It did seem for a while that not one of the boys ever would succeed in reaching the top. They would climb up a short way and then slide back, while the crowd laughed and cheered.
"Now I've got you, you little rascal!" he cried, and the crowd cheered.
Finally a long-legged boy twisted himself around one of the poles and with funny, quick motions worked his way up near the top.
"Oh, I do hope he gets there," whispered Jerry, under her breath as the boy had almost reached the top, "his clothes look so ragged and poor."
"He's up," shouted the crowd. "What's he going to take?"
The boy now had one arm thrown about the crosspiece and was looking at all the different things he had to choose from.
"Take your time, sonny; look them all over first," called out a good-natured man in the crowd below, but the boy was quick to decide and slid a shining pair of skates from off the pole across his shoulders.
"They'll come in handy before very long," he told the crowd with a laugh as he came down the pole.
"Good for you, Spider," called out his boy friends, running up to admire the fine new skates which he was proud to show.