f cattle where there are no bulls, there
are cows so dangerous to approach, that the vaqueros never attempt
driving them unless when well mounted. A Mexican or South American
cattle-herd is, therefore, always a mounted man. There is a difference,
too, among the bulls in different parts of these countries. On the
Llanos of Venezuela they are not so fierce as those of the Puna, and
they are more and less so in different parts of Mexico and the Pampas of
Buenos Ayres.

The Puna bulls are, perhaps, the fiercest and most dangerous of all.
They are more than half wild. They scarcely ever see a human being, and
they will attack one upon sight. To a mounted man there is little
danger, unless by the stumbling or falling of his horse; but many a poor
Indian, crossing these high plains afoot, has fallen a sacrifice to
these vengeful brutes.

Both Don Pablo and Guapo knew all this, and therefore were aware of
their own danger. Neither had a weapon--not so much as a stick. They
had laid aside their knives and other arms, which had been carried
inside the hut. To reach the hut before the bull reached them would be
impossible; the brute was coming nearly from it--for he had issued from
some shelter in the rocks not far off. They were full two hundred yards
out upon the plain, and to run in the direction of the rocks would have
been to run counter to the bull, and meet him face to face! Their
danger was imminent. What was to be done?

There was not much time left them for consideration. The furious animal
was within thirty paces distance, roaring loudly, shaking his head and
brandishing his long sharp horns. At this moment a happy thought
occurred almost simultaneously to Don Pablo and the Indian. The
evening, as we have already said, was piercing cold, and both, in going
out to collect the fuel, had worn their ponchos. The trick of the
matador with his red cloak suggested itself in this moment of peril.
Both had seen it performed--Don Pablo often--and knew something of the
"way." In a moment both had stripped the ponchos from their shoulders,
and, placing themselves _a la matador_, awaited the onset of the bull.
It was agreed that as soon as the bull was "hooded" by either, that both
should run at all speed to the rocks, where they could easily climb out
of reach of the animal.

Don Pablo happened to be more in the way, and perhaps his more showy
poncho attracted the brute; but whether or not, he was the first to