When the royal players came to the ninth tee, Macbeth was heard to mutter, "What though I foozle, top, and slice, and thou opposed be now three up—yet will I try the last—lay on, Mac—I mean, it's your honor, Arthur!"
King Arthur did the difficult ninth hole in bogey, but poor old Macbeth plowed up the turf all along the fair green, and finally holed out amid a burst of Scotch profanity sad to hear.
Neither of their queens was present—her Majesty of Scotland being engaged, as we have said, on the tennis courts, while Queen Guinevere—well, it is enough for anyone to read the line-up of one of the football teams to know that Queen Guinevere was still lingering around the clubhouse, waiting for the players to come out. We have no wish to mention unpleasant things, and we abhor scandals—still facts are facts, and it is the duty of a conscientious newspaper to record them.
Down on the lake that expert submarine navigator, Captain Nemo, was entertaining a large crowd by the maneuvers of his celebrated boat, the Nautilus, and an exhibition of skillful paddling was offered by Hiawatha in his canoe.
The sound of revolver shots drew a number of spectators to see a match between Sherlock Holmes and The Virginian.
The greatest throng, however, surrounded a fencing bout between Cyrano de Bergerac and D'Artagnan. Cyrano had some dispute with the referee, before beginning, on the question of whether he should be allowed to compose a poem while he was fencing. He alleged that it was his custom to do so, and that he could not possibly appear at his best if the privilege were denied. His opponent objected, however.
"Just a ballade, monsieur," pleaded Cyrano, "or at least, a vilanelle."
"Cut out the poet business, Cy!" shouted someone—it is suspected that Chimmie Fadden was the man, and the referee so ruled. D'Artagnan was declared the winner of the match that followed.
After luncheon the whole assemblage were gathered about the diamond for the long expected game of baseball. This was to be played between two scrub teams known as "The Boys" and "The Old Men"—though some of the latter (notably Romeo and Richard Feverel) objected to the classification. These were the nines: