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]

Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1 · 第 596 / 809 题