Next followed a list of patrons, such as:  The Honourable O’Mackerell, Lord Crabby Lobster, Sir C. Shrimp, etc., etc.

Then came a list of the various sports, each profusely illustrated—­The tug of war, the jockey race, the women’s egg and spoon race, the sack race, the greasy pole, the long jump, etc.; and lastly, an announcement of a grand concert to be held in the evening, as a conclusion of the festivities of the day.

Duncan was more than satisfied—­he was delighted, and his gratitude knew no bounds.  His excitement, as he carried the board away to hang it in a conspicuous place, was like the excitement of a child.

The whole village seemed to be stirred as the eventful day drew near.

‘Are you going to see the great tug, big Mr. Jack?’ my little friend called to me over the wall as I was painting.  As for the York boys, Harry and Bob, they spent a great part of every day in admiring the programme, and in bringing other visitors to see and admire the work of their artist.

How anxiously Duncan watched the sky the day before the sports, and how triumphantly Polly announced, when I came down to breakfast, ’A fine day, sir; couldn’t be finer, could it now?’

Those village sports were really a pretty sight.  I see it all in my mind’s eye now.  I often wonder I have not made a picture of it.  The high cliff stretching overhead, and covered with bushes and bracken, amongst which nestled the red-tiled cottages.  Then below the cliff the level green, covered with strong, hardy fishermen and their sunburnt wives, and surrounding the green, on the sand-hills, the visitors old and young, dressed in bright colours and holiday attire.  Is it too late to paint it from memory, I wonder?  I see it all still so distinctly.

The sports lasted a long time, and went off well.  Polly distinguished herself by winning the egg and spoon race, much to the joy of little John, who watched all the proceedings from his father’s arms.

Then came the greatest event of all, the tug of war.  A long cable was brought out and stretched across the green, and a pocket-handkerchief was tied in the centre of it.  Two stakes were then driven into the ground, and between these a line was chalked on the grass.  The handkerchief was then placed exactly over the line.  After this all the fishermen who entered the lists were divided into two parties.  Then each side laid hold of one end of the rope, and at a given signal they began to pull.  It was a trial of strength; whichever side could draw the handkerchief past the two stakes and over the line, that side would win.

How tremendously those men pulled!  What force they put into it!  Yet for a long time the rope did not move a single inch.  All the strength of those powerful fishermen was put out; they were lying on the ground, that their pull might be all the stronger.  Every sinew, every nerve, every muscle seemed to be on the strain, but so evenly were the two sides matched, that the rope was motionless, and it seemed impossible to tell which party would win.