Part 12 (1/2)

Often Pedro took his little friend Carmen to visit Rey, who lived in a field outside the city. Today they had come out for the last time before the famous bullfight was to take place.

Both were very sad. Carmen, too, had grown to love Rey, and the big creature seemed fond of her.

Sometimes the girl would practice upon her castanets out in the field.

And always when Rey heard the clicking song of the instruments, he would come up close to the young couple and stand quietly listening.

Do you wonder that this was a sorrowful day in the lives of Carmen and Pedro?

”If only we could think of some way to save him!” sighed Carmen.

She and Pedro sat upon a fence in the field. Around them rose mountains, hazy in the sun. Small stone houses cuddled among old scrub oak trees.

Suddenly Pedro's eyes sparkled. ”I have it!” he cried. ”I have a plan!

Do you remember the bull whose life was saved during a bullfight, because he came to his owner when he was called?”

Carmen nodded. She remembered well. All Spain had heard of it.

”Then why should not Rey, too, be given this chance?” asked Pedro. ”Why should he not be spared if he answers a call?”

”But who will call him?” asked Carmen.

”You,” answered Pedro. ”You, with your castanets.”

”Like this,” said Carmen, and she started to play.

Softly she played, then more and more loudly, until the great bull appeared at the other end of the field. He stood looking at the boy and the girl and, all at once, he started toward them, like a big, friendly dog.

”You see!” exclaimed Pedro joyfully. ”Now on Sunday, when I am fighting with him in the arena, you, from the audience, will play your castanets as you just did. If he turns and goes to you, I am sure that the judges will spare his life.”

”This is a wonderful plan, Pedro,” smiled the lovely little Carmen. ”And I am certain that it will succeed, because, you see--” She hesitated for a moment. Then she continued, ”Because these castanets are enchanted!”

”Enchanted?” Pedro laughed. ”That cannot be! Yet when you play them, it is I who am enchanted, my Carmen!”

Carmen did not laugh, however. She looked down soberly at her castanets.

”Legends are told in our family,” she said, ”about the magic power of these castanets. Whenever one of us has lost or sold or given them away, misfortune has overtaken us.”

Whereupon, she recited this verse:

”_Castanets, with magic spell, Never lose or give or sell; If you do, then grief and strife Will follow you through all your life._”

”Then whatever happens, do not lose them before next Sunday,” warned Pedro, smiling.

As the young couple arose to go, Carmen gave a start.

”Did you see a figure sneak out from behind that tree and disappear?” she asked Pedro.

”No, I did not,” he answered. ”And you are full of mystery today, little Carmen!” He was laughing at her again. ”Come. Let us go home now before you see a ghost.”

But Carmen had been right. There had indeed been a figure behind that tree--someone with very sharp ears, who had listened to all they had said.