A Victim of Treachery

           Oncemore‘KingFoo-footheFirst’wasrovingwiththetrampsandoutlaws,abuttfortheircoarsejestsanddull-wittedrailleries,andsometimesthevictimofsmallspitefulnessatthehandsofCantyandHugowhentheRuffler’sbackwasturned.NonebutCantyandHugoreallydislikedhim.Someoftheotherslikedhim,andalladmiredhispluckandspirit.Duringtwoorthreedays,Hugo,inwhosewardandchargetheKingwas,didwhathecovertlycouldtomaketheboyuncomfortable;andatnight,duringthecustomaryorgies,heamusedthecompanybyputtingsmallindignitiesuponhim—alwaysasifbyaccident.TwicehesteppedupontheKing’stoes—accidentally—andtheKing,asbecamehisroyalty,wascontemptuouslyunconsciousofitandindifferenttoit;butthethirdtimeHugoentertainedhimselfinthatway,theKingfelledhimtothegroundwithacudgel,totheprodigiousdelightofthetribe.Hugo,consumedwithangerandshame,sprangup,seizedacudgel,andcameathissmalladversaryinafury.Instantlyaringwasformedaroundthegladiators,andthebettingandcheeringbegan.

           ButpoorHugostoodnochancewhatever.Hisfranticandlubberly‘prentice-workfoundbutapoormarketforitselfwhenpittedagainstanarmwhichhadbeentrainedbythefirstmastersofEuropeinsingle-stick,quarter-staff,andeveryartandtrickofswordsmanship.