"Hurra! it was a terrific frost last night! the ice bears, and the
gardener says we might drive a coach and six over it," exclaimed Ernest,
rushing into Buttar's and Bouldon's room. "Up! up! Let us breakfast,
and go down and try it. Get up, do, and I'll go and tell the other
fellows. John has been getting his sleigh ready, and harnessing young
Hotspur; so I don't doubt he intends trying the ice to-day."
Soon all the merry party were assembled in the breakfast-room. Just
before nine Mr Bracebridge made his appearance, followed immediately by
the rest of the family, and read a chapter in the Bible, and Morning
Prayers. Then, when everybody had selected their places, he advised
them to apply themselves to the cold viands, under which the sideboard
literally groaned. With wonderful rapidity, eggs and ham, and brawn,
and veal pie, and tongues, disappeared down their throats, mingled with
toast, and rolls, and muffins, and slices from huge loaves of home-made
bread, and cups of coffee, and tea, and chocolate. Bouldon did great
execution among the viands, and he did not allow his modesty to stand in
his way. At last breakfast was over, and then gimlets, and bradawls,
and spare straps were in great requisition, to enable them to fit on
their skates before they went to the pond. Some had spring skates,
which were very quickly put on, the spring, which was between the sole
of the boot and the sole of the skate, keeping all the straps tight, at
the same time without any undue pressure. John Bracebridge was
celebrated as a first-rate skater. His skates were secured to a pair of
ankle boots, which fitted him exactly, and laced up in front. He put
them on at the pond. There are two objections to that sort of skate.
One is, that the feet get chilled from putting on a cold pair of boots,
and if a person is skating away from home, he may not be able to find
anybody to take care of his shoes.
"Are all the skates ready?" cried Ernest.
"All! all!" was the answer.
"Then don't let us lose more time of this precious frost," he added.
"Remember, it may very speedily be over; so let us make the best of it
we can."
In a laughing, merry body, with skates in hand, they hurried down
through the grounds to the pond. It might well have been called a lake,
for it was an extensive and very picturesque sheet of water, almost
entirely surrounded by trees, with now and then an opening bordered by a
plot of grass, or a bend of the grand walk which ran round it. Here and
there was an island with a few birch-trees or willows growing on it, and
over the trees could be seen, rising in the distance, a downy hill, now
sprinkled with some snow which had fallen the night before the frost
regularly set in, and which had thus not affected the surface of the
lake. At the lower end the ground fell, and a long stream-like
serpentine channel could be seen winding away, in one place overhung by
trees, and in others between green meadows, till lost in the distance.
The lower part was, in the summer, the favourite resort of anglers, for
it contained some of the finest tench to be found anywhere in the
neighbourhood.
No time was lost by those accustomed to skating in putting on their
skates. John and Charles Bracebridge and Lemon had soon theirs ready,
and rising on their feet, off they struck like birds about to fly, and
away they went at a rapid rate, skimming over the smooth mirror-like
expanse. Ernest longed to follow, for he had his skates on, and skated
almost as well as they did; but he saw Ellis sitting down, having just
cleverly enough put on his skates, but unable to move on them.
"Come, Ellis! up on your feet, my dear fellow, and lean on me," he
exclaimed, gliding up to him. "Take this stick in your right hand. Be
sure that you can stand on your feet; your ankles are as strong as those
of other people, and your skates are as well put on. Look at Buttar,
and Bouldon, and me. You will be able to skate as easily as any of us
with a little practice. There is no necessity why you should tumble
down. You can balance yourself off the ice perfectly, on the gymnastic
poles, and in other ways. Now, hurra!--off you go!"
Ernest knew that Ellis required all sorts of encouragement, so he said
more to him than he would to any other boy. Ellis at last got up; his
ankles slipped about a little, but he was anxious to follow his friend's
advice. In a short time he felt that he could stand firmly on the ice;
then he slipped about, pushing one skate before the other. First he
helped himself on with his stick, and then he balanced himself with it,
and in an incredibly short time could move about so as to feel little
fear of falling.
"Now," exclaimed Ernest, "I have set you on your feet, I'll go and take
a skim over the surface. Remember, the more you practise, and the
faster you throw away fear, the sooner you will be able to do the same.
Good-bye!"
Away went Ernest, fleet as the wind, holding his right hand up before
him to balance himself, and disdaining any stick for the purpose. He
did not stop to hear Ellis utter his thanks and regrets at having kept
him so long from commencing the graceful exercise in which he so much
delighted. Ernest certainly did not enjoy it the less from having first
performed a good-natured action for his friend. He, and Bouldon, and
Frank looked on with admiration as he went gliding away over the ice; so
easily, so gracefully he moved, now inclining to one side, now to the
other, moving on apparently without the slightest exertion.
"There is not another fellow like him in the universe," exclaimed
Bouldon, enthusiastically. "It will be a happy day when he is the cock
of our school; and that he soon will be, for he could, if he chose,
thrash many fellows twice his size already."
"I'm glad to hear you say that," answered Frank, not less warmly.
"Ernest was always a pet of mine; we never quarrelled when we were
together. I wish that I could have him to go to sea with me. He's just
the fellow to be a general favourite in the navy, and to get on in it,
too. He must do that."
