New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26

the foot as to allow no space for beaten
fish to sulk in. Mai KEN the first to arrive.
Cad in clean cotton jacket and new parnung.
and carrying his fish in little jar enveloped in
= cloth. he heads a body Of supporters prepared
TO back his champion for all, more than all
they are worth. But the number OF Mai Yim's
following shows which breed is the favorite.
Until this fight be decided it is useless TO start
on tie other pedestals. for. besides the two
owners and a dozen Of their followers. who
squat around the jar with their noses glued to
it, transparent sides. there are four rows Of by
ISLANDERS betting recklessly. The stakes and the
bets being duly recorded and Mai Walab hav-
ing made mental calculation OF his percentage
as proprietor Of the club. Mai KEN tits his fish
into the jar. With a flrt Of his potent tail. he
explores the larger limits OF his new quarters
and then eyes the human faces through the
glass with cOntemptuOus unCOncern. lie Is a
portly little green fish. thought too thick
in the barrel for dcxterous evolution. but armed
with an array Of teeth that would put bull
terrier to shame The flop Of Mai Yim's fish Is
very disturbing to his nerves and for a mo-
ment the two fly about the bowl concealed from
each other by a cloud of bubbles. II fish had
the sense Of hearing more k'cnly developed
they would he still more pcrturhed by the shouts
Of their hackers. melting them to the fray. Nal
YimS warrior is dressed in red: "A lean, wiry
little fish. with a mighty spread Of fin upon his
back and n vast undulating keel along his belly.
The water clears. and the gladiators are sud
denly tooth To tooth in the middle. Their whole
dcmcanor changes in 4 flash. and they sheer
off. pulling ont their gls. and erecting every
fin bone with wrath. Then th' red fish shoots
UP alongside his biz antagonist and asks him
what the devil hc means. The green fish is
grossly anrontcd. but win have no vulgar quar-
rel with an ill-brod bully i'm public place. But
h. cannot shakr the iuiiian off; and. as they
crcl" the bowl side by side. the red fish jostlcs
his left fin and throws him out II his stroke
II is a terrible provocation but his dignity VIII
not permit him 10 resent II. and ne simply
quickcus his pace. Tn red fish has the inside
Of The turn and quiC kens too. till he leads by
half a head This big green coward. he Thinks
shall be made to fight: so he deliberately fouls
him. and drives him against the wall Of tn"
bowl "Tcn tikals on the red fish, Shrek Nal
Yim's supporters But the fat fellow is reused
at last and makes a side snap at his enemy 8
eye ana another at hiS open gill. fixing his teeth
in the edge Of the Gl-shield. There is n struE-
gle and the red FISH shakes hiinsef tFec'
two silver scales settle gently To the bottom
They are at II now hammer and tongs. flying
round the bowl lin to fin. and snapping Hereby
at each others eyes. Then the red fish drops
an inch behind. and MAKES n grab at his OPP
poncnts fin. His teeth are deep in the heshy
Joint. and the green iish spins round and round
AMI round without dslodCinG them. His StIuE-
g,"s grow weaker and gradually the two sink
lower in the bowl The excitement in the gal
lrrv is dcafening. and Mai kcm's supporters grin
fooli.hly and shout empty erCouragemcnt to
their champion. Gradually the shouts die down.
FOR the combatants are suiiIing at the bottom.
aud may remain there for half an hour hut
the rcd fish cannO; keep his grip forever. and
A sudden wrench Of IN" IN tears Il free. Nor.
with his tired Jaws. can he lay hold again for
tho green fish turns suddenly and comes at him
open jovlei. They lock with a tury that SNAKES
thcui efcm TO stern and now tn" weight of the
r,..p n-h Iccins go tell He forces his antago-
mist hclulcssy against the glass. and. loosing
him 3 - his teeth into dorsal fin. II * now
Nai K.rn's turn 80 cheer. for. twist and wrigEle
/ AZ l., viii tn" little rrdcoat cannot wrench him
sclf free. Then the fin tears. and. whole In
Saior. = tatt"rrd In body. ia" red fish renew
tho attack The sail h" carried 80 proudly alpn
when h. went into action Is 4 wreck. ana ITS
torn .hreds drape his battered sides and i'm
u.rl. tho working - his FMS But. Ike game
ut.ln urlvatccr engaged by frgatc. Re asks no
quarter. and only hshts tn" NOR" Hereby Tor MS
Injuries He has found out thai the green FISH
~ II lw in turning. hc remembers how dear such
unwi.ldincss cost one Of his dummy antagonists
in fl. training lar Open-mouthcd. h. hurls
himself AZ his cncuy's great hroadsidc and his
chiscl teeth snap to on mOuthful ~ scales be
hind the fin. In vain the green fish strives
to turn and bring his Jaws To bear. He has
driftcd against the glass. helpless. and his en-