Part 29 (1/2)

”Two thousand five hundred?”

”Make it three?”

”Three.”

”Let her go!”

The circle of curious people and gamblers learn that the two celebrated c.o.c.ks are to be fought. Both the roosters have made a history for themselves; both have a reputation. All want to see and examine the two celebrities. Opinions are expressed, and prophecies made.

In the meantime the voices grow louder, the confusion is augmented, the rueda fills up and a rush is made for the seats. The soltadores bring two c.o.c.ks to the ring for a preliminary contest. One of the roosters is blanco (white), the other rojo (red). They are already spurred, but the gaffs are not yet unsheathed. Cries of ”Al blanco! al blanco!” are heard. Some one else shouts, ”Al rojo!” The blanco is the favorite.

Civil Guards circulate among the crowd. They are not wearing the uniform of their body, nor do they wear the costume of the native. Pantaloons of guingon with a red fringe, a blue-spotted blouse s.h.i.+rt, and the cuartel cap--you have here their disguise, in harmony with their deportment; watching and betting, making disturbance and talking of maintaining the peace.

While the shouting is going on and men are jingling money in their hands; while the people are going down in their pockets for the last cuarto, or, if that is wanting, pledging their word, promising to sell their carabao, or their next harvest, two young men, apparently brothers, follow the gamblers with envious eyes. They approach, timidly murmur words which n.o.body catches, and each time become more and more melancholy, and look at each other with disgust and indignation. Lucas observes them, smiles malignantly, rattles some silver pesos, pa.s.ses near to the two brothers, and looks toward the rueda, shouting:

”I am betting fifty, fifty against twenty on the white!”

The two brothers exchanged looks.

”I told you,” murmured the older, ”not to bet all your money. If you had obeyed me, we would have it now to put on the red.”

The younger one approached Lucas timidly and touched him on the arm.

”Is it you?” exclaimed the latter turning around and feigning surprise. ”Does your brother accept my proposition or did you come to bet?”

”How can we bet when we have lost all?”

”Then you accept?”

”He does not want to! If you could lend us something: you have already said that you knew us....”

Lucas scratched his head, pulled down his camisa and replied:

”Yes, I know you. You are Tarsilo and Bruno, both young and strong. I know that your brave father died from the result of the hundred lashes which the soldiers gave him. I know that you do not think of avenging him.”

”You need not meddle in our history,” interrupted Tarsilo, the older. ”That is a disgrace. If we did not have a sister, we would have been hanged long ago.”

”Hanged? They only hang cowards, or some one who has no money or protection. Certainly the mountains are near.”

”A hundred against twenty on the blanco,” cried one as he pa.s.sed the group.

”Loan us four pesos ... three ... two,” begged the younger brother. ”Presently I will return it to you doubled. The fight is going to begin.”

Lucas scratched his head again.

”Tst! This money is not mine. Don Crisostomo has given it to me for those who want to serve him. But I see that you are not like your father. He was really courageous.”

And, saying this, he went away from them, although not far.

”Let us accept. What does it matter?” said Bruno to his brother. ”It amounts to the same thing whether you are hanged or shot down. We poor serve for nothing else.”