Ellis could scarcely trust himself to speak, but he was not the less
pleased to hear his friend thus eulogised. He knew that he thought him
superior to anybody else, but he was not aware that he was held in such
high estimation by his own family. Buttar and Lemon, coming up before
the subject had been changed, added their own meed of praise to that
which the others had awarded. Meantime Ernest, unconscious of what was
being said, after circling the pond with what is called the forward
roll, changing it to the Dutch--so denominated because it is the
movement employed by the Dutch peasants as they skate over their canals
and lagoons on their way to market--then began making figures of eight,
the spread-eagle, the back roll, not to mention many other figures and
evolutions, which perfectly astonished Ellis as he looked at them.
Frank had not skated for a long time; but, undaunted, he soon had on his
skates, and away he went, furiously on, as if he had suddenly been
converted into a battering-ram. So fast did he go that he could not
stop himself, and overtaking a stout gentleman, who was going
deliberately along, before he could beg him to get out of his way he ran
right up against him, and the consequence was, that he and the stout
gentlemen came to the ice together, making a very considerable star, and
a noise which was still more terrific. First there was the sudden crash
and rending asunder of the thick ice, and then the noise went rolling
and mumbling away to the other end of the pond.
"Hallo! young gentleman, we shall be in! we shall be in!" cried the
stout gentleman, in an agony of fear.
"I can swim, if we are," answered Frank, scarcely refraining his
laughter. "But beg pardon, sir; my skates ran away with me--they did
indeed; and if I hadn't fallen foul of you, they would have carried me
right across the pond. I'll help you up, though. You are not hurt, I
hope."
"Not much, I believe. I came down on you, and you formed a soft
cushion," answered the stout gentleman, good-naturedly. "But as to
helping me up, do not, I pray you, attempt it on any account; we shall
both of us go in if you do. Let us both roll away in opposite
directions from the crack before we attempt to get on our feet. See how
I manage."
As the stout gentleman spoke, he began slowly to roll himself over and
over away from the centre of the star, and Frank imitating him, they
were both of them soon again on their legs. Frank was going off again
at full speed, having once more repeated his apologies for his
carelessness, when the stout gentleman stopped him.
"We must not leave others to fall into the danger from which we have
escaped," he cried out. "I observed, just now, some triangles with
labels on the top, marked cracked and dangerous. We will get one and
place it over the spot."
"I'll go and get the sign-posts you speak of," said Frank. "Don't
trouble yourself, sir."
"Then I will keep guard round the spot, to prevent any unwary person
from approaching it," said the stout gentleman.
Frank, on his return, found him going round and round the star.
"By to-morrow, I daresay, the wound will have healed," he remarked. "By
pressing it gradually down, as I have been doing, the water will have
risen into the interstices and have frozen the broken pieces together."
"I hope, sir, that I shall not be so clumsy again. I may not always
meet people ready to take a knock-down so good-naturedly as you have
done," said the midshipman.
Frank and the stout gentleman became great friends after this, and Frank
obtained from him many useful hints about skating. Meantime, several
other people assembled on the lake, which now presented a very animated
spectacle. Frank having come back to see how Ellis was getting on,
found Ernest with him, giving him some further instruction, from which
the pupil was much benefiting.
"Well, Ernest," said Frank, "we have not had a skate together for a long
time. What do you say to a race round the pond? I have got the use of
my legs, I find, pretty well, but I don't think I could come any of
those twists and turns, and spread-eagle kind of things."
Ernest said that he should be delighted to race his brother Frank, but
advised him to curb his impetuosity.
"Oh, never fear! I've no other notion of going ahead but by putting on
all the steam. My engines don't work at half-pressure," answered the
midshipman. "Who'll start us? Buttar, will you?"
"With all my heart," answered Buttar. "Now get in line. Remember, the
course is right round the pond, in and out into all the bays, and
between all the islands. Now, once to make ready, twice to prepare.
Once, twice, thrice, and--" Frank was so eager, that he was off almost
before the word was out of Buttar's mouth--"away!"
Off went the racers, the rest of the party following, but making short
cuts so as to observe their proceedings. The contrast between the two
brothers' style was very amusing. Ernest's was all science or art,
which enabled him to move gracefully along without any apparent
exertion. All he did was to keep his hands waving slowly, to expedite
his movements as he swept round an island or into a bay, and to preserve
his balance. Frank, on the contrary, had very little skill or science.
All he did was by sheer muscular power, with a determination to keep his
legs, and to go on ahead. The skates went deeply into the ice as he
struck out, and he seemed rather to be running than skating, with such
rapidity did he put one foot before the other. All the time his arms
were in violent motion, while he flourished a stout oak stick, thick
enough to fell a buffalo, and at the top of his voice kept shouting and
shrieking with laughter, calling on Ernest to heave-to for him, or to
port or starboard his helm, or to keep along in shore, and not attempt
to make short cuts.
Ernest was very much amused at his nautical brother's mode of
proceeding, and he could not help suspecting that Frank was assuming a
considerably greater amount of roughness than he really possessed.
However, Ernest found that he had to skate his very best to keep ahead
of him, when going in a direct line, though he beat him hollow whenever
they had to make turns between the islands and the mainland, or to pass
along the sinuosities of the bays. Still it seemed surprising,
considering the little practice he had had, how perfectly at home Frank
was on his feet. Ernest made a remark of that sort to him.
"Not a bit surprising, old fellow," he answered. "It is simply because
I know the skates can do the work I put them to. A fellow who has
learned to stand on the deck of a ship, rolling her guns in the water,
and pitching bows under, and has had to furl top-gallant sails with a
hurricane blowing in his teeth, can easily do anything of this sort, if
he has the mind to do it. I am not like you, Ernest; you see I have
been scorching under tropical suns, while you have had time to practise
the art of skating."
