DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48088#0218
ST. ANTHONY. 189
piers. The animal attacked the corner post, which it broke; it then made a fresh assault, and
the second post, which had been uncovered by the rent in the carpet, was shattered—Conse-
quently the box gave way, and the spectators fell through into the arena. The animal stood in
the midst of them. Its powerful head was surrounded by a cloud of foam, which had issued
from its extended nostrils. It seemed half stunned by the frightful crash, which it had occasioned,
for it remained standing quietly, with its front legs outstretched, whilst the people around
struggled to their feet, and then took flight. Then it shook its powerful head, gave a long wild
bellow, and again swang its tail through the air.
A cry echoed from a thousand voices—after, the animal had vainly sought some object to
seize with its horns, a small child, dressed in black, was thrown into the air. Donna Mencia
rushed towards the bull, with outstretched arms, as if to tear her child from it.
But the moment that the child reached the ground, it had been again uplifted on the horns
of the animal. Thus carrying the child, the bull rushed wildly around the arena, quite heedless
of the Cardinal Azzolini, who stood, lifting in his hand the cross which hung to his long golden
chain, as if to stem the fury of the animal.
The child was again tossed in the air, but the Punterillo, with his knife was close to the
bull. The animal attempted to pierce its enemy, but failed, the knifesman slipped between the
horns, and was thrown into the air with such force, that he fell stunned at the distance of a
few feet.
The same scene of confusion which had summoned the Puntillero, brought Jose Carreguy,
only a few steps behind him. He made one spring forward, and plunged his dagger to the hilt
between the neck and shoulders. The animal fell like a dead mass on the ground.
The Matador glanced around the battle-field. In addition to himself and the child, no-one
remained on it, except Montez, the knifesman, seated upright on the ground, and Donna Mencia,
who lay unconscious. The little Gaspero Juan stood erect, astonished and stunned, but he was
uninjured, and with a few quick steps, he hastened for shelter to the first person he saw, the
Matador.
As soon as the bull had fallen, the arena became filled with people, who crowded around
Donna Mencia and her little son, and who, relieved from their fright, examined every detail of
the field, which they had abandoned to the raging bull.
Jose Carreguy held the child in his arms, and it was from him that Donna Mencia, as soon
as she recovered, received her boy, who had escaped from this terrible danger without the slightest
injury. The Puntillero also rose from the ground, and limped towards the bull, in order to
accomplish his share in its slaughter.
Thus a dark deed was accomplished.
“It was Sancho Herrera,” exclaimed the Puntillero, in his broken dialect, “who commenced
the struggle with the bull, before it was driven into the arena.”
The severely wounded Montez meanwhile was unable to answer for himself. He had been
carried out of the arena into the walled paved court, in which the horses, killed in the struggle,
were laying.
Supported by two Banderilleros, Montez sat on the pavement, whilst before him knelt
Cardinal Azzolini, summoned at the request of the dying man, and unmindful of his costly white
dress. The eye of the Matador had a strange glare, and he spoke rapidly, as if he had not a
moment to lose.
piers. The animal attacked the corner post, which it broke; it then made a fresh assault, and
the second post, which had been uncovered by the rent in the carpet, was shattered—Conse-
quently the box gave way, and the spectators fell through into the arena. The animal stood in
the midst of them. Its powerful head was surrounded by a cloud of foam, which had issued
from its extended nostrils. It seemed half stunned by the frightful crash, which it had occasioned,
for it remained standing quietly, with its front legs outstretched, whilst the people around
struggled to their feet, and then took flight. Then it shook its powerful head, gave a long wild
bellow, and again swang its tail through the air.
A cry echoed from a thousand voices—after, the animal had vainly sought some object to
seize with its horns, a small child, dressed in black, was thrown into the air. Donna Mencia
rushed towards the bull, with outstretched arms, as if to tear her child from it.
But the moment that the child reached the ground, it had been again uplifted on the horns
of the animal. Thus carrying the child, the bull rushed wildly around the arena, quite heedless
of the Cardinal Azzolini, who stood, lifting in his hand the cross which hung to his long golden
chain, as if to stem the fury of the animal.
The child was again tossed in the air, but the Punterillo, with his knife was close to the
bull. The animal attempted to pierce its enemy, but failed, the knifesman slipped between the
horns, and was thrown into the air with such force, that he fell stunned at the distance of a
few feet.
The same scene of confusion which had summoned the Puntillero, brought Jose Carreguy,
only a few steps behind him. He made one spring forward, and plunged his dagger to the hilt
between the neck and shoulders. The animal fell like a dead mass on the ground.
The Matador glanced around the battle-field. In addition to himself and the child, no-one
remained on it, except Montez, the knifesman, seated upright on the ground, and Donna Mencia,
who lay unconscious. The little Gaspero Juan stood erect, astonished and stunned, but he was
uninjured, and with a few quick steps, he hastened for shelter to the first person he saw, the
Matador.
As soon as the bull had fallen, the arena became filled with people, who crowded around
Donna Mencia and her little son, and who, relieved from their fright, examined every detail of
the field, which they had abandoned to the raging bull.
Jose Carreguy held the child in his arms, and it was from him that Donna Mencia, as soon
as she recovered, received her boy, who had escaped from this terrible danger without the slightest
injury. The Puntillero also rose from the ground, and limped towards the bull, in order to
accomplish his share in its slaughter.
Thus a dark deed was accomplished.
“It was Sancho Herrera,” exclaimed the Puntillero, in his broken dialect, “who commenced
the struggle with the bull, before it was driven into the arena.”
The severely wounded Montez meanwhile was unable to answer for himself. He had been
carried out of the arena into the walled paved court, in which the horses, killed in the struggle,
were laying.
Supported by two Banderilleros, Montez sat on the pavement, whilst before him knelt
Cardinal Azzolini, summoned at the request of the dying man, and unmindful of his costly white
dress. The eye of the Matador had a strange glare, and he spoke rapidly, as if he had not a
moment to lose.