Page:Mexico, California and Arizona - 1900.djvu/554

 534 of logic; he begins to consider how little he gains in all this fierce fight and chase. He is weakened by his wounds and sensible of their pain. He now stands and meditates before making his dashes, and even inclines to let some of his affronts go unavenged.

Now is the time for the banderilleros. These are a new group of participants, beautifully dressed, light, deft, and swift on their feet. Their business is to torment the bull by thrusting into him long barbed darts, with streamers, or decoration of gay-colored tissue-papers. I look at a pink and gilt rose from one of the banderillas—so these darts are called—lying before me now as I write.

The banderillas must be planted in pairs. This is usually done by holding one in each hand, though the teeth also are sometimes called into play. Once it was sufficient to place the pair on the same side, but now it is required that one shall be placed on each side; the most glorious spot is the shoulder on either side the spinal column. As this can only be done by directly facing the bull, and waiting for the moment when he lowers his head to toss you, taking your chances to escape as best you may, the success of the feat seems almost a miracle in every instance. The banderillero has no weapons, and must rely upon his own nimble wits for his safety. And he must place his pair also within three minutes, under pain of disgrace. The sting of these darts arouses the flagging energies of the bull anew; again the ring becomes a scene of dust and fury. The banderilleros do a new mischief at every turn; they run alongside the toro from behind, and in passing even give his tail a dexterous twist. They add the last insult to the injury by the salto de la garrocha. The garrocha is a long lance. It is set on the ground at the very nose of the bull as he approaches in full ca-