could build one fast vessel he could build another.

addressed that builder in the following words

He therefore

"I have come to ask you, Mr. Wanhill, if you can build me a 25-ton yacht that will beat the Sooloo ?"

"I believe I can," said Wanhill.

"But will you undertake to do so?"

"I will, if you tie me to nothing but tonnage."

"What do you mean by tying you to nothing but tonnage ?"

"That the expense of building it will be considerably more than that of the Sooloo; because I shall build you a much larger vessel, and one that will carry more canvas than the other, but her actual admeasurement will be no more than twenty-five tons."

"And can you not build a vessel to beat the Sooloo without that deception ?"

"It is very doubtful: the Sooloo's bottom is perfect; and her bow the finest we ever planned. We might attempt to copy it and fail." "Then what description of vessel would you build me, with a determination to beat the Sooloo ?"

"I should build you a very graceful and elegant-looking vessellong, narrow, deep, and sharp, with an overhanging stern, and raking stern-post: she would look like a vessel of thirty tons, but measure no more than twenty-five: she would require lofty spars and large sails." "But would not such a vessel be very tender under sail, and a dangerous craft in a sea-way?"

"Her bottom being so very fine and sharp, she would not be so stiff as an ordinary vessel; but you can have a few shot bags in the cabin, to shift to windward and hold her up. As to her sea-going qualities, the extra length would give her considerable advantage; and if you wish to have a yacht to beat the Sooloo, that is the only certain way of doing it."

After this conversation, terms were agreed on, and the order given to lay-down the keel of a 25-ton clipper.

A second match took place the same season in the Thames, between the Sooloo and Tippoo; when the former was again victorious, and Sir Reginald at once requested Mr. Inman to build another, without restricting him to anything but tonnage.

It is astonishing how yacht-racing, as well as any other exciting sport, wins upon those who take delight in it: defeat is at all times unpalatable, and more so to some men than others; but in this instance the two defeated yachtsmen were otherwise wounded, by their victor being also their rival in the tender affairs already alluded to; we cannot therefore be surprised at the spirited manner in which they each struggled for yachting fame. In our next chapter we shall report the adventures of the two new clippers, which for the present we leave on the stocks in the yards of the rival builders.

RUSSIA, AND ITS FIELD SPORTS.

BY LINTON.

(Concluded.)

I returned to St. Petersburgh with the full belief that I had enjoyed my last bear hunt. We had already arrived at the period of spring when the thaw was expected to commence, and all hopes of sport are ended; inasmuch as the moment the melting snow inundates their retreats, the bears awaken from a six months' lethargy, and quit their hermit life, to repair the long fast of winter by the abundance of Thus attenuated and weak, they immediately commence fattening themselves up for Easter. Nevertheless, winter still held on; while spring already reigned in the south, hedges were putting forth their buds, spring flowers scenting the earth, birds singing, and warm suns shinning, a thick coating of snow still covered the earth of Russia, and the thermometer fell each night to ten or twelve degrees of Réaumer.

summer.

It was at this, the usual period of spring time, that my friends proposed another day's sport in the Government of Novgorod; but on this occasion it was not a simple peasant who announced the presence of a bear, but a species of wood merchant or general dealer, who was ready to buy or sell anything for gain, who had taken it into his head that he could secure, for the purpose of being hunted, all the bears in a certain district, on obtaining a remunerating price for cach bear killed or seen by the sportsman of the capital. It was a rare and curious speculation, difficult to unravel; nevertheless, it was agreed to give him sixty roubles (about £12) for every bear that was killed, shot at, or even seen by the party. He was a singular individual, this dealer in wild beasts in person somewhat resembling a barrel of beer, with a round head placed on the top, from which descended long grizzly hair reaching to the breast. Moreover, his fear of the animal in which he dealt, dead or alive, was so great as to prevent his ever appearing on the battle-field save to enlist his army of beaters. The moment the chase commenced he placed himself beyond all danger, and never showed his large red nose again till all was over.

