CHARLEY SCUPPER'S RACING YACHT.

CHAPTER V.

We are unwilling to mingle love affairs too freely with yachting, although it frequently happens that both row together in the same boat; the generality of bachelor yachtsmen being very gallant lovers; and in this instance particularly, the two are so inseparably blended, that we offer no further apology to our readers in laying before them some of Charley Scupper's adventures ashore, as well as the more stirring scenes of his yachting career.

Charley had not been on intimate terms with the good people of Littleborough many months, ere he discovered he had more than one rival to contend with, in his desire to win the affections of the pretty Clara. Besides his rival Harry Vare, a knight of ancient family and distinction had long been aspiring to the hand of the fair beauty of Littleborough Hall. Sir Reginald Runwall, of Doningale Park, was a gentleman of eccentric habits and rather unusual stamp: sufficient care had not been taken in his early training and education, consistent with his means and position in society; nor had those deficiences been supplied by after-study. Sir Reginald's habits were quiet and reserved, but never studious. He was fond of sporting pursuits, especially shooting. He had as many guns in his house as would stock a small shop in Bond-street; and in the use of such weapons he was particularly skilful. He was very partial to his dogs; nor would he ever part with an old and faithful animal, but had a detached building on his premises devoted exclusively to old and invalided dogs, which he called his " superannuation kennel." Sir Reginald was of middle stature, light hair, wellformed features, round face, and rather inclined to corpulency. Such was the man who for upwards of two years had been paying marked attention to Clara Littleborough; and although that lady regarded Sir Reginald in the light of an old and esteemed friend, and had given him some little encouragement in return for his professions of love, in vain did she endeavour to wrestle with her feelings to kindle an affection for him in her heart, and show it with becoming sincerity. There was something about him repulsive to her, which it would have been difficult to explain; but which, nevertheless, induced her to keep him at a cold distance. It is questionable whether that indifferent feeling would not have worn off in time, had no greater attraction presented itself to her. Sir Reginald was persevering in his efforts, when he found others aspiring to her hand, and lost no time when a fitting opportunity offered, of making known to Mrs. Littleborough his intentions towards her daughter, and inquiring if those intentions met with her acquiescence he felt not a little elated to find that lady quite willing to the proposed alliance with her daughter, provided she herself was entirely disposed to entertain his proposals. Armed with what he con

sidered a great means of persuasion-the ear of the mother-Sir Reginald redoubled his exertions, and renewed his proposals of marriage to the daughter. But again did she ward off the question, and reply with cautious discretion; for at that time Charley Scupper had not proposed, nor was she without some little regard for Sir Reginald, notwithstanding all his oddities, and to reject his offer at once would perhaps be throwing away the best chance she might ever have, for Sir Reginald was very rich-far more so than either of the other rivals. She therefore told him, in her frankest manner, that she could not make him any promise until she was a little older: she wished not to act unkindly towards him by rejecting his proposals, but at the same time she preferred declining to entertain them at present. Sir Reginald saw that to urge his request at that moment would have been unwise; he therefore thanked her for her candid reply, and expressed a hope that ere long she would be prepared to accede to his wishes.

"Alack! she was in piteous plighte:

They were a noble twain;

For fyrste the Squire and then the Knighte
Forecast her love to gayne:

With each she wandered stealthilie,

And knew their love-sick payne."

