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the opposing troops prepared for the grand mêlée. The squadrons on either side extended so as to form two lines, and this was no sooner done than the trumpets sounded a charge.

Holding aloft their slender javelins, striking spurs in their steeds, and shouting furiously, the opposing hosts, respectively led by the king and Olivarez, dashed against each other, producing all the effect of a battle-charge. The ground quaked beneath the horses' feet. The shock when they met was terrible, and the splintering of the canes sounded like the crackling of trees. Several cavaliers were unhorsed, but none were much hurt, and all were quickly in the saddle again.

Fresh lances being quickly furnished to the horsemen, another charge took place, and amid a tremendous crackling of canes a dozen or more warriors rolled in the dust. As almost all of these owned Olivarez for leader, shouts were raised for the king.

As soon as the horsemen were in a condition to renew the conflict, they were arrayed against each other by their leaders, and a third charge was made. But this time a skilful manœuvre was executed by Olivarez. As the opposing force rushed against him, he opened his lines and let them pass through, and then, turning quickly, attacked them in the rear, and put them to flight, pursuing them round the arena.

This flight and pursuit constituted the most exciting part of the spectacle, inasmuch as it not only gave the cavaliers an opportunity of displaying their horsemanship, but occasioned a great number of single combats, which were conducted with wonderful spirit.

In the end, Philip succeeded in rallying his scattered troops, and made a final charge against his opponent. The advantage he thus gained was so decisive, that by the general voice he was proclaimed the victor, and shouts resounded on all sides of "Viva el Rey! Dios guarde al Rey!"

The trumpets again sounded, the squadrons re-formed with wonderful quickness, and then quitted the arena, under the command of their respective leaders, in as perfect order as if no engagement had taken place.

Philip and Olivarez remained to the last, and as his majesty rode out of the arena, the acclamations of the beholders were renewed. Having dismounted, the king repaired to the royal canopy, where he received the congratulations of Charles, who had been greatly delighted with the spectacle.

The royal party then adjourned to the palace. An hour later a sumptuous banquet was served, at which all the principal lords and ladies of the court sat down. After the banquet, the grand suite of apartments were thrown open, and a ball concluded the festivities of the day.

THE RIVAL YACHTSMEN;

OR, WHO'LL WIN?

A TALE OF THE SOLENT SEA FOR 1865.

CHAPTER I.

THE rising sun shone brightly one clear morning in the summer of 1865 on a fleet anchored off Ryde pier, such as Englishmen alone can boast of possessing. It was formed of pleasure vessels, to which has been given the Dutch-derived, uncouth-sounding name of yachts. There were schooners, yawls and cutters, a steamer, and a lugger or two-all gallant craft, graceful and symmetrical in form, and not only noted for speed, but many of them capable of breasting the stormiest waves of the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.

As the sound of the morning gun boomed across the waters from Spithead, up went to the mast-heads the white, red, and blue burgees of the Cowes Squadron-the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, the Western Club, the Thames, the Irish, the Harwich, and many other clubs, distinguished by their various devices. Only now and then, however, could more than the colours of the flags be seen, for lovely as was the morning, there existed, and there was promise of the continuance of, what yachtsmen especially dislike-a calm.

There must have been between sixty and seventy yachts, besides two men-of-war brigs and other craft, clustered together off Ryde, which town was seen standing on a gentle slope, rising gradually from the water; its streets, and terraces, and scattered villas appearing surrounded by green fields and groves, fringing the very edge of the blue water-on one side the woods of Binstead, and on the other those of St. John's and Sea View; the most prominent building of all, and of which it has reason to be proud, is its handsome club-house, and then its pier-proudly extending far into the channel-unrivalled among piers, if not in size, in interesting associations to many a fair visitor and gallant yachtsman.

The yachts themselves deserve more particular mention. There was the Aline, a superb schooner of 216 tons, owned by the commodore of the Ryde Club, Mr. Thellusson; the Witchcraft, a very witch in appearance, with raking masts and varnished sides; the Egeria, of 161 tons, lately built by Wanhill, of Poole, a powerful craft, certain to put forth speed with the wind abeam or astern, provided there was enough of it; the Albertine, her equal in size and beauty, and likely in a race to prove a formidable rival-all of them with straight bowsprits, except the Witchcraft, which carried a jib-boom. Then there was the Evadne, the Titania, the Constance, the Lotus, the Avoca, the Daphne, the Dawn, the Gleam, and the Blue Bell-names dainty and feminine in sound, and characteristic of the lovely craft they designated. These

VOL. LVIII.