They could not, however, talk very much as they went flying round the
pond. Buttar and Bouldon, and Ellis and others sung out, "A race, a
race, a race!" and attracted the attention of the rest of the people on
the ice, who all stopped skating to look at them. It seemed still a
doubtful point which would get in the first. Perhaps Ernest had not
gone as rapidly as he might, that he might give Frank the pleasure of
keeping up with him. There was a long clear run nearly from one end of
the pond to the other. They were just about to do it. Ernest was a
little ahead of Frank, so that he could turn his head over his shoulder
to talk to him. Ernest came gliding smoothly on. "Skurry, skurry,
skurry; clatter, clatter; _ez-z-ez_," came Frank. I cannot better
describe the noise made by his skates. Utter fearlessness was evidently
the secret of his power. On he came, as little fatigued, in spite of
all his exertions, as when he started.
"Heave-to, old fellow, I say; heave-to! Give us a tow, then, for I see
how it is; you intend to keep ahead, though how you do it I can't tell,"
he continued to cry out as he approached the end of the pond, where
Buttar and the rest stood ready to receive them. Ernest, as might be
supposed, came in first, and gracefully wheeled round after he had
touched Buttar's hand. On came Frank, hurrahing and shouting, "Second
in, at all events." Touching Buttar's hand, on he went. Was the bank
to stop him? Not it. Up it he went, across the gravel walk, through
the bushes, and down a bank into a meadow below, where was another piece
of water, across which he shot, and then over another walk into the long
canal pond, down which he went, shouting and laughing louder than ever.
"Our race is to the end of the ponds, Ernest, remember that. Ponds, old
fellow! why don't you come on?"
Tom Bouldon, delighted, went after him, as did two or three other boys
from the neighbourhood who were not skating; but Ernest was afraid of
spoiling his skates, by giving them such rough usage, and left Frank to
enjoy his fun, and to boast that he had beaten him in the long run. It
was some time before Frank returned, his exploit causing a great deal of
amusement to all present. Some time before this a fire, with a large
screen of matting to keep off the wind, had been seen to blaze up, and
now a horn sounding, the party on the ice assembled round it. They
found servants roasting potatoes under the ashes, which were served out
with plates of salt, and butter, and toast, to all who asked for them,
while at the same time hot punch was handed about to the visitors.
"Capital stuff this!" cried Tom Bouldon, smacking his lips, after he had
quaffed a glass of it, and, turning to Buttar, "I wish that the Doctor
would provide us with something of the sort in an afternoon in cold
weather. It's warm lemonade, with a little wine in it, I suspect. I'll
take another glass of it, if you please."
Of course the servants handed Tom as many glasses as he asked for.
Buttar took two or three. Away they skated. At first Tom got on very
well, but in a few minutes he declared that the ice had become more
slippery than ever, and that he had the greatest difficulty in keeping
his legs; at the same time, that he felt a strong inclination to push on
ahead.
"I say, Buttar, I believe that I could race the wind. Come, let us try;
I don't mind what I do," he exclaimed, as he skated on furiously. "I
don't mind what I do--do you?"
Buttar himself felt rather excited, but he suspected the cause, and
recommended Tom to come and sit down with him on the bank till they
became more composed. It was fortunate that they found out in time the
strength of the punch, or they might have been, as some of the visitors
to the pond were, by their own imprudence, completely overcome.
Tom was very glad that he had escaped committing himself, and much
obliged to Buttar for warning him. He had bully Blackall's career
before his eyes to warn him of the effects of drunkenness, and dreaded
by any chance being led into it. He more than once went up to the fire
for a hot potato, but each time the punch was offered him he wisely
declined taking it. By the end of the day everybody declared that never
was known so perfect a first day of skating. Most of the party, except
the more practised skaters, were not a little stiff and sore from the
exertions and tumbles. Ellis could scarcely move a limb, and Frank
declared that he felt as if he had been fighting away the whole day.
They had, indeed, been on their feet from half-past ten in the morning
till nearly dark.
The next day much the same scenes were enacted.
After luncheon, a jingling of bells was heard, and young Hotspur
appeared, drawing an elegant American sleigh. John Bracebridge, who was
driving, dashed fearlessly on to the ice. The steed seemed delighted to
have so slight a weight after him. The sleigh--so it is called in
Canada and throughout America--had a seat in front for the driver, and
an easy sloping one behind for two passengers. A handsome fur rug hung
over it behind, almost reaching the ground, while there were two or
three buffalo skins, in which those in the carriage might effectually
wrap themselves up. Instead of having wheels, the carriage was placed
on runners, two skates as it were, made of iron, with a frame-work
lifting the body of the carriage about a foot, or a foot and a half,
from the ground, and giving it a very light appearance. The harness was
ornamented with little silvery sounding bells, and fringe, and tufts of
red worsted, which made the whole turn-out look very gay. It gained
universal admiration, and two ladies were easily persuaded by John
Bracebridge to get into it, and to be driven round and round the pond.
