The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XLVI 212
these seats are filled with men and boys who shout, clamor, sweat, quarrel, and blaspheme--fortunately, hardly
any women get in this far. In the Rueda are the men of importance, the rich, the famous bettors, the contractor,
the referee. On the perfectly leveled ground the cocks fight, and from there Destiny apportions to the families
smiles or tears, feast or famine.
At the time of entering we see the gobernadorcillo, Capitan Pablo, Capitan Basilio, and Lucas, the man with
the sear on his face who felt so deeply the death of his brother.
Capitan Basilio approaches one of the townsmen and asks, "Do you know which cock Capitan Tiago is going
to bring?"
"I don't know, sir. This morning two came, one of them the lásak that whipped the Consul's talisain." [127]
"Do you think that my bulik is a match for it?"
"I should say so! I'll bet my house and my camisa on it!"
At that moment Capitan Tiago arrives, dressed like the heavy gamblers, in a camisa of Canton linen, woolen
pantaloons, and a wide straw hat. Behind him come two servants carrying the lásak and a white cock of
enormous size.
"Sinang tells me that Maria is improving all the time," says Capitan Basilio.
"She has no more fever but is still very weak."
"Did you lose last night?"
"A little. I hear that you won. I'm going to see if I can't get even here."
"Do you want to fight the lásak?" asks Capitan Basilio, looking at the cock and taking it from the servant.
"That depends--if there's a bet."
"How much will you put up?"
"I won't gamble for less than two."
"Have you seen my bulik?" inquires Capitan Basilio, calling to a man who is carrying a small game-cock.
Capitan Tiago examines it and after feeling its weight and studying its scales returns it with the question,
"How much will you put up?"
"Whatever you will."
"Two, and five hundred?"
"Three?"
"Three!"
"For the next fight after this!"
The chorus of curious bystanders and the gamblers spread the news that two celebrated cocks will fight, each