54 THE CHILDREN OF THE COLD. 



manner swing it so rapidly that it looks 

 like a revolving buzz-saw, and will then, 

 with a sharp crack, impale it on the pin. 

 I remember that I tried it once, and 

 brought the heavy ivory ball so sharply 

 against the end of my thumb-nail that it 

 stung for half an hour after. The most 

 expert, however, will always succeed in 

 sticking it on the pin, or in catching it 

 on the pin's point between the holes, so 

 that the ball will bounce back. A num- 

 ber of holes are also cut obliquely in the 

 sides of the ball, as shown on page 53, so 

 that if it flies sidewise it may be caught 

 by the pin through one of these; and, 

 in fact, those who desire to show unusual 

 skill try to impale the ball on one of 

 these side holes. Should they fail in 

 this endeavor, the thumb-nail or thumb- 

 joint usually gets a whack that makes 