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were schooners, but there were cutters also, once a rig far outnumbering the former. Their names were not less captivating, the Christabel, the Marina, the Amulet, the Lurline, the Hirondelle, the Moonbeam, the Psyche, the Niobe-all beautiful creatures of the shipbuilder's art, well worthy of the names they bore.

Among the yachts already mentioned were two fine schooners of about the same size, the Eugenie and the Euphrosyne. It would have been difficult to decide which was the most beautiful, or which was likely to prove the fastest sailer. As the morning advanced, curling wreaths of smoke ascended from the brightly polished funnels in the forepart of the vessels; gentlemen in dressing-gowns appeared on their decks, gazing around them and inhaling the fresh sea air; some few, the sides being rigged with ladders, plunged overboard to take a still more invigorating swim. In a short time other heads appeared above the companion hatches-salutations were exchanged between neighbouring vessels, and remarks on the probable state of the weather during the day; then boats began to move about, bringing friends off to breakfast, or carrying yachtsmen on shore. The more eager, wishing to take a cruise or bound tideward, set their sails and whistled for a breeze, while the greater number of yachts gave no signs of moving, their owners and their guests coming on shore to meet the groups of smiling belles which were seen trouping along the pier in every variety of costume, from the last Paris fashion to that of blue serge and a tarpaulin hat, with an anchor or the name of some yacht stamped in gold on the ribbon in front; some to take their morning walk on the deck-like expanse at the pier-end, in the hopes of enjoying a cruise in one of the fairy-like craft at anchor before them. But it is time that we should say something more about the Eugenie and Euphrosyne.

CHAPTER II.

We have to account for the appearance of the two schooners just named, off Ryde. It thus happened. Thomas Digby Langston stood on the hustings, a candidate for senatorial honours, one hand in his bosom, and the other waving wildly. Below him were the free and independent electors of the borough of Muddleton, fiercely vociferating, breaking each other's heads, and casting dirt metaphorically and actually into each other's mouths and eyes. There were two other candidates, Sir Stephen Harley and Mr. Francis Ainslie, who in their turn were subjected to a similar fire of groans, hisses, and hootings. Langston gave up the attempt to speak, and Sir Stephen commenced. Occasionally a few phrases were heard. (Renewed applause.) The foulest and basest of means-(Loud cheers) venality and corruption. ("Bravo!" Laughter. "Hear! hear!")

....

...

wholesale

He attempted to treat you, free and independent-(Greater applause than before. "Bravo!" "Yes! yes!") -as if you were the common pot-walloppers of some unreformed borough. (Loud hisses. Cries of "Down with him! We'll have none of such!") There was an unusual silence. "For my part," continued Sir Stephen, "had this man been my most intimate friend, I should have cut him dead. Happily I have no connexion with him, nor will I, if I can help it." (Cries of "No more won't we! No more won't we!" At which the baronet bowed and smiled approval.) Mr. Francis Ainslie followed in the same strain, and was even less complimentary to his opponent and his opinions.

Honest Tom Langston could scarcely believe his senses on hearing these phrases uttered by men with whom he had not an hour before been shaking hands in the most friendly manner. But Tom was a true Briton; his motives were pure as his escutcheon, and although he did not think it necessary, in imitation of the lately-notorious Colonel Blunderbuss, to call out his opponents, he demanded a poll, gave his agents leave to spend liberally, and was defeated. His opponents had bribed higher. Disgusted with the world, with himself, with things in general, and with the contemptible borough of Muddleton in particular, he was seated in his room at his hotel, lately so profusely decked with his colours, having just discharged the last of the accounts which had come showering in on him, when a waiter appeared with a card. "Dick Chase. That's fortunate!" he exclaimed to himself. "Show the gentleman up."