"You may fancy yourselves transported suddenly to Canada, and whisking
away over the Saint Lawrence," he observed, turning round as he drove
on; "only I assure you that so smooth a piece of ice as this is rarely
found to drive over. In Lower Canada especially, the sleighs are driven
on the roads over the snow; but the old-fashioned French Canadian
sleigh, used by all the country people, is so low that the front part
sweeps the snow before it, and thus ridges are quickly formed all across
the road. Another sleigh following has to surmount the ridges, and of
necessity digs down on the opposite side, and scoops out more of the
snow. Sometimes, also, they slide off either on one side or the other,
and thus a succession of hills or waves, as it were, are made with
slides, which send the sleighs nearly off the road on one side or the
other, and make the driving away from the larger cities very far from
pleasant. About Quebec, however, the roads are kept in good order, and
sleighing is there a very agreeable amusement."
As young Hotspur could not go trotting round and round the pond all day,
John at last drove him home, and then Frank proposed a game of hockey on
the ice. He had provided a supply of sticks and a ball, and the
proposal was welcomed with applause. The people present were not long
in forming sides. Charles undertook to lead one side, Frank the other.
Frank got his stout friend to be on his side, but he generally chose
boys. He got Ernest and all his schoolfellows, except Lemon, who joined
Charles, and there were several other boys who skated pretty well, and,
as he said, looked plucky. A person must know how to balance himself
well to play hockey on skates, otherwise, after having struck the ball,
he is very likely to allow his stick to swing round, and to bring him
over. There were twenty people on a side, big and little; but the
shorter ones had decidedly the advantage, and ran away with the ball
whenever they got up to it, driving it before them before any of the
opposite party could overtake them. Ernest gave his brother some useful
hints, from which he profited. The same tactics which Ernest had often
employed at school Frank brought into play. The chief point in his plan
was to keep three or four boys together, one to follow up another. If
the leader missed, then number two ran in; if he failed to strike, then
number three, and so on. The stout gentleman also turned out to be a
capital player. He went on the "sure and steady wins the race"
principle. Quietly yet rapidly he glided about after the ball, and when
he got up to it, never failed to strike it, and to strike hard too. His
exertions indeed mainly contributed to the success of Ernest's side,
which triumphantly gained the day. Several games were played, and each
time Ernest's side was victorious, though the defeated party took it
very good-humouredly. Charles, however, observed that he had received
several lessons from his opponents, and that he thought they would not
find him so easily beaten again.
"Don't be too sure of that, Charlie," sung out Frank. "We also intend
to-morrow to play twice as well as we did yesterday. Our motto is,
`We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.'"
The morrow came, and a great game of hockey was the absorbing amusement
of the day; even young Hotspur and the sleigh failed to attract so much
interest. The stout gentleman was in his glory. He appeared with a
hockey-stick of his own manufacture, and in garments which, if not
graceful, precluded any of the youngsters from catching hold of his
tails. There were the same sides as on the previous day, with several
additional players; but none of them were very good, nor did they add
much to the relative strength of each party. Ernest was the first to
place the ball on the ice to strike it. The instant his stick
descended, and the ball went whirling away over the smooth glass-like
surface of the ice, Frank, followed by Buttar, Bouldon, and Ellis,
darted forth with tremendous speed in the hopes of reaching it before
any of the opposite party, and of driving it home; but before they could
strike, Charles and Lemon were up to it, and sent it flying back again.
The stout gentleman, however, who had only moved slowly on, saw it
coming, and gliding up as it slid on towards him, struck it a blow which
sent it two-thirds of the way across the pond once more. Frank, Ernest,
and Buttar were up to it, Bouldon and Ellis keeping a little way behind
them: Frank struck the ball, and sent it flying on, but it was into the
midst of their opponents, who quickly drove it back again, when Bouldon,
skating up, prevented it getting between Charles and Lemon, who stood
prepared to drive it up to the goal, if, as they hoped, they could elude
the vigilance of the stout gentleman. He, however, was not asleep, and
watching their movements, as Tom Bouldon observed, as keenly as a
boa-constrictor, glided swiftly up to the spot where they had driven the
ball, and sent it spinning back, till once more Frank and Ernest got it
within their power. Thus the game continued fluctuating; but finally,
after many a bandy here and there, and many a tussle between the
opposing parties, not a few upsets and other catastrophes, it was sent
up to Ernest, who struck it a blow which sent it flying along between
everybody, nobody being able to stop it up to the goal.
The next game was, however, still more severely contested; and at last,
by desperate struggles, was won by Charles' party. Ellis had made
wonderful progress in skating, thanks to Ernest's lessons, and his own
resolution to overcome all difficulties. Of course, he got several
severe tumbles, but he always picked himself up and went away again as
if nothing had been the matter. In a short time he overcame all fear,
and obtained the complete mastery over his feet.
"I should like to have your friend Ellis with me at sea for a few
months," said Frank to Ernest, as they watched him tumble down and get
up again, and go several times in succession to practise on the outside
edge, undeterred by failures. "I like the fellow's spirit, and I am
sure that there is a great deal to be made out of him."
"I am sure there is," was the reply. "At the same time, he is really so
talented, and so good-hearted and humble-minded. He is one of my
greatest friends. He trusts me, and I trust him, and that is, I
suspect, the true secret of friendship."
Another day, Frank, taking a hint from John's sleigh, rigged out one
with ropes. It was little more than a wide plank on runners, with seats
for two people. The boys harnessed themselves to it, and invited the
visitors to the lake to come and be dragged along. They had many
applications for the honour, and it was a source of great amusement. No
one seemed weary of dragging the sleigh, or of being dragged in it.
