CHAPTER TWO.
TREATS OF THE REGATTA AND DINNER ON BOARD THE "FROLIC."
"What shall we do? Which way shall we go?" was the cry from all hands.
"Accompany the yachts to the eastward, and haul our wind in time to beback before the flood makes," was Will Bubble's suggestion, and it wasapproved of and acted on.
We watched the yachts starting, and a very pretty sight it was; but Ihave not the slightest recollection of their names, except that they aremostly those which have sailed before at Ryde. It is the _toutensemble_ of a regatta which makes up the interest; the white sailsmoving about, the number of craft dressed out with gay colours, thebands of music, the cheers as the winners pass the starting vessel, theeagerness of the men in the boats pulling about with orders, the firingof guns, the crowd on shore, the noise and bustle; and yet no dust, norheat, nor odours disagreeable as at horse-races, where abominationsinnumerable take away half the pleasure of the spectacle. A gun wasfired for the yachts to take their stations and prepare; a quarter of anhour flew by--another was heard loud booming along the water, and upwent the white folds of canvas like magic--mainsail, gaff-topsail,foresail, and jib altogether. A hand ran aloft to make fast thegaff-topsail-sheet the moment the throat was up, and while they werestill swaying away on the peak.
Every man exerts himself to the utmost--what muscular power and activityis displayed! There is not one on board who is not as eager for victoryas the owner. What a crowd of canvas each tiny hull supports. What ahead to the gaff-topsail, as long as that of the mainsail itself! Andthen the jib, well may it be called a balloon; it looks as if it couldlift the vessel out of the water and carry her bodily along; it can onlybe set when she is going free; another is stopped along the bowspritready to hoist as she hauls close up to beat back. Huzza! away glidethe beautiful beings--they look as if they had life in them; altogether,not two seconds' difference in setting their sails--a magnificent start!This beats the turf hollow: no slashing and cutting the flanks of theunfortunate horses, no training of the still more miserable jockeys;after all of which, you see a flash of yellow, or green, or bluejackets, and in a few minutes every thing is over, and you hear thatsome horse has won, and some thousands have slipped out of the hands ofone set of fools into those of another set, who, if wiser, are perhapsnot more respectable. Now, consider what science is required to plan afast yacht, what knowledge to build her, to cut and fashion her canvas--to rig her. What skill and hardihood in master and crew to sail her.What fine manly qualities are drawn out by the life they lead. Again Isay, Huzza for yachting!
Away glided the "Frolic" from her moorings, as the racing-yachts,accompanied with a crowd of others, ran dead before the wind to theeastward through Cowes Roads. The whole Channel appeared covered with awide spread of canvas, as we saw them stem on with their mainsails overon one side, and their immense square-sails boomed out on the other.Everybody on board was pleased, some uttered loud exclamations ofdelight, even the Miss Sandons smiled. They never expressed theirpleasure by any more extravagant method; in fact, they were not given toadmiration, however willing to receive it.
I wish two persons to be noted more particularly than the rest--our heroand heroine, at least for the present; for what is a story, howevertrue, without them? They were to be seen at the after-part of thevessel--the one, the fair Jane Seaton, sitting on a pile of cushions,and leaning against the side, while Harry Loring, the other, reclined ona wrap-rascal at her feet, employed in looking up into her bright blueeyes, as she unconsciously pulled to pieces a flower he had taken out ofhis button-hole and given her.
"Wouldn't it be delightful to take a cruise to the Antipodes?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"Just as we are now," he added, "with such a heaven above me." Helooked meaningly into her blue eyes.
Sweet Jane blushed, as well she might. What more in the same style hesaid I don't know, for as she bent her head down, and he put his faceinto her blue hood, not a word reached me. By the by, all the ladieswore blue silk hoods, formed after the model of the front of abathing-machine, and they were considered admirable contrivances to helpa quiet flirtation, as in the present instance, besides aiding inpreserving the complexion.
Hearty was rather bothered, I fancied. He liked to be making love tosomebody, he declared, and Jane Seaton appeared to be a girl so much tohis taste, that, as he confessed, he felt rather spooney on her, and hadalmost made up his mind to try his luck. Foolish Jane! Here was tenthousand a year ready to throw himself at your feet instead of thepenniless youth who had so easily placed himself there. How you wouldhave kicked had you known the truth!
