SKATING FOR DEAR LIFE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 2165, 8 December 1885, Page 2

SKATING FOR DEAR LIFE.

An old Lake Superior trapper, named Thomas Jupson, was once suddenly surrounded by' a band of fierce Indians!'' from whom he expected no good, v While making free with his outfit, they found a pair of skates among his other trappings, (11$ to immensely puzzled fa) |no,w what to make of them, A funny thought seomed to occur to tho hunter as ho saw their curiosity, for his my eyes twinkled merrily. "Ice Mocassin," he. said, putting a skate to his foot, and then made with his hands the gliding motion that the feet take in skating, J 1 Ugh!" grunted % Indian #l, pointing to th.e narrow blade of the skato--ftnd awaking his head. As they were near the ice,.Thomas proposed to fasten them on a young brave % trial.

Tim Indians wetoomed the man wjfch glee for, though savages, they were great loyers of sport. Selecting the bravest and. swiftest young fellow, the ohief bade him stick out his feot, which he did rather suspiciously, The skates were soon strapped on, and the young buck helped to his feet;

The ice'was like glass, and, as he started to move, you knowwhat happened, His feet flew out from under him. (jqwn ho oarae with a qraek. §ub« shoiiis of laughter astha rest set up, fhe young fellqw was plucky, and scrambjed up to try again, but with tho same, result,' -''■■■ -i Tho chief now signalled the hunter to \ sh»w them how the things worked, Thomas -fastened on the skates with

great oare, picked up his rifle, and used it as a cane, pretending to support himself. Ho moved away awkwardly, fell down, got up, and stumbled around, the Indians all the time laughing and capering at the sport. '

Gradually Tkmaa stabled, d, little. for.th.ei: aw|y> wnirling about, and making bolide it was very hard work to keep his balance, until he was r\ear the where the smooth lake "joe stretched miles, and wiles away, Suddenly gathering himself up, lie grapped hjs rifle firmly, gave a war-whoop as wild aa the Indian's own, and dashed up tlit lab like an arrow, skating as he had never skated before,

If he had disappeared in the air, the Indians could not have been more astonished,

Of course they couldn't hope to catch him over the glassy ice, and they stood gazing after him, wondering / more and more at the magic " ice mocassins." Nothing pleased old Thomas more in than to to)l jibf h& "foolfltj the redskins."