The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-01
CHAPTER III.
The Eete and MLschlanxa.

Inc fct6 ana MiSCnlanxas
] confess that up to this time had
experienced little interest in the af-
fair. After Valley Forge it was hard
for an American soldier to admire
such boys play, or to enter into the
spirit OF British fun making. Besides
the danger of my position, the fear
Of some slip OF tongue betraying me,
the knowledge that was In the very
heart OF the enemy's camp, with grim,
stern duties to perform and return
journey to accomplish, kept me nerved
to a point where / thought of little
else than my task. But now | dared
not remain Indifferent, and, indeed, the
enthusiasm of my companions became
contagious, and | joined with them
eagerly, as they hurried forth to the
best point Of view. Once there the
sight revealed aroused me to an en-
| thusiasm scarcely less than that of
those crowding about. Few, indeed,
have ever witnessed so gorgeous
| spectacle as that river presented.
Well out In the stream lay the YES
sells of war-ths Fanny, Roebuck and
Vigilant-togetheY with long line OF
transports, stretching as far as the
eye could Gee, flags flying, and decks
crowded with spectators. The pageant
came down with the tide, moving in
three divisions to the inspiring music
Of several bands, the oars of galleys
and bargss keeping exact intervals,
| AS they passed us the officers beside
me named the various occupants. In
the leading galley were Sir William.
Lord Howe. Sir Henry Clinton. the Of
ticers OF their suites and some ladies'.
| In the last Of tho boats stood General
Knyphausen, the Hessian commander.
Between these were fat-boats, covered
with green cloth, loaded with ladies
and gentlemen Or else containing
bands. Six bargea, darting here and
there, Yep. open space amid thu
swarms Of small boats. Everywhere
the eye swept over a riot Of color, and
the ear caught babel Of sound. AS
the last barge glided by the man next
me growled In disgust:
Those are lucky dogs off duty to.
day" His eye caught mine. "Why
don't you go after them, Fortesque
There win be plenty OF fun afoot
yonder where they land"
| Where is that?" y
cat the old fort; follow the crowd
and you'll not go astray. Have you
a ticket" Sbs
Captain Andre honored me with
one this morning" 81
Then you are good for the first
row. Don't miss 1t, man." with enthu
siasm. "'Twill be such sight as has
not been witnessed since the Field Of
the Cloth Of Gold" xs,
"A passage at arms, you mean?" @''
"Ay! as gorgeous as those Of the
old-time knights; fair conceit as
read the program. I'd be there now
but for the damned orders that hole
me here. II you ride hard you car
make the spot before they come
ashore" sa.@ d.
There was no reason I should not
go, and much in the glittering prospect
appealed to me. Five minutes later
l 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 a point
OF vantage before the throng poured in
! was somewhat to the right of this
big stand, the FESTIVE heels Of MI
hSrse keeping the crowd away, anC
with clear view as far as the river
bank, 1t was. maybe, 400 yards dowr
q gentle slope to the waters edge
where the line was forming. This pas
sageway was lined with oniookers
held back by numerous guards, while
to my left extended square lawn
perhaps $50 yards each way, surround
ed by a double rank Of grenadiers, ths
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 tc
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 a
masquerade, representing all the
changes since the days of chiyalry
The whole line glowed with color. and
cleaned with aeel.
Like some great serpent, glitterina
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 from,