ked out on the guards, and then up
on the roof, where I found him. I said, "Here is your money; I
did not want you to bet, and you have knocked me out of many a good
dollar." He was surprised to get his money back, and he said he
bet in good faith. I talked to him until he told me I could open
up again, and then I told him to give me the $500, and so soon as
I got opened up, for him to come up and make a play, and I would
let him win it back.

I went down and called all the boys into the cabin again, and had
just begun to throw them, when up stepped the Captain and said, "I
lost once, but I will try it again." So he put up and won the
money. Then he walked away. Then a sucker pulled out his wallet,
and offered to bet me $500. I saw he had plenty left, so I said,
"I will not bet less than $1,500." While he was hesitating, my
partner came forward and said he did not have that much money, but
he would bet $1,000 that he could turn the winner. I took him up
and he lost. Then the sucker was all excitement, for he saw that
he didn't turn the card with the corner turned up, so he wanted to
bet $1,000. I would not bet less than $1,500, so he at last put
up. I gave them one more shuffle, and then he was so nervous that
he turned the wrong card. It made him so sick that he went out on
the guards and threw up his supper. The balance of the suckers
did not want to get sick, so I closed up; but if it had not been
for the Captain's first play, I would have done a much better
business on that boat. Such is luck.

TOO SICK TO FIGHT.

I was playing poker on the steamer _Capitol_ with a negro trader,
and had won some money from him, when he got up and went down on
the boiler deck. In a little while he came back followed by an
old black woman, and wanted me to loan him $1,500 on her. She was
too old for me, so I told him I was not keeping a pawn-shop; but
my partner told him he would loan him $1,000 on her, if he would
make out a bill of sale. The bill was made out and he got the
money. We began another game, and in about half and hour I had
his $1,000; for we were playing with my cards, and they never went
back on me or told me a lie. He went off, borrowed some more money
and wanted to renew the game; but as he was getting very drunk, I
declined to play with him any longer. Then he set up a kick, and
said he had been cheated. I told him all suckers talked that way
when they lost their money. That made him ho