which I might hope to base action--every watcher believed those cards
had been stacked, and that Beaucaire was robbed by means of a trick.
Yet, could this be proven? Would any one of those men actually swear
that he had seen a suspicious move? If not, then what was there left
me except a mere bluff? Absolutely nothing.

Gambling was a recognized institution, with which even the law did not
interfere. Of course there were statutes in both Missouri and
Illinois, but no enforcement. Indeed the gambling fraternity was so
firmly intrenched, through wealth and influence, that no steamer
captain even, autocratic as he often was, would dare encroach on their
prerogatives. Interested as Thockmorton would be in serving
Beaucaire's dependents, and as much as he cordially disliked Kirby, all
I could rely upon from him in this emergency would be a certain moral
support, and possibly some valuable advice. He would never dare ally
himself openly, for the cost of such action would be too high. On the
other hand, from my knowledge of Kirby's desperate character, and
previous exploits, I seriously doubted the efficacy of threatening him
with lynch law. He would be far more liable to defy a mob than yield
to its demands. Yet memory of those two helpless girls--more
particularly that one over whose unconsciousness there hung the
possibility of slavery--urged me strongly to attempt even the
apparently impossible. I had it in my mind to fight the man personally
if, in no other way, I could attain my end; at least I would face him
with every power and authority I could bring to bear.

With no other object in mind, and unarmed, never once dreaming of
attack, I advanced alone along the dark, narrow strip of deck, leading
toward the ladder which mounted to the wheelhouse. There were no
lights, and I was practically compelled to feel my way by keeping one