e
of monte, and she insisted, too, on making herself banker, though she
had no money on the table to pay with in case she lost--which she had no
intention of doing. So she won every ounce, dollar, real, and centavo
they had in their pockets! The doctor and purser told me they saw her
cheat boldly; but yet she not only bagged all the money, but she won
their mules into the bargain!"

Here those individuals confessed roundly--standing on the defensive--that
the fat old senora had a false pack of cards always ready in her ample
bosom, and had cheated them in the barest manner conceivable; but yet
they had no appeal, and were inclined, out of gallantry for the sex, to
behave like gentlemen, though she did drink aguardiente.

"Well, messmates, toward midnight that hospitable wife of the Don began
to abuse our friends for not bringing more cash with them when they
visited ladies, and then fairly kicked them out of the house! Yes, you
both told me so when I lent you the money to pay the boatmen, after
being obliged to tramp all the way back to the port on foot, nearly
missing their billets in the old 'Scourge.'"

"Go on, master! Tell us all about it; don't stop!"

"Well, messmates, I was on deck while beating out of the channel, and
just abreast the Star Castle I saw a boat with two gentlemen in the
stern, stripped to a girt-line, and howling at rather than hailing the
ship. Bear in mind, doctor, the men refused to take either of you unless
you gave them your coats and trowsers before shoving off. And don't you
remember, Hardy, how they yelled at us, and we thought they were
deserters from that English gun-boat in St. Jago? And how the captain
arrested the pair of them when they got on board for going out of signal
distance? This is the first time _I_ ever told this yarn," concluded the
old navigator, tugging away at the lobe of his lost ear.

The young lieutenants shouted, and the old major of marines, forgetful
of his iron-stuffed stock, laughed till he nearly sawed his chin off,
rubbing his chalky knuckles into his eyes the while.

"But first upon the Almanac
A solemn oath he took--
That he would catch a load of clams--"

"The barge is coming off, Mr. Hardy, with the pennant flying, sir!"
reported a reefer, in the midst of the conversation, to the first
lieutenant, as he shoved his bright face through the wardroom door.

"Very good, Mr. Beaver; but hark ye, sir! the next time you go ashore in
the mar