will teach them to keep the shoulders square with the machine and enable them to bend inwards in one unbroken line.

It is as awkward to see skaters and cyclists bending in a contrary direction to that in which they are circling as it would be to see a sailing boat with the masts raked forward and a list to windward instead of to leeward. The attitude of a beginner should always be slightly exaggerated; but in a very short time the body will sway this way and that with the movements of the machine without any thought on the part of the rider.

When first trying to ride a tricycle after having ridden a bicycle it will be found to play the most absurd pranks with you; for if you bend with the machine, when riding round a corner, it will at once dart across the road in the opposite direction and land you in a hedge or ditch. The body must be kept quite straight on a tricycle, as the steering is done entirely with the hands. And now let me give one word of warning to tricyclists: it is most dangerous to try and get off a tricycle when going up a steep hill without first putting on the brake, as, when it begins to run backwards, you cannot dismount without risking a bad fall.

The proper position for a lady cyclist is to have the point of the toe on the pedal; the heels low, so that the knees may not be thrown up and cause the dress to take ugly folds; and the handles at such a height that the arms may hang easily when the body is in an upright position. The arms should neither be pressed tight to the side nor held away from the body with the elbows stuck out. In executing military and other fancy rides the head and shoulders should be turned rather sooner than the cycle, when circling or threading clubs, &c. The movable clubs round which I first tried fancy riding were about 2 feet 6 inches in height and had very sharp points at the top. They were placed 9 feet apart, and I was told to ride in and out and round and round them at a great pace, at the end of a long line of other riders all far better than myself, to the accompaniment of a lively tune on the piano. This terrified me to such an extent that I was glad to get out into the streets again, for there at least I could go straight ahead, and, when frightened, could jump off on to the pavement without the risk of being impaled.

I will now describe one or two of the many fancy rides which have been invented. In the first place, every one should learn to mount and dismount simultaneously, and to ride slowly or fast at the word of command; also they should be able to keep the correct distance from each other, and to make the various circles and curves of equal sizes, and all at the same time; upon this depends the beauty and success of fancy riding.

The simplest of the figures is a large eight, which can be made by any number of riders following one behind the other at the distance of a yard apart. At the line where the circles of the eight join, the

first, third, and every alternate rider branches off to the right, and the second, fourth, sixth, &c. turn to the left, falling in again at the centre in their proper order, in single file, one behind the other. The second time the leader, the third rider and their followers will circle to the left and the others to the right, joining into one line at the centre as before. This figure can be continued until the leader gives the word to dismount, when all will jump off together.

The double circle ride admits of an almost endless combination of geometrical figures, and can be ridden by two leaders with their followers. There are five clubs placed as shown in the diagram; and the distance they are put from each other must be judged by the number of riders who are to circle round them. The riders all mount simultaneously, and having ridden in single file completely round the outside of all the clubs the first leader and her followers circle club 1, to the left (making the circle close to the centre club), they then follow the outside line marked on the diagram to club 2, which they also circle to the left, then to 5 and 4. When they have completely circled 4 they turn inwards towards the centre club and circle 1, to the right; then 4, 5, and 2; joining the circles by the outside line as before, and making each circle close up to the centre club. In the meantime the second leader and her followers (who began by circling 5 to the left, while the other set were circling 1) have also circled all the four outside clubs first to the left and afterwards to the right. The two sets of riders will next circle all the outside clubs in figures of eight; first to the left and then to the right. When this figure is completed they will circle 1 and 5, and 2 and 4; each set passing on different sides of the centre club so as not to collide with each other. Next, both sets of riders will fall into a single line and circle the centre club; then the line will break into sets of four, who will simultaneously circle the four outside clubs in the same direction, afterwards falling into a single line again and

circling the centre club; then they will circle the four outside clubs in the opposite direction, and fall into line again round the centre club.

The maze differs from most other figures in that the leaders do not have an equal number of followers. If there are three leaders and the first has two or three followers, the second must have six or eight, and the third twelve or fourteen; the reason of this is that the second set of riders has to circle outside the first, and the third outside the second, and so on. This figure requires only one club. When all the riders are in single file ready to mount the word is given, and they ride in a large circle, one after another. At the word 'maze' the first leader and her followers will turn in to the centre, where they circle the club. The second leader and her followers turn short round and back towards the centre, where they circle outside the first set of riders in the opposite direction. The third leader and her followers circle the second set of riders in the opposite direction, and they all continue circling in this manner till the word is given to 'unravel,' when each will fall out as they came in and join in one large circle again, riding on until the word is given to dismount.'

The maypole is a very pretty fancy figure, but not so easy as the others mentioned because it cannot be executed unless all the riders are able to steer perfectly with one hand only. A maypole is placed in the centre of a room or lawn, and from the top hang long bright ribbons corresponding in number with the riders who are to take part in the figure. Each rider holds a ribbon in one hand and guides the machine with the other. Half the riders go one way round the maypole, while each alternate one goes in the opposite direction. All the riders mount simultaneously, and those who go one way keep

outside the others to the right, holding up the ribbons over their heads as they pass them. They then turn inwards to the left, and slacken their ribbons while the riders facing them hold up the ribbons in their turn over the heads of the others, and pass them on the outside. The riders continue thus to thread in and out of each other till the ribbons are plaited round the pole, and the word is given to dismount.

It will be seen from the few examples I have given above that, with a little ingenuity, any number of rides may be invented and carried out by a party of guests staying together in the country where there is a large, smooth lawn, and some movable clubs to mark out the various figures; and for ladies who are not strong enough to go long distances on their bicycles, fancy riding will be found a most interesting pastime.

CAROLINE CREYKE.

FROM TYREE TO GLENCOE

Mother of mystery! . . . . let not

A fragment of the spinning-wheel go by;

It gives a feeling of Eternity.

ACROSS wide stretches of firm white sand in the Island of Tyree, I am listening to the tide breaking in softest music. Round this beautiful island for miles are lovely bays, great and small. The white bay in the north-east, where I am now sitting, is strewn with pink cowrie-shells, and not far off I see rainbow-hued islands floating between sky and ocean, glorious as any Isles of the Blessed could ever be. The sea that intervenes passes from chrysoprase through sapphire into amethyst. These Islands due east are Mull, Staffa, Iona, Jura, and the basalt cliffs of the Dutchman's Cap lie deep in shadow on the horizon. Fladda, Lunga, Ulva, Gomtra, and Erisgur can be seen; and to the south lie Colonsay, Oronsay, and, still further in the outer Hebrides, Barra, South Uist and Benbecula. From the north end of Tyree, Coll is seen close by. Travelling further west, Rum Eigg, Canna, and Muick are visible, and from the north-west of the Island the Isle of Skye appears as blue as the heavens on this most heavenly day. The tide far out is still retiring, and the setting sun turning the wet sand into a sheet of liquid fire. It is the hour for the reels of the fairies, or 'people of peace,' on the sands. The dwellers in Tyree say they come down here from their chosen hill, Ben Hough,' in which they live over there in the west corner of the Isle; but the only footprints in the sand to-night which I can trace in myriad fantastic patterns are not those made by fairy hosts, but by the gull, the kittiwake, the curlew, and the plover.

6

Where are they, the beautiful piping people, in green, tonight? And, I wonder, where are the fairy or cailleach' 2 dogs, for only yesterday I heard they were a special haunting feature of this island, supposed to be the spirits of a Tyree short-haired race now extinct. But the colour-spell is gradually changing on the Morven hills and the many Isles, and over the quiet sea. The deep is

1 Hill of Hosts (Gael.).

2 Old woman, or witch, in Gaelic.