Never before, it appeared from his enthusiasm, had Madrid known such a matador as Sebastiano.
So thematador arranges the cloak in his left hand and the sword in his right.
The matador walks round the barriers bowing to the cheers of the people, and behind him stalks a chulo, who picks up for him the showers of cigars, hats, and so forth that are showered into the ring.
On the other hand, a daring matador will sometimes take a pair of darts and sit on a chair before his prey.
In these brief but trying moments the matador generally looks pale and anxious, as well he may, for life hangs on the edge of a razor, but he presents a fine picture of fixed purpose and concentration of moral energy.
We remember seeing at Granada a matador cruelly gored by a bull: he was carried away as dead, and his place immediately taken by his son, as coolly as a viscount succeeds to an earl's estate and title.
As Matador is played with dominoes no higher than six, a blank means the blocking of that end.
Matador can be played by three persons, in which case the two having the lowest scores usually combine against the threatening winner; and also by four, either each for himself or two on a side.
What is the name of the best matadoryou have for to-morrow's show?
Between us, el Matador and I, we rolled the senor in serapes, binding them with cords so that the face should not be seen by them that carried him out to the secret place; and it was then that he spoke of my captaincy.
So quietly that I, whom he touched in passing, did not hear, el Matador came into the room.
Across the body el Matador looked at me, and I chilled with the sure knowledge that I should never see my ninas again.
The muleta had seemingly lost its power to charm, and the matador seemed resolved to set his life upon the point of his own sword.
For all Cuchillo's wonderful habit of using his eyes as he charged he could never quite tell where the great matador would cross him, and at the second attempt the two lances were beautifully placed.
Alone in that vast concourse matador and bull preserved their tranquillity, and it would be hard to say which of the two needed it most.
But he sprang to one side with great dexterity, made a courteous gesture to the matador as if passing the bull over to him, and still holding the paper in his hand, re-leaped the barrier, and rejoined the audience in safety.
At the moment when the matador approached the bull with his lethal weapon I was not sorry for an excuse to glance at Miss Mannersley.
A stupid creature who rushes blindly on the sword of the matador is an animal after his own heart.
All at once the matador seizes the favorable instant.
For ten minutes after a good estocada, the matador is the most popular man in Spain.
But if he has shown reflection, forethought, and that saving quality of the oppressed, suspicion, the matador has a serious work before him.
I prayed that the matador had met with a similar interruption!
When a matador has killed a bull, he bows to the government box, then to the municipality, and then all around, receiving plaudits in proportion to the skill he has shown, and the sport he has afforded.
They are seldom able to despatch him, and a matador steps forward to end his sufferings.
At length the matador assumes a sort of fencing attitude, and at the critical moment, plunges his sword into the bull's neck, near to its shoulders, when it falls dead at his feet.
As formerly, bull-fighting is at present the most popular amusement in Mexico, and a matador is more distinguished in the eyes of the common people than a prima donna or a president.
He approaches the bull, and flaps the blanket in his eyes; the animal plunges at him, and with great dexterity the matador whirls and thrusts the sword into the animal’s heart.
One matador more agile than the rest baits the animal with his lance, and when the bull turns upon him, vaults over the down-turned horns by resting his lance upon the ground.
It means that the cruel sport has lasted long enough, and the chief matador comes forward with a red blanket and a sword.
He staggers and falls upon the ground, the chief matador runs up, pierces his brain with a poniard, and the mules are brought in to drag the dead animals out.
Making only a light movement, the matador let him pass by his side, returned and put himself on guard.
The matador chose the spot which suited him the best, and indicated it to his quadrilla.
A few yards away lay Cyclops, his neck outstretched and one eye sightlessly staring, while away in the distance, with reins trailing and stirrups flapping, Matador could be seen, galloping gaily homeward.
Just tickle up Gabriel, matador him, make him mad to come on.
Matador and Jupiter were the finest among the hounds belonging to the Lord of Vez.
Let me have Matadorand Jupiter, and then we shall see.
The matador chose the spot which suited him the best, and indicated it to his quadrilla.
The matadoris a handsome but heavy-looking man, though said to be active and skilful.
At last, as he stood at bay, and nearly exhausted, the matador ran up and gave him the mortal blow, considered a peculiar proof of skill.
Since Guerrita, not a single matador of leading light has arisen.
Showy players with the capa and the banderillos proved capable of giving attractive exhibitions, but it was another matter when the matador stood alone, face to face with his foe.
When the critical moment arrived--the popular matador stood pale, nerveless, incapable.
He was thirty years of age when the heavy pay of the matador induced him to risk his life in the arena.
But at least they had inaugurated the regime of the highly paidmatador of to-day.
We have traced in brief outline the life-history of our gallant bull; we have brought him face to face with the matador and his Toledan blade--there we must leave him.
We witnessed a tragedy when, on the death of the fifth bull, not a matador remained.
He ran away from the matadorand the capadors, and circled the edge of the ring, looking up at the many faces.
Afterward, when he is quite tired and no longer quick, the matador sticks the sword into him.
The matador was preparing to strike him again, when he lay down as if to die, but soon rose, apparently desirous of revenge: after one effort he sank on the arena, and the matador gave him his coup de grace.
At last the matadorstruck him; and though the sword was, as usual, deep between the left shoulder and the blade, he seemed as fierce as ever.
The close-up expression of the dying matador had been denied them.
He said, "It's like the difference between throwing a bunch of Christians to some wild bulls in a Roman arena, to being a torero in Spain, a matador who has chosen his profession and enters the bullring to make money.
Seeing this, Mark and the negro ran to the rescue, the one howling like a maniac, the other clubbing his gun; but their aid was not required, for the work of the amateur matadorhad been effectively done.
The trick of the matador with his red cloak suggested itself in this moment of peril.
With the adroitness of a practised matador he flung his poncho on the horns of the animal, and then both ran in the direction of the rocks.
Frantic shouts of applause follow; and the matadorbows around, like an applauded circus-rider, and retires.
