d to the "waif."

The black seemed altogether to dissent from this doctrine; on his side
pointing to the two heaps of plunder; as much as to say that his share
of the spoils--already obtained--was the smaller one.

At this crisis a third party stepped between the two disputants--a young
fellow, who appeared to have some authority with both. His behavior told
Bill that he was acting as mediator. Whatever was the proposal made by
him, it appeared to satisfy both parties, as both at once desisted from
their wordy warfare--at the same time that they seemed preparing to
settle the dispute in some other way.

The mode was soon made apparent. A spot of smooth, even sand was
selected by the side of the encampment, to which the two sheiks,
followed by their respective parties, repaired.

A square figure was traced out, inside of which several rows of little
round holes were scooped in the sand, and then the rival sheiks sat
down, one on each side of the figure. Each had already provided himself
with a number of pellets of camels' dung, which were now placed in the
holes, and the play of "helga" was now commenced.

Whoever won the game was to become possessed of the single stake, which
was neither more nor less than Sailor Bill.

The game proceeded by the shifting of the dung pellets in a particular
fashion, from hole to hole, somewhat similar to the moving of draughts
upon the squares of a checker-board.

During the play not a word was spoken by either party, the two sheiks
squatting opposite each other, and making their moves with as much
gravity as a pair of chess-players engaged in some grand tournament of
this intellectual game.

It was only when the affair ended, that the noise broke forth again,
which it did in loud, triumphant shouts from the conquering party, with
expressions of chagrin on the side of the conquered.

By interpreting these shouts, Bill could tell that he had fallen to the
black; and this was soon after placed beyond doubt by the latter coming
up and taking possession of him.

It appeared, however, that there had been certain subsiding conditions
to the play, and that the sailor had been in some way or another _staked
against his own clothes_; for before being fully appropriated by his
owner he was stripped to his shirt, and his habiliments, shoes and
sou'-wester included, were handed over to the sheik who had played
second-best in the game of "helga."

In this forlorn condition was the old sa