Round and round the pond they went, often at so tremendous a pace that
those being dragged shrieked out with terror; but their alarm could not
have been very great, for when they were asked if they would go on again
they never refused, or if they did, it was to let some sister or friend
take their places. The next day three similar sleighs appeared, but
they were covered with cloaks or rugs, and each had a flag of a
different colour flying in front of it. As each sleigh required several
persons to drag it, nearly all the gentlemen skaters were in a short
time turned into horses, while the ladies were all eager to be dragged
along; so away they all went, skating round and round the lake, and
those who looked on could distinguish where their friends were by the
colour of the flags. Sometimes they raced, and then the excitement was
tremendous. However, one of the sleighs was upset, and the passengers
thrown out, and the skaters sent here and there, some on their backs,
and some on all-fours, to the alarm of those at a distance, and to the
great amusement of those near, and who knew that no one was hurt. Mr
Bracebridge, after this, prohibited racing with sleighs, for fear of
accidents of a more serious character.
It is impossible to describe minutely all the amusements of those
memorable Christmas holidays. A fortnight passed away, and though the
glass-like appearance of the ice had somewhat disappeared, owing to the
innumerable cuts its surface had received from careless skaters, the
skating was continued with unabated ardour. Then came down a heavy fall
of snow, which completely covered the ponds with a thick coat.
Passages, were, however, swept across the ice, but the interest of
skating was somewhat diminished. More snow followed, and then, except
on small patches and walks which, with some exertion, were kept clear by
the gardeners, there was no room whatever for skating. Notwithstanding
this there were abundant sources of amusement. The younger guests were
fortunate in having so good a master of the revels as Frank, the
midshipman.
"Hurra, boys, a bright idea!" he exclaimed, one morning at breakfast,
when some of the party were lamenting the destruction of the ice.
"We'll build a castle of snow; not a puny little affair, but a castle
with high walls and parapets, and a deep ditch and outworks, such as
cannot be captured without hard fighting. However, as we don't really
wish to kill each other, instead of cutlasses and bayonets, and swords,
and pistols, and all those sorts of deadly weapons, we will use good
honest snowballs. We'll build the castle first, and choose sides
afterwards, so that no one will know whether they are going to defend or
attack it, and no one inclined to be treacherous will leave any weak
places. There is a high mound in Beech-tree meadow, which will make a
capital foundation, and save a great deal of labour. Who is for it?"
Of course, all the younger guests were delighted with Frank's proposal.
Mr Bracebridge also entered into it. "You shall have the assistance of
all the gardeners, who can do nothing during this weather," he observed;
"I will tell them also to engage half-a-dozen men thrown out of work;
they with their barrows will much expedite the operation."
"Thank you, papa; thank you, sir," exclaimed the boys; and as soon as
breakfast was over most of them jumped up ready to go to the scene of
action. Ernest, however, said that he had his holiday task to go
through, and that he must give one hour to that while he was fresh, and
before he allowed his thoughts to be occupied with the amusements of the
day. This reminded Buttar and Ellis that they had their tasks, to which
they had as yet paid very little attention. Bouldon was inclined to
think this proposal to study a very slow proceeding, as he had been in
the habit of not looking at his task till the last week of the holidays,
and often he did not finish off learning it till he was on his way to
school. Now, however, as Ernest and others set the example, he began to
think that he ought to do something.
"Very well," observed Frank; "we will not start for an hour and a
quarter; that will give you time to get out your books; and if you all
read hard, you will do something. I'll go to school, too, and rub up my
navigation."
Ernest, followed by his guests, accordingly repaired to the study. Tom
Bouldon, on looking into his portmanteau, found that, by the most
unaccountable negligence, as he said, the servant had not packed up any
of his school-books, but had put in instead a copy of "Robinson Crusoe,"
"Tom Cringle's Log," and the "Boy's Own Book." However, Ernest and
Ellis between them were able to supply him; so Master Tom, having no
excuse for idleness, set to with a will, and was surprised with the
progress he made, and the satisfaction it afforded him.
"Well, I really think I will do a bit of my task every day till it is
finished," he exclaimed, as Frank, pulling out his watch, told the party
that time was up, and that they might set off for the scene of action.
When they reached Beech-tree Meadow, they found a quantity of snow
already collected from a distance in the neighbourhood of the mound. On
one side, a little way off, was a miniature castle, which Frank said he
had got up early in the morning to construct, so that everybody might
see what they were about. The model was much admired, and Frank acting
as architect, the work proceeded with wonderful rapidity. Some carried
the snow; others acted as masons, and piled it up and smoothed it off,
he, standing in the middle, aiding and directing. A circular tower of
fully twenty feet in diameter was quickly raised, and fully fifteen feet
high, and finished off at the summit in a castellated form, with a
parapet; and then there was an outer wall with a deep ditch; between
them and the tower was a gateway, and a bridge, constructed partly of
snow and partly of planks, led to it. It really had, when finished, a
very imposing appearance, and looked as capable of resisting a foe as
one of the Martello towers which guard the coasts of Great Britain.
