Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18
CHAPTER XVII.
La Pelote.

by an enormous crowd ard q Ions, me Oh
vehicles. All Biarrit2-gentle simple.
native and foreign--was assembled IN
force. except. perhaps. a dozen or TWO OF
English who. in spite OF every attraction
that offered still remained faithful to
their idol-golf.
Paul de Sarazin awaited his guests at
the entrance. and plotted them inside the
"frontones.' or Enclosure. and in short
time they found themselves seated beside
him. In the center of fine pavilion. each
decorated with a rosette OF red and vel
low ribbon uhe Spanish colors). Two
sides o. court. or concha seventy yards
long. were packed with people At one
end was a high white wall. marked with
line across 1t. and two zeros--one In red
and one IN hlue--were hung up on a board
at either side
'There are five thousand spectators to-
daE. explained the Marquis &c Sarazin.
1T is the great match Of the year
Spanish against French. Ladies. I trust
Your hearts are With my ccuntrymen?
After all Mrs. Tudor your sister Is the
widow Of Spanish DOM
And you think that constitutes a.
Why. Of course. All. here thew come"
a bell rang as he spoke. and six young
men In white--the pelrtari--filed In two
ard two and bowed TO the assembly. The
frencl, wore blue sashes and fat ca APPS
the Spaniards red. and to each mans
hand was strapped his christera. The
six competitors were evidently perfect
athletes: their sten. sprrgy and panther
like. spoke 81 ar extraordinary reserve Of
muscle ard force.
Also they were all undoubtedly in hard
condition and looked az resnlute as glad
iat"rs ana as active as Monkeys.
Now I VIII explain to you " said Paul.
IN his full. deep voice. as he placed pro-
gram In Miss Forbes little white -Elnved
hand. THE score Is sixty; the side who
first makes it wins. II Is like tives--you
have seen ires. of course?"
"Oh. never" tWhere would she see
games0
well. they serve the hall at the wall
there and rlay alternate strokes-red and
blue: whichever side lets the ball fall
loses ans the other is in. You think It
seems simple. but it is terribly hard work.
especially for the two who stand back.
Yes, II is a sport for good men! spot
the saints themselves would not daspisa ~
And he leaned forward ard looked at her.
DO You knew. that some years ago a
monS-yeS. a holv man--was the strong
est player in all Sua'n."
She looked M in SURPRISE. A monk
"He was of my mind. To me- peiote is
the most exciting game in the world"
And he glanced at Hester with pair
of glowing eyes.
Those long hasket-work things in the
shape of the guard of carriage wheel.
are called chistera: they are strapped to
their hands. 1t is with them they catch
the ball. as YOU will see. The match is
of course. between France and Spain: our
men are picked. That one there is FL
Chinulto. a CHAMPION: he has been to
Brazil and Monte Video to plaY--yes and
to win. The little curly-headed boy Is
Pablo my ramesake: he comes from San
Sebastian and is made Of steel wire. The
third Is Rrauio. q SPANISH Basuua--ona
ct the best. Madenoiselle. YOU must not
even look at the French. f3ut ] tell you
that the little thick-set fellow with the
dark face comes from st. Jean Pied du
port and Is most DANGEROUS: he serves SO
low. his balls are hard to take. New see.
thew begin.''
"Ninguno aleuien' dove alb. cried the
Basque scorer by the lower wall, and the
game commenced.
The rules of neiote are like the English
game Of fves: Int otherwise il resembles
no lme on earth. The skill and activity
displayed by the six players are usually
anna 2irG.
A player had walked up near the wall
slung his christara Cor basket SCOOP; tn"
ball hit tho wall with a loud smack and
instantly rebounded. Precise as clock
work. il was caught nv man at the far
end Of the court: 1t fell into the basket
with a clack. Then he took two quick
lt-le steps and swung 1t back with all
his force: & struck the wall rebounded
sent 1t again flying with mechanical, pre-
cision. Difficult as It appeared. the play
ers rarely missed the ball: and 1t was
marvellous how they never got In one an
others way although all SIX seemed to be
everywhere at once Their activity and
dexteritT we're surprising. and also their
mode OF swinging the christera with a
few preliminary catlike steps. BY and
by ball fell: the little black Frenchman
served low. a Standard missed and there
were wells of "Bien bien'' and one scored
to the blues.
After this long and hard-fought rally.
ir which both sides seemed to Guido them
selves. Now and then il looked as II a
ball must fall: but back it went amid
roars of applause and yells OF "Oh la
la--la.' Bravo" and "Olle ole, ole.
ole"
Hester was intensely Interested What
were lawn-tennis rallies at school COM
pared with reote--colnpared to this game.
In which two nations were competing?
The Marquis de Sarazin was entirely
absorbed that he seemed almost obliv-
ious Of the presence OF his guests Once
he glanced at Hester: she IVES leaning
forward. her chin resting on both hands.
her lips parted. She might have been a
BASQUE. Indeed Paul forgot rot alone
his surrounding s. but mis- promise. and
shouted announcement and enthusiast ic
braves in Spanish. casionally his voice
was heard CRYING "Alza-mutilla" CPick
it up my boy'D or "Dios. arrlba.'
t'Hard in heavens rame''D as If his
very existence depended on the success
OF the stro..e.
Only those who have witnessed this
game can realize the extraordinary &C
curacy with which the ball ia caught re-
turned against tine wall caught by the
other side and voileyed again. Now the
French led now the Spanish. and the
melancholy sing song of the scorer an
nounced blues. 80: reds. 3o. Them came
ar interval for rest.
Ia had 70. laI to Nc.
interest exhibited by La Rib.a" (as he
called Hesterl, quilted the ladies with a
brief excuse: he wished to advise. ex-
hort and encourage his compatrios. In
ten minutes he returned and the six COM
petitors recommended the struggle. There
We're MANY stakes the result OF the
match and the spectators were almost
deliroUs. As the game proceeded point
by point. and the score crept uD to 20,
the players became maddened with eX-
element and SKINNED about the court
Xix. men possessed. while the yells and
exclama::o IONS of their hackers grew more
and more loudly emphatic. As one man
OR other missed or hit, shrieks Of delight
broke from the people. and competitors
were called on by name. fer each had his
own admirers.
Oh we shall win. I hcpe!' said Paul
his face was actually white. give YOUR
good wishes. madamoisele. to Spain"
'It has them ALL" she answered, with
out moving her eyes from a no rally.
OH this was life, What n contrast to
those long. solitary afternoons OF the
water meadows at Shalesmoor! Here.
indeed. was another world-the world!
t..af>t nv