“What will you bet?” cried Bill.

“I don’t care; say a stick o’ candy.”

“Agreed!” cried Bill.  “You see I’ve done it afore.”

“You ought to told us that,” said his companion.

“A bet’s a bet,” said Bill.  “You don’t want to back out, do ye?”

“Go ahead,” cried the other, with some spirit.  “I’ll risk it.  Let’s see what you can do.”

Thus exhorted and defied, Bill commenced preparations.  He first stooped down on one knee and then on the other, and tightened the straps of the skates; next he took a handkerchief from his pocket, and fastened it tightly around his waist, and lastly, moved slowly about as if to determine whether all things were as they should be.

The spectators who had overheard the conversation between the boys, and were ready for any kind of fun, now began to express interest in the trial, and various were the words of encouragement addressed to Bill, as well as the mutterings of doubt over the result.  The skater who, until now, had attracted the most attention, ceased his diagrams and approached Bill, in order to give him instructions, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his companion, who loudly vociferated it wasn’t fair.

“Hold your yaup,” cried another boy, standing by; “if you don’t like your bet, Hen Billings, I’ll take it off your hands.”

But little Billings seemed to think he had made a good bet, and although loth to concede to Bill any advantage that did not of strict right belong to him, was far from being disposed to relinquish it.  “Go your length, Bill,” he said, “I ain’t afeard of the expense.”

The space being now cleared, Bill began to circle round preparatory to the trial.  It was evident he was not very skillful, and the opinion of the bystanders, who amused themselves with criticising his preliminary performances, was about equally divided respecting his ability to perform the undertaking.  After a few turns Bill cried out: 

“Now, Hen, look out.”  With that he darted forward, until he supposed he had attained the required momentum, when suddenly making a twisting motion with his feet, he threw himself round.  But unfortunately he had made some miscalculation or slip, for instead of alighting square upon the skates, his heels flew up, and with a tremendous thump, down came poor Bill upon his back.

“Hurrah!” cried Hen Billings; “there you go, candy and all.  I hope you ain’t hurt you,” he said, good naturedly.  “I’d rather lose my bet than have you hurt.”

“No,” whined Bill, squirming round his body, and rubbing the back of his head, “not much.  What are you grinning at, you monkey?  Did you never see a man fall before?” cried he, shaking his fist at another boy, whose face it seems did not wear an expression of condolence to suit him.  “I vow if I don’t try that again,” he added, after having recovered a little from the effects of his fall.

Thereupon space being again allowed, Bill, with genuine pluck, tried the experiment once more, and this time with better fortune.  His success was greeted with shouts of congratulation, and with expressions of “true grit,” “stuffy little fellow,” &c., and he presently disappeared with his friend, Hen, in search of the candy-merchant.