Frank had, in the morning, despatched an invitation to all the boys he
knew of in the neighbourhood to come and join in the sport, and by the
afternoon a large army was collected. Everybody was too eager in the
work to go in to luncheon, so it was brought out to them. At last all
was ready. Lemon undertook to be the leader of one party; of course,
Frank acted as general of the other. Ernest, and Buttar, and Ellis were
on Frank's side; Bouldon, with Charles, and some of the other
Bracebridges, joined Lemon. There were besides some twenty or more boys
on either side, so that there were fully fifty combatants. They tossed
up as to which side was to defend and which to attack the castle. Lemon
got the first choice, and undertook the defence of the place. A flag on
a pole was hoisted in the centre, and till this was hauled down the
castle was not to be considered as captured. As soon as these
preliminaries were arranged, all hands set to work to manufacture
snowballs. Several piles were made at short distances surrounding the
castle. These might be captured by a sortie. There were also flags on
staffs stuck about which might be taken. On the outworks of the castle
and on the walls were several flags. Piles of snowballs were placed
inside the castle walls, and there were also heaps of snow out of which
others could be manufactured. Lemon had brought his horn, and the
besieging army had a couple among them, which had a very fine effect.
Frank, having marshalled his troops, formed them into three divisions,
which were to attack simultaneously on different sides. Ernest led one,
Buttar another, and Frank commanded the third party in person. These
arrangements were made out of sight of the castle; and, to give more
effect to the attack, the army marched through the woods sounding their
horns, which were answered by a note of defiance from the castle.
"It is getting somewhat cold," exclaimed Buttar, who was practical in
his notions. "The fellows inside must be colder still, waiting for us.
All our valour will be frozen up. Let us begin to warm up our blood."
"Certainly, Colonel Buttar," answered Frank, laughing. "A very sensible
remark. On, brave army to the attack! Death or victory! Don't mind
the snowballs. Turn your heads into battering-rams, and your pockets
into arsenals, and the place will quickly be ours. Now, Colonels
Bracebridge and Buttar, lead round your men to the positions allotted to
you."
"Too-too-too!" sounded the horns louder than ever, and the three
divisions burst at the same moment out of the woods, and advanced to
take up their positions near where their ammunition had been piled up,
of the existence of which the defenders of the castle were supposed,
till that moment, not to be aware.
"Too-too-too!" again sounded the horns, and while a sentinel remained to
guard each pile of snowballs and their respective flag-staffs, the rest
of the army, having loaded themselves with ammunition, rushed bravely to
the attack. Then began a regular snow-storm. The besiegers and
besieged pelted away with tremendous energy, till the former were
covered with snow from head to foot, while the latter could scarcely
show their faces above the walls. Under cover of this heavy fire, or
rather snow-storm, Ernest attempted to cross the bridge, which had been
allowed to remain, and to force the door. He was followed closely by
Ellis and two other boys: but they were almost overwhelmed with the
heaps of snow showered down upon them. Still they battered away with
their fists and shoulders, as they were unprovided with other weapons;
but the door would not yield. In fact, it had been completely blocked
up from within, so that no force could have opened it. Meantime,
Buttar, by Frank's directions, was shelling the castle from a distance;
but as this produced no effect, and only supplied the besieged with
ammunition, he was ordered to draw near to assist in a general escalade.
Frank's plan of dividing his forces had prevented the besieged from
making a sortie. He now ordered a general escalade. Scaling ladders
were not to be used, but the backs of the combatants were to serve for
the purpose. No sooner was the order given than, rushing up together,
with masses of snow they filled up the ditch; and then one sprang on the
back of the other, and others mounted above them; then Ernest, seeing a
good ladder formed, climbed up it to the top, though he was nearly
knocked over by the shower of snowballs which assailed him; the top of
the castle, also, was so slippery that he had the greatest difficulty in
getting hold of it, and his position was anything but pleasant.
Meantime, Tom Bouldon, one of the besieged, who was burning to
distinguish himself, seeing all the rest of the party engaged, telling
Lemon that he had a dodge, and to look out for him, slipped over the
parapet amid a shower of snow, so that he was unseen, and then, climbing
up the side of the ditch, scampered off to get hold of one of the
standards of the enemy, the sentinel left to guard it having deserted
his post that he might join in the attack. He seized it, and was
hurrying back, scarcely restraining a shout of triumph, when Ernest saw
him.
"Tom, you traitor, let go that!" he sung out; but as he was mounted on
the backs of four other boys, and fighting away at the top of the wall,
he could not enforce his commands.
Tom, hearing him, scuttled away to the other side, where Buttar was
endeavouring to effect a breach. Two boys made chase after him, but he
got up to the wall before them, and throwing the flag into it, he sprang
up on the backs of some of the besiegers, who did not find out in time
that he did not belong to their party; and Lemon being on the watch for
him, lent him a helping hand, and got him safe into the castle. Then he
seized the flag he had brought so gallantly off, and went round the
castle walls, waving it in the faces of the besiegers, and crowing as
lustily as any young cock. Frank, when he discovered what had been
done, felt like a general who has unwarily allowed his camp to be
attacked; and now, seeing that the other two standards were unprotected,
sent back a guard to each.
It may appear strange that Bouldon should have so easily got into the
castle; but in his case he had a friend to help him, while in the case
of the besiegers everybody was opposed to them. So strong was the
castle, and so manfully was it defended, that it appeared as if it would
effectually hold out to the end of the day.
