Tommy was really worried about Dr. Dolittle.
"Have you ever fought a bull before?" he asked.
"Of course not, Tommy," the doctor replied.
"I would never fight an animal."
Now Tommy was truly afraid.
The black bulls were big, strong, and very angry.
They kicked out their hind legs and snorted loudly.
"Stay here," Dr. Dolittle instructed Tommy.
Then he opened the bull pen and went inside.
Tommy covered his eyes with his hands.
"Please be careful," he cried to the doctor.
The bulls did not like humans.
They made a circle around the doctor and glared at him.
"What does this fool want?" snorted one.
"I'm going to kick him out,"
said another, lowering his sharp horns.
"That's not very nice!" the doctor said to them.
The bulls blinked their eyes in surprise.
"You can speak our language?" one said.
"Of course! Now, I have to explain quickly," the doctor said.
"Are you Dr. Dolittle?" another said in a trembling voice.
"Yes, yes, I am," the doctor said.
"We've heard so many wonderful things about you!" they cried out happily.
"Thank you," the doctor said.
"But please listen to me!
We don't have much time."
The bulls all started talking at once.
They wanted to know how the doctor had learned their language.
"Stop!" the largest bull said.
"Let the doctor speak!"
So Dr. Dolittle told them his plan.
Meanwhile, Polynesia had an idea of her own.
She and Charles went back to Don Enrique.
"What do you want now?" he shouted rudely.
Polynesia whispered in Charles' ear.
"We'd like to place a small bet," he said.
Don Enrique liked bets.
That's how he had become so rich.
"How much do you want to bet and on whom?" he asked.
"Two thousand gold coins on John Dolittle," said Charles.
"That man couldn't fight flies!" roared Don Enrique.
"He thinks he is better than the Great Pepito!"
"I have changed my mind," said Charles.
"I knew you would," laughed Don Enrique.
"I want to raise my bet to three thousand on Dolittle," Charles said.
Don Enrique slapped his knee.
"You are going to make me even richer," he said.
He and Charles shook hands.
The bet was made.
Inside the arena, the crowds shouted loudly for the fight to begin.
The mayor stood up and shouted, "Ladies and Gentlemen!
May I present the greatest fighter of all—Pepito!"
Tommy watched Pepito come out, holding a red cloak.
A large bull was let out of the pen.
The bull turned around and ran toward Pepito.
Pepito swung his cloak and jumped away.
The people screamed in delight and called out his name.
After a little while, it was Dr. Dolittle's turn.
"And now, John Dolittle," the mayor said quickly.
People booed and hissed.
The doctor walked to the middle of the arena.
An even bigger, angrier bull was let out.
He threw his head back and snorted loudly.
Some women screamed in fear.
Dr. Dolittle held up his hands, but the bull began to charge.
When the bull got close, the doctor clapped his hands once.
The huge animal stopped and dropped to his knees.
Then the doctor climbed onto its back.
The audience held its breath.
Suddenly the doctor grabbed the bull's horns and did a handstand.
Dr. Dolittle jumped off and the bull stood up again.
"How was that?" whispered the bull.
"You were brilliant," answered the doctor.
"Now, one last thing."
The doctor put out his hand and twirled it in a circle, faster and faster.
The bull stood on its hind legs and danced around.
Then it fell to the ground with a loud thump.
The people went crazy.
"The Great Dolittle!" they screamed.
Dr. Dolittle looked at the mayor.
The mayor was wiping tears from his eyes.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," he cried.
"I have sad news.
This was our last bullfight."
The crowds shouted angrily.
The bull opened one eye and smiled at the doctor.
"Thank you," he said.