must acquire this art. But he did not dare refuse; and, besides, the clever old man foresaw that skating would be the fashion as soon as the knowledge that the chief had patronized it should become general.
I do not think the chief was ever more amused in his life than when he watched Rattle-box take his first instruction on the rollers. He laughed till he cried, and even permitted the guards to laugh too. But the medicine-man was an apt pupil, and before long there was a quartet of fairly skilful performers on the floor.
Then we threw open the doors to the public, and gave a grand exhibition. It would no doubt have run (or skated) a hundred nights or more. The success of the art was assured, and the next month was one long term of skating-school. We had plenty of skates, and the chief caused a large floor to be laid and roofed over for the sport. Soon the craze was so general that the chief had to make penalties for those who skated except at certain legal hours.
Marmaduke could by this time readily make himself understood in simple sentences, though he was not far enough advanced to comprehend much that was said; and one day he announced that he was ready to return to New York.
"But they 'll never let us go in the world," I said, somewhat out of temper. For, to tell the truth, I was not at all pleased with Marmaduke's apparent interest in this barbarous people.
"Oh, yes, they will," said he. "You will see. We 'll just get into a boat and row away."
"And be a target for all the bowmen in the island!" I said. "You 've had wonderful luck so far, I admit; but I don't care to run a skating-rink for Corean savages all my life."
"Nor do I," said Marmaduke. "I'm going to give a grand tournament with prizes, and then give up the business and leave Tongaloo forever."
