to monopolise our favour chiefly because many can row for
one that can _boat_.

In one of these punt chases at Cowes the punter had several times plunged
into the sea, and amid shouts and cheers he was always closely followed
by one of his chasers who swam almost equally well.

At length the brave punter swam over to the 'Alberta,' one of the Queen's
steam-yachts, which had several of the royal Princesses and others on
board, who kindly thus patronized the races, and their presence was
thoroughly appreciated by us all. The hardy sailor scaled the yacht, and
actually ran among the ladies,--who doubtless were much amused, and
indeed they tittered vastly. Then he mounted the lofty paddle-box,
closely followed by his resolute pursuer, who would not be shaken off.
With one moment of hesitation the punter took a splendid "header" into
the sea, and as he was thus descending from the paddle-box the gun filed,
showing that the ten minutes had expired. The pursuer could then, of
course, have given up the chase as done. He had lost and could not win
now. But there was still in him that fine free boldness which superadds
brave deed to stern duty, and, amid a burst of cheers, he too leaped down
into the sea.

[Picture: The Punt Chase]

The first diver, however, had heard the wished-for gun as he fell and so
he claimed his prize when he came up, all red and watery, and both had
well gained the applause of the spectators.

It is not for one who has rowed fifty races with pleasure to underrate,
far less to disparage, mere rowing; but still we maintain that for the
encouragement of pure manliness, and the varied capacities useful in a
sailor's life, one punt chase is far better than ten of the others.

The rapid introduction of steam-launches into use for our large English
yachts adds quite a new feature to every grand regatta. Here again,
however, the French navy led the way, and England follows somewhat
tardily. The French fleet at the Cherbourg review, some years ago had a
swarm of these fussy little creatures buzzing about the great anchored
iron-clads. English steam-launches were built to carry each a gun, and
so they are bluff and slow. Our Admiralty declined to allow a race
between these and the French launches in Paris, else, no doubt, the
superior speed of the French boats would have astonished John Bull. All
this has lately changed, so that launches and torpedo boats in England
can stea