as they began to pull round her, burst
forth a magnificent display of fireworks. Then the crews of the boats
stood up, and, waving their hats, cheered vociferously. Up went the
rockets, surrounding them, as it were, with a sparkling dome of fire,
and afterwards, in succession, burst forth Catherine wheels, spiral
wheels, grand volutes, brilliant yew-trees, and showers of liquid fire,
and a number of other productions of the pyrotechnic art too numerous to
describe.

The boats continued pulling slowly round and round the vessel all the
time of the exhibition, producing a very pretty and enlivening effect.

As Jack Bouldon and his friends walked back to his tutor's, of course he
enlarged on the excellencies of Eton, and the amusements of the school.

"Oh, I wish that you would come back at the end of the half, and see our
pulling matches, and swimming and diving matches! We have several of
all sorts. We have a grand race between two sides of college, the upper
and lower boats. Then there is a sculling sweepstakes, open to all the
school. The prize is a cup and a pair of silver sculls, which the
winner holds for a year, and on giving them up has his name inscribed on
them; so that he has the honour of being known ever after as a
first-rate sculler. Then there is a rowing sweepstakes for a pair of
oars, which is also open to all the school; and each of the houses have
their own private sweepstakes, when they draw lots for pairs. The
distance we row is about two and a-half miles. Now I must tell you
about the swimming matches which we have at the end of the half. There
is one prize for the best swimmer in the school, and another for the
best swimmer of those who have passed that half. In the diving matches
we dive for chalk eggs, and out of fifteen thrown in, I have seen as
many as twelve brought up. I have brought up nine myself, and I cannot
boast of being first-rate. Another prize is given to the boy who takes
the best header from a high bank; and those are all the prizes given.
We have another grand day, called Election Saturday, the arrangements
for which are very like to-day. The chief difference is, that the eight
are chosen out of all the boats, and row by themselves, in their dress
of Eton-blue shirts, and blue hat-bands and ties, as I have described to
you."

It was nearly half-past ten when the boys got back to Jack's tutor's,
and he had to leave them, while they went to the inn with Mr Bouldon,