handed me the money. Ryan saw that big
roll, and hated to have him get away, as he might quit after losing.
When he saw that I was holding stakes, he said: "I guess I will
back out." I spoke up and told him he could not, and my friend
said that it was not fair to back out. Then said Ryan, "I will
raise you $2,000," and he laid it up in my hand. Then my friend
wanted to back out and take his money down, but Ryan would not
stand that. I insisted on putting up the rest, but Ryan would not
allow it, as he said, "I will bet but one at a time." I told him
to lay up the money. He put it up at last, trembling like a man
with the palsy; but finally he grabbed the card and lost.

Just about that time there was a little boat landed alongside of
us, as we were lying at a landing putting off freight. I gave Ryan
the office to get on her. He slipped over on the boat, and the
sucker just then came to his senses. When he saw that Ryan had
gone out, he said to me, "Where did he go?" I told him he had gone
back in the cabin; so he started back to look for him, and while
he was gone the little boat backed out. I walked out in the hall
to see what had become of my friend, and found him searching all
the rooms in the ladies' cabin. He then rushed into a gentleman's
room where his wife was, and then there was h--l to pay. The man
came near shooting him, but I ran back and told the gentleman that
the fellow was crazy and did not know what he was doing. He ran
all around the boat, frothing at the mouth, and never said a word
to any one. Finally some of the officers grabbed him, got a rope
and tied him, for they all thought he was crazy; and I commenced
to think so myself, as all he would say was, "Where is he? Where
did he go?" No one had seen the game but the barber, and I slipped
him a twenty-dollar bill and told him to keep mum. They kept the
man tied for about one hour, until he promised he would behave if
they let him loose, which they did. He sat perfectly still and
did not have a word to say. I knew he was not broke, for I saw he
had about $200 left; and that amount, together with his late
experience, was capital enough for any man.

DIDN'T WIN THE KEY.

We were playing monte on board the steamer _Magnolia_, out of New
Orleans, one night, and had a very lively game. We had won a few
hundred dollars. There was a Jew on board who had no money, but
he had a fine watch. During the play he was very anxious to b