From all the landings that lined either shore brilliant boats glided to the rendezvous ; some hung with luminous globes of blue and silver , some with lanterns fiery-red , flower-shaped , golden , green , or variegated , as if a rainbow were festooned about the viewless masts . Up and down they flashed , stealing out from dusky nooks and floating in their own radiance , as they went to join the procession that wound about the island like a splendid sea-serpent uncoiling itself from sleep and darkness . `` Is n't it beautiful ? '' cried even the soberest of the townsfolk , as all turned their backs on the shining bridge and bursting rockets to admire the new spectacle , which was finer than its most enthusiastic advocate expected . All felt proud of their success as they looked , and even the children forgot to shout while watching the pretty pageant that presently came floating by , with music , light , and half-seen figures so charming , grotesque , or romantic that the illusion was complete . First , a boat so covered with green boughs and twinkling yellow sparks that it looked like a floating island by starlight or a cage of singing-birds , for music came from within and fresh voices , led by Annie , sang sweetly as it sailed along . Then a gondola of lovely Venetian ladies , rowed by the handsome artist , who was the pride of the town . Next a canoe holding three dusky Indians , complete in war-paint , wampum , and tomahawks , paddled before the brilliant barge in which Cleopatra sat among red cushions , fanned by two pretty maids . Julia 's black eyes sparkled as she glanced about her , feeling very queen-like with a golden crown on her head , all the jewelry she could muster on her neck and arms , and grandmother 's yellow brocade shining in the light . Belle and Grace waved their peacock fans like two comely little Egyptian damsels , and the many-colored lanterns made a pretty picture of the whole . A boatful of jolly little tars followed , with Tom Brown , Jr. , as skipper . Then a party of fairies in white , with silver wings and wands , and lanterns like moon and stars . Lou Pope , as Lady of the Lake , rowed her own boat , with Jack for a droll little Harper , twanging his zitter for want of a better instrument . A black craft hung with lurid red lanterns and manned by a crew of ferocious pirates in scarlet shirts , dark beards , and an imposing display of pistols and cutlasses in their belts , not to mention the well-known skull and cross-bones on the flag flying at the masthead , produced a tremendous effect as the crew clashed their arms and roared the blood-thirstiest song they could find . All the boys cheered that , and all the horses pranced as the pirates fired off their pistols , causing timid ladies to shriek , and prudent drivers to retire from the bridges with their carriage-loads of company . A Chinese junk -LRB- or what was intended to look like one , but really resembled a mud-scow -RRB- , with a party of Mandarins , rich in fans , umbrellas , and pigtails , taking tea on board in a blaze of fantastic lanterns , delighted the children . Then a long low boat came sliding by softly , lighted with pale blue lamps , and on a white couch lay `` Elaine , '' the letter in her hand , the golden hair streaming to her knees , and at her feet the dwarf sorrowfully rowing her down to Camelot . Every one recognized that , for the master of the revels got it up as no one else could ; and Maud laughed to herself as the floating tableau went under the bridge , and she heard people rushing to the other side , waiting eagerly to see the `` lily maid '' appear and glide away , followed by applause , as one of the prettiest sights seen that night . There were eighty boats in all , and as the glittering train wound along the curves of the river smooth and dark as a mirror , the effect was truly beautiful , especially when they all congregated below the illuminated bridge , making an island of many-colored light . An enchanted island it seemed to lookers-on , for music and laughter came from it , and a strange mixture of picturesque faces and figures flitted to and fro .
Elaine sat up and ate bonbons with the faithful dwarf ; Ellen Douglas ducked the Harper ; the Chinamen invited Cleopatra to tea ; the mermaids pelted the pirates with water-lilies ; the gallant gondolier talked art with the Venetian ladies ; and the jolly little tars danced hornpipes , regardless of danger ; while the three XXXXX , Fred , Herbert , and Elly , whooped and tomahawked right and left as if on the war-path .
Belle Chinese Elaine Grace Harper Indians cross-bones gondola lookers-on tomahawks