"I say, Hearty, can't you find something for all these young people todo to keep them out of mischief?" sung out Sir Francis. "Remember theproverb about idleness. I tremble for the consequences."
"Fie, fie!" said Mrs Skyscraper.
"Fie, fie!" echoed Mrs Topgallant; "I'm ashamed of you."
"We'll try what can be done, Sir Francis," answered Hearty. "Can you,Bubble, devise something?"
"I have it," replied Will. "Tablecloths, napkins, towels, and all sortsof household linen came on board yesterday at Portsmouth unhemmed, so Ilaid in a supply of needles and thread this morning on purpose for thepresent emergency."
The rogue had put Sir Francis up to making the observation he had done.In a few minutes a number of rolls of various sorts of linen werebrought on deck. Some of the damsels protested that they had noneedles, and couldn't work and wouldn't work, till Sir Francis slylysuggested that it was a trial to see who would make the most notablewife; and without another objection being offered, all the fair handswere employed in sewing away at a great rate, the gentlemen, meantime,holding their parasols to shade them from the sun. Carstairs was theonly exception. He slyly went forward, and, taking out pencil andpaper, made a capital sketch of the various groups, under which hewrote, "All for Love," and headed, "Distressed Needlewomen;" much to thescandal of those who saw it.
The ladies, old and young, soon got tired of doing any thing, and theannouncement that dinner would be ready as soon as the company were, wasreceived with evident signs of satisfaction. Hearty was a sensiblefellow, and determined to get rid of all bad London habits, so we dinedearly on board; and then when we got back to port in the evening, weused generally to repair to the house of one or other of the guests, andenjoy a meal called by some a glorious tea, by others a yachting tea--infact, it was something like the supper of our ancestors, with tea andcoffee. It mattered, therefore, nothing to us whether we got back ateight, nine, or ten; no one waited dinner for us; indeed, Hearty neverwould undertake to get back in time. I should advise all yachtingpeople to follow the good example thus set them.
By general acclamation it was determined that we should dine on deck;and Sir Francis, Bubble, and some of the more nautical gentlemen, set towork to rig tables, which we accomplished in a very satisfactory manner,and never was a better feast set before a more hungry party of ladiesand gentlemen. Champagne was the favourite beverage; and certainlyHearty did not stint his friends in it, though there was no lack of lessrefined liquors. Sir Francis, of course, proposed the health of NedHearty; "and may there soon be a Mrs Hearty to steady the helm of theFrolic!" were the last words of his speech.
Ned got up to return thanks. He looked at Jane Seaton, but she had thefront of her bathing-machine turned toward Harry Loring, so did not seehim. He made a long oration, and concluded by observing,--
"How can there be any difficulty in following the advice my gallantfriend, Sir Francis Futtock, has given me, when I see myself surroundedby so many angelic creatures, any of whom a prince might be proud tomake his bride?"
Loud shouts of applause from the gentlemen--odd looks and doubtfulsmiles from the chaperones--blushes deep from the young ladies--each oneof whom, who was not already in love, thought she should like to becomeMrs Hearty, provided Lord Lorimer did not ask her to become LadyLorimer; while Henry Flareup was discovered squeezing
the hand of MissMary Masthead.
"Oh that I were a prince, then!" whispered Loring into Miss Seaton'sblue shade.
Thus passed on the day. If there was not much real wit, there was agreat deal of hearty laughter; and stores of health and good spiritswere laid in for the future. Loring sang some capital songs, Carstairsspouted, and Bubble floated about, throwing in a word whenever he sawany one silent, or looking as if about to become dull; while youngFlareup, who was anxious to do his best, laughed loudly, for want of anyother talent to amuse the company. As the vessels came to haul theirwind in order to save the tide back to Cowes, it was curious to observehow they appeared to vanish. One could scarcely tell what had become ofthe immense crowd we had just before seen astern of us. Scattered farand wide in every direction, there seemed not to be one-quarter of thenumber which were before to be seen. We got back soon after eighto'clock, every one assuring Hearty that they had spent a most delightfulday.