--"There he goes!" Too true--it was too true. He was very small, now.

Gradually, but surely, he overcame the level ground. He began to spring

and climb again. Up, up, up--at last he reached the smooth coating--now

for it. But he clung to it with toes and fingers, like a fly. He

crawled this way and that--away to the right, slanting upward--away to

the left, still slanting upward--and stood at last, a black peg on the

summit, and waved his pigmy scarf! Then he crept downward to the raw

steps again, then picked up his agile heels and flew. We lost him

presently. But presently again we saw him under us, mounting with

undiminished energy. Shortly he bounded into our midst with a gallant

war-whoop. Time, eight minutes, forty-one seconds. He had won. His

bones were intact. It was a failure. I reflected. I said to myself, he

is tired, and must grow dizzy. I will risk another dollar on him.

He started again. Made the trip again. Slipped on the smooth coating

-I almost had him. But an infamous crevice saved him. He was with us

once more--perfectly sound. Time, eight minutes, forty-six seconds.

I said to Dan, "Lend me a dollar--I can beat this game, yet."

Worse and worse. He won again. Time, eight minutes, forty-eight

seconds. I was out of all patience, now. I was desperate.--Money was

no longer of any consequence. I said, "Sirrah, I will give you a hundred

dollars to jump off this pyramid head first. If you do not like the

terms, name your bet. I scorn to stand on expenses now. I will stay

right here and risk money on you as long as Dan has got a cent."

713

The Innocents Abroad