Time after time Frank returned to the assault, and as often he and his
troops were tumbled over into the ditch. This, also, was Ernest's fate;
indeed he at last gave up all hopes of taking the castle in the way
proposed. Telling the rest of his followers to continue pelting away
with all their might, he called Ellis to his councils. Ellis at once
advised an attempt to undermine the walls. He had run his head into a
soft place, and he thought he might get through. The idea was a bright
one. Ernest immediately went round and got some men from Frank and
Buttar, to assist by the warmth of their snowballing to cover their
proceedings, and then he and Ellis set to work to bore their way
through. The other two commanders were all the time to keep up a series
of incessant assaults, which might fully occupy the attention of the
enemy. No one within the walls suspected what was taking place. They
went on firing away with their snowballs as furiously as ever. No one
seemed wearied. There was something very inspiriting in the work. It
was far pleasanter than real fighting, because all the combatants might
hope to live to fight again, for whichever side fortune might declare
itself.
Lemon seemed to think, at last, that things were growing rather tame, so
he seized his horn and began "too-tooing" away with all his might. It
was answered more loudly than before by the horns of the besiegers,
followed by a hotter shower of snowballs than ever sent by them into the
castle. While Lemon and his followers were busily engaged replying to
it, they found their legs seized by Ernest and Ellis, and several other
boys, while Frank, mounting on the backs of some of his troops, leaped
over the parapet on the opposite side. Lemon was so astonished that he
knew not what order to issue. Buttar--a messenger being sent to summon
him--came round with some followers to the same side, and forced his way
with them through the hole. An attempt was made to throw the daring
besiegers over the walls; but they kicked and shoved against them so
furiously that a large breach was effected, up which the rest of the
assailants poured; while Ernest and Ellis, overcoming all opposition,
forced their way up to the standard, and seizing the flag-staff, hauled
it down at the moment that one side of the castle fell with a tremendous
crash, leaving it utterly defenceless. Lemon's horn sent forth a long
wail of despair, while the other horns sounded notes of triumph, and the
castle was declared to be truly and gloriously won.
"It is not your first military triumph, and I hope will not be your
last," said Ellis to Ernest, as they were marching homeward.
"Nor yours either, and I hope will not be your last. If I go into the
army, my great delight will be to find that you are going also."
When the boys reached the house, all the visitors from the neighbourhood
found that they were expected to dine and spend the evening. The
combatants did ample justice to the fare set before them, and it was
announced that a conjuror would make his appearance in the evening, to
astonish them with his wonderful performances. Ernest and Bouldon
disappeared directly after dinner. Ernest said he had to go and make
preparations for the conjuror, and Tom, putting his hand to his heart,
said that he felt it his duty to go and help him. When the boys came up
from dinner they found one end of the large drawing-room, in which there
was a deep recess, fitted up as a theatre, and in the centre a table, at
which sat a man with a huge pair of spectacles, a long white beard and
moustache, a high conical cap, covered over with all sorts of strange
hieroglyphics, and many other curious devices. Round his head was a
turban. He wore a tight green waistcoat, a red silk flowing robe over
it, while a handsome sash bound his waist, in which was stuck an
ink-horn, a wand, a huge knife or dagger, a pistol, and several other
articles. Altogether, he was a somewhat formidable-looking character.
By his side appeared, when the curtain drew up, a curious-looking clown,
with a huge face, with all sorts of twists and curls in it, great big
ears, a cock-up nose, and a short stumpy beard. This extraordinary
physiognomy was covered with a high cap, which had a tassel and bells.
He wore also a party-coloured waistcoat, huge full breeches of all the
colours of the rainbow, hose of yellow, and long shoes with rosettes of
vast size. He stood forth a veritable clown or jester of bygone days.
The magician rose. He seemed to be a very tall man, and contrasted
strongly with his attendant, who was one of the roundest, shortest, most
punchy-looking little men ever seen. A symphony was played on a piano
behind the curtains, during which the magician waved his wand, and then
in a deep voice he explained that he was about to perform a series of
wonderful and unaccountable tricks, which no one had ever equalled, or
was ever likely to equal while the world lasted; on which the clown
clapped his hands and nodded his head in approval, exclaiming, in the
oddest squeaking voice imaginable, "Certainly, certainly; my master
speaks the truth; who can doubt him? If anybody does doubt him, let him
take care of me."
The conjuror hemmed, and, waving his wand, took up a pile of halfpence.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, you see these halfpence, and you see this
cap. The cap I will place on the table, and taking the halfpence in my
left hand, as you see, I will pass them from under the table into the
cap. Heigh, presto, fly!" Sure enough, he lifted up the cap, and there
were the halfpence. "Now I will pass them back again into my hand--
listen." One after the other they were heard dropping into his hand,
and when the cap was lifted they were gone. Then he put a die on the
table, and covering it with his cap, sent the halfpence back to take its
place. There they were. He covered them up; they had disappeared, and
the die took their place.
He next produced a round tea-caddy. He asked a lady for a cambric
handkerchief. Several were tendered. He took one, and put it into the
caddy. Drawing out one end, while examining it by a candle to observe
its texture, it caught fire. It had burnt a good deal before he could
find the cover to put it out. No sooner had he done so than,
pronouncing a few magic words, he opened the canister, and presented the
handkerchief uninjured. Loud applause followed. "Now, ladies and
gentlemen," he said, holding up a large silk pocket-handkerchief,
"examine this handkerchief. It has no double lining. It is a plain
simple handkerchief. Watch me narrowly. I throw it over the table. I
hold it up. See what comes forth." A whole stream of filberts fell
from the handkerchief. "Here, Placolett, take them to the company,"
said the magician, and the round-faced dwarf, with many odd twists and
bounds, handed them round. Again the magician spread the handkerchief,
and this time produced a still larger quantity of sugar-plums,
sufficient, it seemed, to fill a hat. They also were handed round.
