Year: 1871

ingness to do so, but declared he had not SO


much money in his possession. The defci-
| ency was, however, made up by others of


the fraternity, aud they prepared to resume
the game. There was large carving fork
lying near Harris, which the waiter had
| neglected to remove when he had cleared
the table that eyening. This Harris. with


careless and apparently (as he took his


seat accidental movement of his arm,
| drew close to his side. OF


All now drew near in eager expectation.
Harris seized the cup and shaking the dice
violently for moment dashed them before
| him. L could scarcely suppress a cry of
| exUltation when saw he had thrown double
tives, within one of the highest number that
it is possible to make.


The professionals cast uneasy glances


upon each other, but Harris antagonist only
smiled scornfully, and threw the ivory cubes
toward him. just, however, as he was
placing them in the box, they slipped
through his fingers and fell upon the floor.


He stopped and recovered them in an in
slant, but as he reached forth his hand to
take the cup, Harris, " hose ewes had a fixed.
determined look, and which had never for
a moment been off him, suddenly seized
Is
that of the deadly rattlesnake, stuck the
sharp prOngs through his wrist, literally pin
ming it to tha table, at the same time pre-
senting cooked pistol full at his head.
There was a yell from the wounded man,
and volley of imprecatiens burst from his
associates. A dozen weapons were planted
at the breast of Harris. He, however, was
equal to the occasion. Not muscle of his
q 4 :.
the least when he spoke.


"One moment, gentlemen" said he. &c You
yourselves have declared that, should one
of your number be detected in foul play,
the stakes should be forfeited and ne sum
marily punished. If the dice under the
hand l now hold imprisoned be not false,
then do with me as you will. If, however,
prove correct in my assertion, demand
the fulflment of your threat"


BY this time every male passenger had
collected around the table, and the gamblers
saw by their looks and drawn weapons that
they were not to be trifed with. So they
were forced, reluctantly, to admit the truth
of what Harris had said.


The gambler was held secure in his chair,
the fork withdrawn, the dice examined and
found to be lOaded-the true pair were con-
cealed in his sleeve. His fate was sealed
in spite of desperate resistance. Strong
arms stripped him of his weapons, forced
him into boat and rowed him to the near
est land, low sand bank entirely sur
rounded by the river, and whose rapidly
rising waters promised soon to submerge it.
Upon this island, deafto his piteous appeals
they forced him, and the steamer resumed
her course down the river.


But long after we had lost sight of him in
the darkness there came to us, out of the
black night, Wild cries, that sounded in our
ears high above the dash Of our ponderous
wheels and the rush of the mighty river.
Screams for mercy, fearful imprecations
and chilling blasphemies.


Harris hid his face in his hands and wept
like child. Strong men turned pale, and
the very gamblers looked at each other with
whitened cheeks and trembling lips.


OF his fate there could be no doubt. The
strongest swimmer could not for a moment
stem that fearful torrent, and to remain
upon the bank was but to choose a lingering
and more fearful death.


There was ne more playing on board the
boat that trip, and at the first landing most
of the passengers left her, fleeing from it as
a place accIlrsed.


Among those who left was Harris.


Years had passed when we met again, |
but he trembled when he spoke of that |
fearful night on the Ohio, and said he had !
never touched card since then.