According to his own account, he had marked eleven bears, the nearest of which was in the neighbourhood of the same village of Zabich, at which we had made formerly a campaign. The remainder varied from ten, twenty, and thirty verstes the one from the other; consequently, the farthest was more than three hundred versts from St. Petersburgh. All agreed it would be the longest sporting excursion they had ever shared in, as also the most adventurous on account of the But this I fancy was only an additional attraction, inasmuch as prudence is no more a virtue amongst Russians than is avarice their

season.

fault. They are extravagant in all things-even to the risk of life. Enormous preparations were therefore made for the trip. We numbered nine in party, all volunteers, without counting servants; with the addition of a precious factutum, called "Jermyl" or Jeremy, whom we took up en route at a village called "Tozna." Jeremy, who was a Jack-of-all-trades, acted as valet and cook in the cottages where we halted-coachman on the road, and leader in the chase; and in all his various characters he acquitted himself with intelligence, energy, and activity.

We started in two divisions, each party having five sledges, at a few hours' interval, in order to secure horses on the road to the appointed place of meeting. I belonged to the advanced guard, which prepared relays for those who followed. Our departure took place in the middle of a cold and tempestuous night. The north wind blew strongly, throwing over our faces, clouds of snow as fine as well-powdered salt, which almost penetrated the skin, obliging us to wrap our mantles well round the eyes to prevent being blinded. But ere morning broke, the weather abated and became milder. The sun shone forth through leaden clouds, a warmth pervaded the atmosphere, and we began to have serious fears that the bear merchant, as ourselves, would lose both money and painsthat is to say, that the thaw would set in at once, as in those northern regions, where the earth lives only half the year, where it is necessary in four months to plough, sow, and reap, no interval elapses between the seasons; the change is abrupt and complete-winter disappears,

summer comes.

Nevertheless, we continued our road with hope and courage, and arrived at the northern extremity of the Government of Novgorod, nearly half-way between St. Petersburgh and Moscow, where interminable forests appear, with here and there a poor village surrounded by a few cultivated acres. They are not, however, similar to the woods of Finland; and for the first time we beheld the real forests of the North, where every species of tree of immense bulk is seen growing like massive and gigantic columns to an incredible height. While allowing the splendour of this vigorous vegetation, it is alike astonishing and afflicting to observe with what inconceivable indifference these splendid forests are treated in Russia. For example, it frequently occurs that a party during a battue will amuse himself by cutting down a tree with his hatchet, either to pass his time or warm his hands, which in its descent destroys half-a-dozen others. It may appear incredible, but I have seen a peasant cut down a well-grown fir, in order to extract the leaden ball lodged from a rifle. Thus, to a Russian peasant, one ounce of lead would appear more precious than a fine tree. In fact, the forests are filled with magnificent fallen trunks, which are allowed to rot where they fall-no one caring to remove them.

Two days subsequently to our departure the whole party had assembled at the village of Zabich, and the sport commenced. I shall merely give the details. The first battue was unfortunate the bear was on the qui vive, and escaped on the approach of the hunters, among whom it is impossible to keep a complete silence, for, be it recollected, they are composed of women as well as men. It was the same animal which had played us the same trick a few weeks previous. Without delay, therefore, we repaired to our sledges, and travelled the whole night to

reach another covert. At day-break all were at their posts, and on this occasion the bear awaited us. Awakened by the cries of the hunters, without hesitating, he made direct towards the shooters, passing between Colonel G. on my left and his next shooter on his left. From a small hillock on which I was posted I had at least a good sight of the several acts of the tragedy. An immense beast, he advanced resolutely in a straight line, his head in the air; sending forth from time to time loud breathings, like the noise of an enraged cat attacked by a terrier, which is their habit on the sight of man. The first shot he received scarcely made him flinch he only increased his speed, and appeared more savage. On the second discharge he stopped, and with his head in the air, threw ardent regards around, in which one might read the most tender reproaches. A ball in the head then killed him; but he died on his legs-like a king.

