River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-08-15
cHAPrER ln fcontinuedl.


CHAPTER III (Continued).
Those are lucky dogs off duty to-
day" His eye caught mine. why
don't you go after them, Fortesque!
There will be plenty Of fun afoot
yonder where they land"
Where is that?"
AT the old fort; follow the crowd.
and youl not go astray. Have you
a ticket?"
Captain Andre honored me with
one this morning"
Then you are good for the first
row. Don't miss it, man." with enthu-
siasm. twill be such a sight as has
noa been witnessed since the Field OF
the Cloth of Gold"
"A passage at arms, you mean?"
FAY! as gorgeous as those of the
old9fme knights; a fair conceit as
read the program. I'd be there now
but for the damned orders that hold
me here. If you ride hard you can
make the spot before they come
ashore"
CO. and much in the glittering prospect
appealed to me. Five minutes later
/ was trotting out of the Wager camp,
pressing passage through the crowds,
already headed southwark, the dra-
COON riding silently at my heels.
Mounted men that day were few, and,
doubtless believing we were connect
ed with the pageant. the jam sullenly
parted, and gave us opening, so we
reached the site of the old fort as the
barges began discharging their oc-
cupants. A glance about, however,
convinced me as to where the lists
were to be run, and headed my horse
in that direction and gained point
Of vantage before the throng poured in.
was somewhat to the right of the
big stand, the FESTIVE heels of my
horse keeping the crowd away, and
with clear view as far as the river
bank. 1t was, maybe, 400 yards down
a gentle slope to the waters edge.
where the line was forming. This pas
sageway was lined with onlookers,
held back by numerous guards, while
to my left extended a square lawn,
perhaps $50 yards each way, surround
ed by double rank of grenadiers, the
bayonets cleaning on their guns. This
open space was equipped with every
thing needed for the coming tourney,
and on three sides were tiers of raised
seats. ! had barely observed all this
when the guns of the Roebuck, echoed
by those of the Vigilant. began to.
boom a salute, and the head of the
column of marchers began slowly
mounting the slope. The costumes
worn were as varied as those of
masquerade, representing all the
changes since the days of chivalry.
The whole line glowed with color, and
cleaned with steel.
Like some great serpent, glittering
in theFsun this procession passed un-
der the triumphal arches and disap-
peared as its members took prescribed
positions on the stands, or in the pa
vilions bordering the field of contest.
AS thus arranged the grouping of col
ors was most brilliant. In the front
of each pavilion were seven young la
dies, attired picturesquely in Turkish
costume, wearing in their turbans
those favors with which they meant
to reward the knights contending in
their honor Behind these, and occu-
plying all the upper seats. were the
maidens representing the two divi-
sions of the days sports-ladies of the
Blended Rose and ladies of the Burn
ing Mountain. From" the crowd surg
ing around I heard name after name
mentioned, as famous Philadelphia
bellies were pointed out, not a few IA
miliar to me. Even as l gazed upon
that galaxy of beauty, half angry that
Americans should take part in such a
spectacle of British triumph, the field
was cleared for the lists, and a sound
of trumpets came to us from a dis.
lance.
Ont into the opening rode the con-
tending knights. attended by esquires
on foot. dressed in ancient habits of
white and red silk, and mounted on
gray horses. From the other direction
appeared their opponents. in black
and orange, riding black steeds, while
to the center advanced the herald
loudly proclaiming the challenge.
knew not who they all were, but they
made a gallant show. and | overheard
many name spoken of soldiers met
in battle-Lord Cathcart, Captain An
DIRE, Major Tarlton, Captain Scott. Ay!
and they fought well that day, those
White and Black knights on the mimic
field. At last the two chiefs-Lord
Cathcart for the Whites, and Captain
Watson of the Guards, for the Blacks
were alone contending furiously,
when the marshal of the field rushed
in between, and struck up their weap-
ems, declaring the contest done, the
noRor OF each side proven. AS the
company broke up, flowing forward to
the great house beyond, the vast
crowd of onlookers burst through the
guard lines. and, like mighty torrent,
swept over the field. 1t was a wild.
jubilant, yelling mass, so dense as to
be irresistible, even those of us on
horseback being pressed forward,
helpless chips on the stream.