It was by no means difficult for Sir Reginald to gather from his last interview with Clara, that there was a formidable rival in his way; and he was not long in discovering that Charley Scupper, of yachting celebrity, was the man. Sir Reginald therefore determined to set up an opposition against him at sea, as well as ashore; but in taking such a step he little thought of the difficulties he had to contend with. Sir Reginald had long had serious intentions of building a yacht; but as he doubted his true relish for the sea, having generally been seasick on the few short voyages he had made, he hesitated before launching into that amusement. No one could have been more anxious than ho to possess the necessary constitution for sea-going purposes, and having been informed that after a little experience at sea the disagreeable feeling and languid sensation generally subsides, and is supplanted by a good irony constitution, he avowed his intention of building a large pleasure-yacht. But when he found his rival, Charley Scupper, was a yachtsman of considerable notoriety, and said to have the fastest racing yacht on the coast-besides, too, the pretty Clara was passionately fond of yachting, and every day becoming more so-he gave the builder carte blanche to build a yacht of the same tonnage as the Sooloo, and promised him a handsome present if the proposed vessel beat her. Of course Mr. Inman undertook so pleasing a task with much willingness, promised to do his utmost, and gave Sir Reginald sanguine anticipations as to the result.

By the middle of May, in the year succeeding that of the Sooloo's misfortunes, Inman had completed his task; and the yacht was ballasted, rigged, and fitted for sea. Sir Reginald went to Lymington, to see his vessel before launching, when he named her the "Tippoo" -a rather whimsical name, we confess, but of Indian origin-probably by way of resemblance to the name of her rival, the Sooloo.

Sir Reginald expressed himself much pleased with the appearance of his yacht, and anxious to sail in her on the first opportunity. It

was not many days after the launch that his wishes were gratified. The day of trial was fine and summer-like; a merry whole-sail breeze welcomed the graceful clipper to her element; and Sir Reginald came ashore, after his cruise, with pleasure and satisfaction beaming in his face, for he was not only delighted with the yacht, but equally so with himself, having felt no inconvenience whatever from the motion of the vessel, but buoyed with the greatest hopes and belief that he was not half so bad a sailor as he had supposed himself. And here Sir Reginald was at fault; for the large sails of the yacht had propelled her along at so rapid a rate, dashing the spray from her bows with such playful violence, that, unaccustomed as he was to racing craft, he fancied himself in a strong wind, such as must of necessity make it rough at sea; and, having brooked that roughness without inconvenience, he felt himself a sailor, and was eager to try his vessel against the celebrated rival clipper.

Among his crew (which had been carefully and judiciously selected by the builder), was Charley Scupper's philosophical man, Joe Strand. Joe had determined not to stay aboard so unlucky a craft as the Sooloo; and, having readily met with a berth aboard the Tippoo, his mind was much more at ease. He had not long been in the service of his new master, ere Sir Reginald became amused with his originality, and often laughed heartily at the marvellous tales he told about the "sheer bad luck that prevailed aboard the Sooloo."

So persevering was Sir Reginald in his endeavours to become a sailor, that he was daily aboard the yacht, and under-way whenever wind and weather permitted. But perseverance was a prominent trait in Sir Reginald's character, a circumstance much to be wondered at, considering the unfinished state of his education: the reader will, therefore, not be surprised at his invincible exertions in certain other more delicate affairs; and although perseverance is generally crowned with success, ill-luck or other causes may sometimes bring disappointment from a quarter where least expected. That such was the case in one instance at least, the sequel of our narrative will show.

The Tippoo had been well tried, and her sails and spars thoroughly tested, her exact and apparent best sailing trim discovered, during the three or four weeks she had cruised on the waters of the Solent. Every yacht of her tonnage, that she had chanced to fall in with, succumbed to her superior speed-an exceedingly promising and pleasing circumstance, both to Sir Reginald and Mr. Inman. But the Tippoo had not yet met her real and rather dreaded rival, the "world's wonder," as some called her; "Wanhill's last and best," as others named her; but in her baptismal register called the "Sooloo." Charley Scupper was aware that his rival was anxious to encounter the Sooloo privately before figuring in a public match; and feeling willing to give him that opportunity, to whatever account he or Sir Reginald might turn it, the Sooloo was ordered to the Solent. Charley was not without some misgivings as to his little favourite; for he feared the damage done her by the steamer might materially have injured her sailing qualities: he knew, besides, the skill of Mr. Inman had never been proved inferior to that of Mr. Wanhill, and more than ordinary pains had been taken in designing