddenly withdrew leaving
the infuriated beast alone in his wild paroxysm of wrath. Presently
a soft musical note, like the piping of a lark, was heard, and
directly afterwards a girl of not more than fifteen years of age,
an the tasteful garb of an Andalusian peasant, and with a pretty
face, sprang lightly into the arena, approaching the bull fearlessly,
at the same time calling his name--'Moro! Moro! Va voy!' At the
first sound of the sweet voice the animal ceased his fury, and turned
towards the place whence it came, and, when he saw the girl, he
plainly manifested pleasure. She came to his head, and put forth her
hand, which he licked with his tongue. Then she sang a low, sweet
song, at the same time caressing the animal by patting him on the
forehead, and, while she sang, the suffering monarch kneeled at her
feet. Then she stooped and gently removed the cruel banderillos,
after which, with her arms around 'El Moro's' neck, she led him
towards the gate of the torril."

[Page 148--Funny Australian Natives]

Funny Australian Natives

[Illustration