The Springfield herald., 1912-10-04
CHAPTER III (contInued).

lines.
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 you'll 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 sight as has
not been witnessed since the Field OF
the Cloth Of Gold"
"A passage at arms, you mean?"
"Ay! as gorgeous as those of the
old-time knights: a fair conceit as |
read the program. Id 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"
There was no reason l should not
go. and much in the glittering prospect
appealed to me. Five minutes later
was trotting out of the Yager camp.
pressing passage through the crowds.
already headed southwark. the dra
goon 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 dtscharging 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 a point
OF vantage before the throng poured in
was somewhat to the right of the
big stand. the restive 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 salute, and the head of the
column Of marchers began slowly
mounting the slope. The costumes
worn were as varied as those OF q
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 the sun. 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
pying 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 l 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
tance.
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 gallant show. and | overhear rd
many a name spoken OF soldiers met
In battle-Lord Cathcart, Captain An
dre, 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-
ons. declaring the contest done. the
honor 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.