Then Chook seized the mallet, still with his provoking grin at Pinkey,
and swung it with the ease of a man using an axe. The manikin flew
level with Stinky's mark. And they disputed angrily which was the
heavier blow. But Stinky, whose blood was up, seized the mallet again,
and forced every ounce of his strength into the blow. The manikin flew
a foot higher than the previous mark. The contest went on, each
striving to beat the other's mark, with blows that threatened to
shatter the machine, till both were tired. But Stinky's second blow
held the record. Chook was beaten.

"Is there any other game yer know?" sneered Stinky.

Near them were the shooting-galleries, looking like enormous chimneys
that had blown down. A sharp, spitting crack came from each rifle as
it was fired.

"A dollar even money yer can't ring the bell in six shots," cried Chook.

"Done!" shouted Stinky.

The stakes, in half-crowns, were handed to the proprietor of the
gallery, and they took turns with the pea-rifle, resting their elbows
on the ledge as they stared down the black tube at a white disc that
seemed miles away. Each held the gun awkwardly like a broom-handle,
holding their breath to prevent the barrel from wobbling. At the fifth
shot, by a lucky fluke, Chook rang the bell. When he put down the
rifle, Stinky was already dragging Pinkey away, his face black with
anger. But Chook cried out,

"'Ere, 'arf a mo'--this is my shout!"

They were near the ice-cream stall, where trade was brisk, for the
people's appetite for this delicacy is independent of the season.
Pinkey, who adored ice-cream, looked with longing eyes, but Stinky
turned angrily on his heel.

"'Ave a bit o' common, an' don't make a 'oly show of yerself 'cause
yer lost a dollar," she whispered in disgust.

She pulled him to a seat, and the party sat down to wait their turn.
Then the dealer scooped the frozen delicacy out of the can, and
plastered it into the glasses as if it were mortar. And they swallowed
the icy mixture in silence, allowing it to melt on the tongue to
extract the flavour before swallowing. All but Stinky, who held his
glass as if it belonged to someone else, disdaining to touch it.
Chook's gorge rose at the sight.

"Don't eat it, if it chokes yer," he cried.

With an oath Stinky threw the glass on the ground, where it broke with
a noisy crash that jerked every head in their direction as if pulled by
strings.

"I can pay fer wot I e