In a few seconds a jovial, well-conditioned, blue-eyed, middle-aged person entered the room, and cordially shook hands with the wouldhave-been senator.

"Only just heard of what you were about," he rattled on-"too late to be of use. Never mind. I wouldn't be in parliament for a peerage in posse, and ten thousand a year in esse, so I do not pity you. You have wound up all the disgusting work that you have had to go through, I hope. Bah! The whole system is a disgrace to our national character. All places are alike. There is a borough in the south of England represented by my kith and kin for centuries, and would have been by your humble servant at the present time, had not a fellow with a long purse appeared. He emptied the said purse like a cornucopia as the electors boasted, and came in with flying colours. Among other dodges, he ordered two yachts of the principal shipbuilder, which he certainly did not want for himself. Our only satisfaction was calling them "Bribery" and "Corruption"-names which stuck to them for many a day. But enough of the abominable subject, Now to matter of more importance. I hurried down to tell you that I have seen a schooner, lately launched, of a hundred and forty tons, which in my opinion will beat everything she meets with. She is called the Eugenie, in compliment to the Empress of the French, I suppose. You'll be delighted with her. There is no better remedy for every contretemps in love or politics than yachting. Take my advice, and buy her forthwith. I have made all preliminary arrangements, and by a few scratches of the pen she is yours. Say but the word, and we'll be away from this for the Isle of Wight by this evening's train."

"Thanks, my dear fellow; you've done capitally. I'll take your advice, and throw care to the dogs," answered Langston, springing to his feet. "I should like to beat that fellow Ainslie, who boasts, I hear, of the wonders of his Euphrosyne, and though he has defeated me on the hustings, I'll try to take the shine out of him on the blue sea."

" ८८

Capital! A bright idea," exclaimed Chase, who was anxious to give his friend some object of interest. "I will telegraph and secure the yacht."

"Do. I have a few matters to settle in town, and will join you in a day or two, if you will undertake to get all necessary stores and provisions on board," said Langston.

"With all my heart," answered Chase. "But I say, Tom, if I sail with you, don't keep pottering about that confounded Ryde pier all the summer, or allow the crinoline-wearing portion of the human species to take possession of the craft."

"Oh, of course-certainly not. Nothing of the feminine gender shall step on board-not a bumboat nor a washerwoman come alongside. I'll ask Granville to join us: he has a perfect horror of petticoats, except in the drawing-room, and we'll go foreign as soon as you can get the craft ready for sea," was Langston's reply.

"Oh, I know him, if you mean Granville of the Guards. Has a fair amount of brains, and is a capital fellow, barring being a little too much of the fine gentleman occasionally, I used to think," remarked Chase.

"Oh, the salt water will soon wash all that out of him, should he not have laid it aside with his shore-going garments," said Langston. And so the party of three confirmed bachelors, as they believed themselves, was made up for a long cruise to foreign shores.

In three days Langston and Chase met on board the Eugenie, and, sailing from Cowes, brought up close, as it happened, to the Euphrosyne, off Ryde pier, where Granville had begged they would meet him.

CHAPTER III.

"Nor a hair in all the 'eavens, sir, and, to my mind, nor there won't be," answered Silas Dore, the master of the Eugenie, with a look of intense disgust, in reply to a question Langston had put to him as to the state of the weather.

"Then we'll go on shore, Chase, and stretch our legs. There appear to be numbers of people on the pier, and we shall probably fall in with some acquaintance and hear the news," observed Langston.

"With all my heart, but take care that none of the petticoats inveigle you to take them on board; an end to our peace and quiet if you do," said Chase, in a warning tone.

"No fear, most sage Mentor," answered Langston, laughing; "even the most unnautical of females would scarcely expect to take a sail in a calm."

"That's the very thing. They don't want to take a sail, but they would like to come on board and turn everything upside down for very mischief's sake," urged the old bachelor.

The gig was ordered, and the friends pulled towards the pier, criticising, as they glided on, the various yachts they passed. They themselves did not altogether escape criticism in return, especially from some of the fairer beings on board the vessels. It was, however, probably favourable. The boat was a model of symmetry, the crew were well dressed, fine fellows, and pulled well, and Langston was good

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