Page:Mexico, California and Arizona - 1900.djvu/555

 Rh reer, and used like a pole to vault completely over him, as one vaults a stream. It need not be explained that this must be done with lightning speed, for, with an instant's delay, the lance may be struck, and the acrobat come to most serious harm. Among others injured in this feat, the case is lately cited of one Spanish banderillero who, though he recovered from his severe wound, fell into hypochondria and committed suicide. Our bull tires of pursuing this class of persecutors also. Then the great moment arrives for the espada, the slayer with the sword. He is the fine flower and pink of perfection of the whole art. The band of bull-fighters, or cuadrilla, will consist of a couple of espadas, who relieve each other in turn, from four to six banderilleros, as many picadores, and chulos and lassoers in proportion. The band goes about giving exhibitions—trabajando (literally "working"), the expression is—from place to place. The espada. The espada and other principal performas are generally much better known by a nickname, derived from their place of birth, or some individual pecularity, than by their own names. Such a paragraph as the following gives an idea of the announcements that continually appear in the press:

"Francisco Gomez, "El Chiclanero," will work during the coming season at Guadalajara. His band consists of the best experts. El Chiclanero has a strong fancy for Guadalajara and the liking (simpatia) with which he regards it leads him to work his band in the town, even at the expense of engagements more profitable to himself elsewhere. The Guadalajaran public, on the other hand, warmly returns the predilection of this accomplished and sympathetic (simpático) bull-fighter."

But the bull is now at bay, sullen, terrible, and in the most dangerous of all tempers. The espada is not afraid;