ad
come from a family of card-players and sportsmen.

"Come, come!" laughed Frank, after a while; "I can hear your teeth
chattering, old man. Get off that trunk and turn in."

"Wait!" fluttered Jack--"wait till I see this hand played out."

In less than half a minute he cried:

"It's a skin game! I knew it was!"

"What's the lay?" asked Merry.

"That infernal Frenchman is a card-sharp!"

"I suspected as much."

"His pal is the Englishman. They are standing in together."

"Yes?"

"Sure thing. They are bleeding Bloodgood and Slush. Bloodgood thinks
he's pretty sharp, and I have not much sympathy for him; but I am sorry
for poor little Slush. He should have paid attention to some of his
signs and omens. He knew something disastrous would happen during this
voyage, and I rather think it will happen to him."

Then Diamond thumped the wall again, crying:

"Stop that business in there! Mr. Slush, you are playing cards with
crooks--you are being robbed! Get out of that game as soon as you can!"

There was a sudden silence in the adjoining room, and then M. Rouen
Montfort was heard to utter an exclamation in French, following which he
cried:

"I see you to-morrow, saire! I make you swallow ze lie!"

"You may see me any time you like!" Diamond flung back.

CHAPTER XI.

THE HORRORS OF THE HOLD.

To the surprise of the four youths, M. Montfort utterly ignored them on
the following day, instead of seeking "trouble," as had been
anticipated.

"Well," said Jack, in disgust, "he has less courage than I thought. He
is just a common boasting Frenchman."

"He is not a common Frenchman." declared Frank. "I believe he is a
rascal of more than common calibre."

"But he lacks nerve, and I have nothing but contempt for him," said the
Virginian. "I didn't know but he would challenge me to a duel."

"What if he had?"

"What if he had?" hissed the hot-blooded Southern youth. "I'd fought him
at the drop of the hat!"

"That's all right, but you know most Frenchmen fight well in a duel."

"I don't know anything of the kind. They are expert fencers, but I
notice it is mighty seldom one of them is killed in a duel. They
sometimes draw a drop of blood, and then they consider that 'honor is
satisfied,' and that ends it."

It was midway in the forenoon that Frank met Mr. Slush on deck. The
little man was looking more doleful and dejected than ever, if possible.

"The--ah--the moon showed rather yellow last nigh