When they reached land, Dr. Dolittle bought another boat from a fisherman.
The boat was not as nice as The Curlew.
It was not as big either.
But Dr. Dolittle was satisfied.
"Tell me, sir, what is this island called?" Dr. Dolittle asked the fisherman.
"You're on Capa Blanca Island!" said the old man.
Dr. Dolittle looked at his friends and winked.
"We made it after all," he smiled.
"You're just in time, too," said the fisherman.
"For what?" asked Tommy.
"For the bullfight!
It's the greatest show on earth!" the fisherman explained.
Dr. Dolittle's eyes grew dark and his forehead wrinkled.
"When does this bullfight begin?"
the doctor asked in a low, angry voice.
Tommy had never seen the doctor so upset.
"This afternoon," replied the fisherman.
"And the Great Pepito will bravely fight those ferocious beasts!"
Dr. Dolittle and the others walked in silence toward a large ship.
The doctor was holding a ticket.
"Matthew," he said, "This ship is going to England.
Take Jip and Gub-Gub back home for me, please."
The animals, of course, did not want to go back.
"But what about the bullfight?" howled Jip.
"We have to put a stop to it!"
"I'll take care of that, Jip," the doctor replied sternly.
"Besides, the new boat is too small for all of us."
The ship's horn blew.
Dr. Dolittle wiped a tear from his eye as he waved good-bye.
"We'll be seeing them soon," Polynesia said.
They watched as the ship pulled away.
Charles looked around and said, "Doctor, we should get our food for the voyage soon."
The market was closing early for the bullfight.
Dr. Dolittle shook his head sadly.
"We have no money left," he said.
"But how can that be?" asked Tommy.
"I bought the boat," the doctor explained.
"Then I used the last of the money to buy tickets for Matthew, Jip, and Gub-Gub."
Although Tommy was adventurous, the thought of having no money scared him.
"Don't worry, child," whispered Polynesia.
"The doctor will take care of it.
He always does."
It was the first time Tommy wished he were back home in Puddleby.
All around Capa Blanca Island, excitement buzzed in the air.
Everyone was going to the bullfight.
Tommy finally had the courage to ask the doctor:
"What is a bullfight?"
The doctor's face turned red.
"A bullfight," he explained angrily, "is a stupid, crazy, and dangerous business.
Some call it a sport.
Some say it is art.
But I say it is murder—murder of a poor innocent animal!"
Dr. Dolittle's lips trembled and he paused.
Finally he went on.
"First the bull is teased and made angry.
Then the bull is let out and chased around the village.
After he is tired out, he is led back into the arena and killed!"
"By who?" Tommy interrupted.
"The matador—that's the bullfighter.
There he is!" Dr. Dolittle pointed.
A man wearing a gold outfit and funny black hat walked down the middle of the street.
People cheered and called out, "The Great Pepito!"
Dr. Dolittle looked even angrier.
"Come on, Tommy," he said.
"I have a plan."
Don Enrique was the richest man on the island.
His best friend, Don Carlo, was the mayor of Capa Blanca.
Dr. Dolittle approached the two men and said,
"I would like to make a proposal."
"What is it?" asked the mayor.
"I am a better bullfighter than that man with the funny hat," the doctor said bravely.
"He is Pepito the Great!" shouted Don Enrique.
"The greatest bullfighter on the island!"
"Whoever he is," the doctor continued, "I am better than he is."
"You?" laughed the men.
"How can you be better than our greatest bullfighter?"
"For one thing, I can make the bulls do silly tricks," said the doctor.
This made the men laugh harder.
Dr. Dolittle was getting impatient.
"I will prove it, if you grant me one wish," he announced.
"What is your wish, sir?"
the mayor asked between tears of laughter.
"There will be no more bullfighting in Capa Blanca!" the doctor said firmly.