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and fifty…seven bulls。〃
〃All right then；〃 said the Doctor； 〃let us see if you can kill five more。
Let the bulls in！〃 he shouted。 〃Pepito de Malaga is not afraid。〃
A dreadful silence hung over the great theatre as the heavy door into
the bull pen was rolled back。 Then with a roar the five big bulls bounded
into the ring。
〃Look fierce；〃 I heard the Doctor call to them in cattle language。
〃Don't scatter。 Keep close。 Get ready for a rush。 Take Pepito； the one in
purple； first。 But for Heaven's sake don't kill him。 Just chase him out of the
ringNow then； all together； go for him！〃
The bulls put down their heads and all in line； like a squadron of
cavalry； charged across the ring straight for poor Pepito。
For one moment the Spaniard tried his hardest to look brave。 But the
sight of the five pairs of horns coming at him at full gallop was too much。
He turned white to the lips； ran for the fence； vaulted it and disappeared。
〃Now the other one；〃 the Doctor hissed。 And in two seconds the
gallant assistant was nowhere to be seen。 Juan Hagapoco； the fat matador；
was left alone in the ring with five rampaging bulls。
The rest of the show was really well worth seeing。 First； all five bulls
went raging round the ring； butting at the fence with their horns； pawing
up the sand； hunting for something to kill。 Then each one in turn would
pretend to catch sight of the Doctor for the first time and giving a bellow
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of rage； would lower his wicked looking horns and shoot like an arrow
across the ring as though he meant to toss him to the sky。
It was really frightfully exciting。 And even I who knew it was all
arranged beforehand； held my breath in terror for the Doctor's life when I
saw how near they came to sticking him。 But just at the last moment； when
the horns' points were two inches from the sky…blue waistcoat； the Doctor
would spring nimbly to one side and the great brutes would go thundering
harmlessly by； missing him by no more than a hair。
Then all five of them went for him together； completely surrounding
him； slashing at him with their horns and bellowing with fury。 How he
escaped alive I don't know。 For several minutes his round figure could
hardly be seen at all in that scrimmage of tossing heads； stamping hoofs
and waving tails。It was； as Polynesia had prophesied； the greatest
bullfight ever seen。
One woman in the crowd got quite hysterical and screamed up to Don
Enrique；
〃Stop the fight！ Stop the fight！ He is too brave a man to be killed。 This
is the most wonderful matador in the world。 Let him live！ Stop the fight！〃
But presently the Doctor was seen to break loose from the mob of
animals that surrounded him。 Then catching each of them by the horns；
one after another； he would give their heads a sudden twist and throw
them down flat on the sand。 The great fellows acted their parts extremely
well。 I have never seen trained animals in a circus do better。 They lay there
panting on the ground where the Doctor threw them as if they were
exhausted and completely beaten。
Then with a final bow to the ladies John Dolittle took a cigar from his
pocket； lit it and strolled out of the ring。
THE NINTH CHAPTER
WE DEPART IN A HURRY
AS soon as the door closed behind the Doctor the most tremendous
noise I have ever heard broke loose。 Some of the men appeared to be
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angry （friends of Pepito's； I suppose） ； but the ladies called and called to
have the Doctor come back into the ring。
When at length he did so； the women seemed to go entirely mad over
him。 They blew kisses to him。 They called him a darling。 Then they started
taking off their flowers； their rings； their necklaces； and their brooches and
threw them down at his feet。 You never saw anything like ita perfect
shower of jewelry and roses。
But the Doctor just smiled up at them； bowed once more and backed
out。
〃Now； Bumpo；〃 said Polynesia； 〃this is where you go down and gather
up all those trinkets and we'll sell 'em。 That's what the big matadors do：
leave the jewelry on the ground and their assistants collect it for them。 We
might as well lay in a good supply of money while we've got the chance
you never know when you may need it when you're traveling with the
Doctor。 Never mind the rosesyou can leave thembut don't leave any
rings。 And when you've finished go and get your three…thousand pesetas
out of Don Ricky…ticky。 Tommy and I will meet you outside and we'll
pawn the gew…gaws at that Jew's shop opposite the bed…maker's。 Run
along and not a word to the Doctor； remember。〃
Outside the bull…ring we found the crowd still in a great state of
excitement。 Violent arguments were going on everywhere。 Bumpo joined
us with his pockets bulging in all directions； and we made our way slowly
through the dense crowd to that side of the building where the matadors'
dressing…room was。 The Doctor was waiting at the door for us。
〃Good work； Doctor！〃 said Polynesia； flying on to his shoulder
〃Great work！But listen： I smell danger。 I think you had better get back to
the ship now as quick and as quietly as you can。 Put your overcoat on over
that giddy suit。 I don't like the looks of this crowd。 More than half of them
are furious because you've won。 Don Ricky…ticky must now stop the
bullfightingand you know how they love it。 What I'm afraid of is that
some of these matadors who are just mad with jealousy may start some
dirty work。 I think this would be a good time for us to get away。〃
〃I dare say you're right； Polynesia；〃 said the Doctor〃You usually are。
The crowd does seem to be a bit restless。 I'll slip down to the ship alone
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so I shan't be so noticeable； and I'll wait for you there。 You come by some
different way。 But don't be long about it。 Hurry！〃
As soon as the Doctor had departed Bumpo sought out Don Enrique
and said；