Towards twelve o'clock the beaters of another village, situated at four or five leagues distant, surrounded another covert. Fired at by my neighbours on the right, the bear broke the line, severely wounded, when several peasants followed in pursuit with their dogs on the scent of his blood. But we did not await their return, being desirous to have a third attack on the same evening. Nevertheless our fatigue was so great after so much sport without repose, that three shooters alone followed to the end. But a fourth joined us, forced by a noble sense of shame. We had counted on the length of the days, which since the equinox had greatly increased; as from the days of December, when in Russia the light remains only five hours, one passes rapidly into those, when there is no night; and our calculation would have been true, but for the badness of the roads. Our horses fell at each moment in the snow, already softening, and could scarcely proceed at a foot's pace. It was consequently at least six o'clock ere we reached the village, where it was necessary to recruit our beaters. We jumped from our sledges, and ran from door to door, crying out "A battue!" as one cries "Fire!" Very shortly forty or fifty peasants were assembled; men, women, and children. These we drove before us, as a herd of cattle. But we scarcely made faster progress in the woods than our horses had made on the roads. Nothing was seen on the line of march but the half of human bodies, the other half being buried in the snow and the night was at hand. The battue was literally commenced by moonlight: if could be termed moonlight the descent of that glorious orb which everand-anon threw a faint light through the tempestuous clouds. But our labours were not rewarded. Whether the peasants had deceived us with regard to the presence of a bear, or had killed it themselves, it was impossible to say; enough the battue proved a blank.

Dejected, we returned to our better-advised companions, who awaited us, sleeping, at the village from whence we proposed to hunt on the following day. About two o'clock in the morning we arrived before a poor and miserable" isbad," or peasant's cottage; nevertheless the best in the neighbourhood. A good woman, half clothed in sheep's-skin, came to our aid, holding in her teeth a small many-lighted pine stick, by the light of which, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, she performed the offices of hospitality, ever and anon rocking the cradle of her infant with her feet. Her husband, an old soldier, had gained permission, after eighteen years' service, to wear his long military moustaches

instead of the beard of the Mongik, made his straw bed on the floor of the cabin, where we were all soon sound asleep; some on their cloaks, others in their cloaks and others under their cloaks, according to taste or inclination.

In this village of Lévova two bears were promised us for the morrow, as near the one to the other as two bears can be. We dreamt, therefore, of battles and victories, when at break of day the tread of heavy boots on the floor of our sleeping-room changed all reveries to realities. On opening my eyes, with difficulty I beheld four or five grave and wellbearded Mongiks, who were bowing reverently and making signs of the cross, not to us, but to the images in the corner of the apartment, which, as I have already stated, are much so placed in all Russian abodes, high or low, rich or poor. To them the first matutinal salute is always given. Subsequently we were equally politely acknowledged.

These honest fellows came to inform us that all hopes of sport was over in their neighbourhood. Not counting, at so late a period, on a visit from sportsmen from the capital, the peasants had taken the bull by the horns and killed the bears themselves; and thus the curtain fell on our hopes. We had no choice but that of beating a hasty retreat; moreover, had to fly a formidable an enemy, which already menaced us-our retreat. In two short days Nature had totally changed her aspect. The snow no longer offered to the sight its smooth surface, firm, sparkling, on which the shadows of the heavens were reflected; but dirty, damp, and spongy, it appeared to melt and disappear before one's eyes. Already large pools of water stood on the hitherto-frozen surface. The noise, a sort of underground concert, sounded far an wide; and innumerable rivulets, uniting in one large stream, increased into torrents, rivers, and lakes, which carried on their surface snow and ice. The country soon appeared like a vast lake; not calm and placid, but rolling, heavily, and rushing furiously onwards.

It was through this sudden inundation that we sought a safe passage to return homewards. Light as were our small village-sledges, heaving and rolling, they plashed and slipped with difficulty over the melting and softened snow: our horses, now sinking with their hind legs in unseen holes, sat like dogs on their haunches; now fell head-foremost in the fast-increasing waters: at length fatigued, indeed exhausted, by continual efforts to save themselves, ended by losing courage, stopped short, and would not move, either from the voice's encouragement or the lash of the whip. We had a hundred and fifty versts thus to travel, from village to village, till we reached the high road. I leave my readers to judge whether the time was passed quickly or agreeably. The night, above all, was hard to endure: surrounded by a profound darkness, soaked by a cold and piercing rain; often passing a marsh, or even a swollen river, we heard snow and ice crackling and giving way beneath our light and frail sledges, which the water at times entered, threatening to engulph us. Thus it became frequently necessary to get out of the sledge-(I was about to say "to land")-to help our poor horses from their difficulties and dangers by cutting a breach by which to pass, through which a torrent immediately rushed. We might readily have said " Après nous le déluge!"

Our best chance was, if possible, that of keeping on the beaten track