"Well, yes, since you mention it, on such an occasion as this. But
Tom--" turning to the colored boy, "Make it very light; ver-r-ry
light. Hold on thah, you rascal, not too light!"

The Honorable William Jones set an example in which he was joined
temperately by the judge, the others contenting themselves in
completing their arrangements for the game. The tokens were
distributed, and in accordance with the custom of the time, the
table soon was fairly well covered with money of divers sorts, gold
coin, a lesser amount of silver, bills issued by many and divers
banks in this or that portion of the country.

Silence fell when the game really began. The Honorable William
Jones at first ever and anon threatened to erupt into Roman facts
and figures, but chilly glances made his answer. Half an hour, and
the passing of time was forgot.

At first the cards ran rather severely against the judge, and
rather in favor of the historian, who played "the said poker" with
such thoroughness that presently there appeared before him a ragged
pile of currency and coin. Dunwody and Carlisle were losers, but
finally Dunwody began to edge in upon the accumulated winnings of
his neighbor on the right. An hour passed, two hours, more. The
boat plowed on down-stream. Presently the colored boy began to
light lamps. There came to the faces of all the tense look, the
drawn and lined visage which is concomitant to play for
considerable stakes. A frown came on the florid countenance of the
young officer. The pile of tokens and currency before him lessened
steadily. At last, in fact, he began to show uneasiness. He
thrust a hand into a pocket where supplies seemed to have grown