The Cruise of the Branwen

THE OLYMPIC GAMES I therefore expected that we should physically outlast them when both sides were tired. ·But I forgot the reserves of nervous energy and cal– culated vigour on which Frenchmen can always call in an emergency, and they deserve every credit that their second fight against us was successful. It is, I think, unparalleled, in so large a meeting, that two dead heats between teams of four should have occurred in one day. Taking all our four fights together, Seligman shows the best total, with twelve hits (counting coups doubles) and only six defeats. Lord Desborough was untouched by the Germans, and Newton Robinson's steadiness in adverse circum– stances was chiefly responsible for victory over Belgium. His best hits were made on Casimir the German, and on Dillon-Kavanagh, who was also twice hit by Seligman. In other directions Englishmen did well that day. Lieutenant Hawtrey won the five miles in the stadium, for instance, which was one of the best things the British athletes did, but at a heavy cost of physical disablement owing to the sharp turns at every corner of the cinder-path. The weather remained gorgeous, the bright blue sky, dazzling white light, and snowy marble combining to make the crowded stadium an extraordinary scene of life and colour. The Crown Prince usually attended, and on any typical day you might have seen wrestling going on opposite the royal box, while the Americans were winning hundred yard heats down one side and Colonel Balck was judging gymnastics 78