China on Roller-Skates.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 79, 11 April 1885, Page 5

China on Roller-Skates.

When the news was carried to Wun Lung that Hi Pi said he could knock Wun Lung out on rollee skatee, Wun remarked :

" I skatee upside down he an' makee him think be only tlack walkee." Skates were arranged, a room secured, and Wun and Hi faced each other one night during the woek. " You ovel had skatee on ?" asked Wun. " Haldly elvel," sneered Hi. "Me hardly elvel, too. Then I mako you sickee." " It snowie in beddee when I gittee loft behind," tinsivered Hi. The boys fastened the skates on the to-be contestants, and, of course, took particular pains to coi.ceal the fact that they wero "hind side before." " All ready ?" asked tho starter. " Me leddy," answered Wun. " Let el lip," said Hi. " Then go!"

.They.startedov^un^o^™ in thefloor. Hewcntup in the air, doubled w>, returned to tho floor in a heap, and sat down oh ~V. back of Hi's head, ,jmt ai the latter, who was ploughing up the flior wrth his nose, was endeavouring to* Nnd a sale place where ho could crawl through ■«-the cellar. They had scarcely been placed on their feet again when Wun's knees tripped up his chin, and he resembled a Chinese pyrotechnic as he went ovor backward and landed on his hair-escape. Hi «tu=k fi o"* boldly, and was nearing the end of his first lap when a careless looker-on shoved a spittoon on the track. The spittoon and Hi met by chance, and thon Hi sat down in it, and ruined its future prospects, This gave Wun a slieht advantage, and as he aaUfld 1 past Hi ho looked pleased. Heforgot, how ever, to step over Hi's outstretched leg, and as he sat down on it, it was heard to crack Tho two wero placed on their feet again, and tho starter gave both a slight shovo. it was ». disastrous shove, for Hi's heels went from under him and be clawed the air As he reached for support he grabbed Wun by tho topknot, and the two looNMd the floor ns they came down together. Thoy Were finally sorted from among each other and 3. off onco more. Si had^only gone aboutfiveicet-vhen hesawanotl.or chance to bore his way through to the cellar with^ his nose, and lie took advantage ji lift. Wun went mcerily on. As he l»»*«l BMUIJ* ™0 room ono of his friends (?) P ayV h™ n d and He looked pleased. He went round and round the room faster andJaster. ihe corners of his mouth went around to the rear of his head, und he yelled! "Now me knockee you out 1 Suddenly his features began to tagta, and he held fast to his blouee. It beoume evident that ho had lost control olV«re rollers. Ho was wring the spot where Hi was on hands and knees endeavouring to push himself to his feet. "Lunneo way, Hi I Lutinee way. Hi! yelled Wun. " Hlevin's sake, lunnee way, ol me fall all ovel you !" wines* Hi didn't hear. Ho bad other business under consideration. Wun came on at express train speed. His eyes bulged and his pigtail stood at right angles to hmbody. Ho grabbed at a post, and it turned .him around backward. He struck Hi fair on the back, cannoned, and went in among tho benches. Hi leisurely crawled around to the starting-place, took off ha skates, threw them in the window and ran down stairs without saying a word. They had to plungo Wun into a water-barrel before he was as good us new. Later in the day he poisonod Hi's cat.