, and
away he went amidst the yells of the spectators!

Next moment the riders spurred after, each shouting in his own fashion.

Soon the line was broken, and a confused spread of horsemen, like a
"field" of fox-hunters, was seen scouring over the plain. Each moment
the troop became elongated, until what had started in line was now
strung out in double and single file to a length of several hundred
yards. Still on they went, whipping, and spurring, and urging their
steeds to the utmost.

The bull, maddened by the arrowy squibs, and terrified by their hissing,
ran at the top of his speed in a nearly direct line. The start he had
been allowed was not so easily taken up, even by fast riders, and he had
got a full mile or more before any one neared him. Then a dragoon,
mounted on a large bay horse, was seen pressing him closely, and at
length laying hold of the tail. He was observed to give it a jerk or
two, as though endeavouring to fling the brute by sheer strength. It
was a failure, however; for the next moment the bull shot out in a side
direction, and left his pursuer behind.

A young hacendado, splendidly horsed, was next upon his flanks; but each
time he reached forth to grasp the tail it was whisked beyond his reach.
He succeeded at length in seizing it; but the bull, making a sudden
lurch, whipped his tail from the rider's hands, and left him also in the
rear.

One condition of the "coleo" was, that each competitor, after having
once failed, should retire from the ground; so that the hacendado and
the dragoon were now actually _hors de chasse_.

These were seen riding back, though not directly in front of the
spectators. They preferred making a roundabout thing of it, so that
their fallen faces might not be too closely scanned on their return.

On went the bull, and after him the eager and excited horsemen. Another
dragoon soon tried his "pluck," and also failed; and then a vaquero, and
another horseman, and another, with like success--each failure being
hailed by a groan from the crowd. There were several tumbles, too, at
which the spectators laughed heartily; and one horse was badly gored,
having headed the bull and got entangled upon his horns.

In less than ten minutes eleven out of the twelve competitors were seen
returning from the chase.

Only one now remained to make his trial. The bull had proved a splendid
fellow, and was already in high favour, and loudly applauded by the
spectators.