Once more the handkerchief was spread, and produced a number of bouquets
of beautiful flowers, some real and some artificial. These in like
manner were distributed among the young ladies present.
"Will any lady lend me a plain gold ring?" asked the magician. One was
handed to him by Placolett. He held it up between his finger and thumb.
"Presto, fly!" he exclaimed, and threw it into the centre of the room.
Everybody tried to catch it, but could not. It had vanished. Placolett
hunted about, and at last found it under a cushion at the furthest
corner of the room. Again he handed it to his master, who invited a
little girl to take it; but before it reached her fingers it had
disappeared, and Placolett, as before, hunting about, found it in
the heel of a boy's shoe. Now Placolett collected a dozen
pocket-handkerchiefs from the company, and the magician tied them up in
a handkerchief, which he placed on the table. He ordered Placolett to
bring him a basin and a jug, meaning, of course, that the jug should
contain water, but there was none, so he sent Placolett again to fetch
it, and ordered him to bring some soap. Meantime he threw some black
balls up to the ceiling, which never came down again; and then he
swallowed a mustard-pot, a salt-cellar, and a pepper-box; and then he
took three cups and three balls, and made the balls pass under the cups,
so that each cup had a ball under it, and then he brought them all
together under one cup merely by waving his wand over them; and finally
some twenty cups in succession appeared out of one of them. At last
Placolett came back, bringing some water, but it was cold instead of
hot, and there was no soap, and then an iron was wanted. Before he went
for them, his master made him borrow two hats. One the magician placed
above the other on the table. Then he took one of his magic cups, and
showing that there was nothing in it, turned it upside down. He lifted
it, and, lo and behold, there was a walnut inside! This he put into the
hat, and as often as he lifted the cup there was a walnut, which, like
the first, he transferred to the hat. At last Placolett came back.
"Now," observed the magician, "the hat is half-full of walnuts. Heigh,
presto! pass through the upper into the lower hat," he cried, and
lifting the upper hat, that was found to be empty, while the lower one
was half-full of indubitable walnuts, for the guests cracked several
which were handed to them by Placolett.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, you gave me some handkerchiefs," observed
the magician. "I shall have much pleasure in washing them for you."
Saying this, he took the bundle on the table, and emptied its contents
into the basin, and then began washing in a very unartistic, rough way,
evidently tearing them; and one, before wetting it, he held up to the
candle, and carelessly set it on fire. Then he spread a blanket, and
took them out, and began ironing them; but the iron was too hot, and he
was evidently singeing them horribly. "Never mind," he exclaimed, "I
have a magic ironing machine, which will do the work in a moment." He
produced a box, with a handle like a churn, put the wet half-singed
bundle in, and giving one turn of the handle, produced the handkerchiefs
all washed, neatly folded and scented, and sent them round by Placolett
to their owners.
It would be difficult to describe all the clever tricks he performed.
He put a ring into a handkerchief, and it disappeared. He passed an awl
through a piece of wood and Placolett's nose, and then put a piece of
whipcord through the hole, working it backwards and forwards, to the
dwarfs evident agony; and then he produced a funnel, which he held at a
boy's elbow, and by pumping away with the other arm, at last a stream of
wine flowed out. Then he put a large die on the table, and covered it
with a box and then with a hat. He lifted up the hat and then the box,
and the die was gone. He produced it, however, from under the table,
through which it had evidently gone.
I will not speak of many other minor tricks which he performed with
cards and other things, which elicited a fair share of applause. He
next borrowed a sovereign, and produced an apple, which he sent round to
the company. He begged some one to mark the sovereign, which was given
back to him. He put it on the table, and covered it with a red cup.
Then he took a knife, and holding up the apple, cut it in two, when the
sovereign was found to be in the middle of it.
"Ah, I forgot; I have still a trick or two more," he remarked. "Here is
a bottle. Will any lady like port, or sherry, or claret, or whisky, or
brandy, or liqueur?" Some said one thing, some said another, and
Placolett handing a tray of small glasses, he filled one after the other
with whatever was asked for. Once he let the bottle drop, but it was
not broken, as he was able to prove by handing it round to the company.
Then, after considering a moment, he showed a large glass bowl full of
ink. He took some of the ink out with a ladle, and put it into a plate,
which he showed to the company. Then he covered up the bowl with his
silk handkerchief, and on lifting it the ink had disappeared, and the
bowl was seen to be full of clear water, with gold and silver fish
swimming about in it.
"One exhibition more," he remarked; "and, ladies, wind up your nerves
for a dreadful catastrophe. Here is a pistol, powder, and bullets.
Examine them. Will any one load the pistol? See that the powder is
genuine." It was done. The magician took the pistol, and put in some
wadding. Then Placolett took it back, and some gentleman having marked
three bullets, put them in one after the other. More wadding was then
put in, and rammed down. "Who will fire?" asked the magician, holding
up a plate at arm's length. Scarcely had the smoke cleared away when
the magician handed the plate with the three marked bullets rolling
about in it.
Everybody was expressing surprise at the interesting performance they
had witnessed, and wondering where the magician had come from, when he
and Placolett, with many bows, retired behind the curtain. Directly
afterwards it was opened, and who should appear but Ernest and Tom
Bouldon, while the magician and his attendant had disappeared.
Even Christmas holidays must have an end. The guests went back to their
respective homes, all declaring that they had never enjoyed themselves
so much as they had on this occasion since they first went to school.