Page:A Sailor Boy with Dewey.djvu/238

220 we felt certain that they had come a long distance.

"They have been pursued," said Dan. "Usually they are fairly tame, although not to be trifled with."

"Sure and Oi've had a narrow escape!" panted Matt Gory. "See! see! phwat is up now?"

He pointed to the wounded bull, that had circled around and, without warning, charged one of his mates. Instantly there was a counter charge, and the crashing together of two skulls could be distinctly heard. Then the wounded bull went down on his knees and several of his mates fell upon him and tore him into shreds.

It was a disgusting sight, and I had to turn away, for fear of getting sick and tumbling from the branch upon which I rested. "Now we have a sample of bullfighting, I suppose," I said.

"Yes, and it's simply horrible!" murmured Dan. Matt Gory, however, seemed to enjoy the contest, and let out a hurrah as the bull fell over dead.

"It serves the baste roight fer attackin' me," he said. "Bad luck to the rascal!"

After the killing of the bull, his mates withdrew to a distance of twenty or thirty yards, in the meantime tossing their heads at us and giving occasional snorts of anger.