Page:The Burton Holmes lectures; (IA burtonholmeslect04holm).pdf/322

 AWAITING THE ATTACK

alluring mantle with his fearful horns. A little of this play exasperates the bull; he looks about for some more tangible object to attack. His eyes are fixed upon a horse. Still he hesitates to harm a fellow-quadruped. At this moment the sturdy picador spurs on his trembling Rosinante, and, his lance in position, advances upon the bull. The latter with lowered horns still stands there undecided. The horse's right eye is tightly bandaged, so that he does not see the danger, yet his quivering members tell of his instinctive fear. A few provoking movements of the lance, and, aroused at last, the bull springs forward, and with awful force, lifts horse and rider on his horns. The picador has, however, received the bull upon his lance, fixing it just between the shoulders. With all his strength he bears upon his weapon, but as the blade is purposely protected so that it may not cut too deeply, the wound inflicted is but a trifling one; the picador's sole effort being to repulse the bull, to cause him to retire,