or, The Silver Skates 67

to think of it. Katrinka Flack and Rychie Korbes are furious
at the very idea of racing with the girl; and, for my part, I
don’t blame them. As for the boy, if we’ve a spark of man-
hood in us, we will scorn the very idea of —”

“ Certainly we will,” interposed Peter van Holp, purposely
mistaking Carl’s meaning. ‘ Who doubts it? No fellow with
a spark of manhood in him would refuse to let in two good
skaters, just because they were poor.”

Carl wheeled about savagely.

“¢ Not so fast, master! And I’d thank you not to put words
in other people’s mouths. You’d best not try it again.”

“ Ha, ha!” laughed little Voostenwalbert Schimmelpennick,
delighted at the prospect of a fight, and sure that, if it should
come to blows, his favorite Peter could beat a dozen excitable
fellows like Carl.

Something in Peter’s eye made Carl glad to turn to a weaker
offender. He wheeled furiously upon Voost.

“© What are you shrieking about, you little weasel? You
skinny herring, you! you little monkey with a long name for a
tail!”

Half a dozen bystanders and byskaters set up an applauding
shout at this brave witticism; and Carl, feeling that he had
fairly vanquished his foes, was restored to partial good humor.
He, however, prudently resolved to defer plotting against Hans
and Gretel until some time when Peter should not be present.

Just then his friend Jacob Poot was seen approaching. They
could not distinguish his features at first; but, as he was the
stoutest boy in the neighborhood, there could be no mistaking
his form.

“‘Halloo! here comes Fatty!” exclaimed Carl. ‘And
there’s some one with him, —a slender fellow, a stranger.”