as a quiet as a lamb. Finally my luck changed,
and he beat one hand for $4,000. Then I did commence to kick at
my bad luck, and we soon made up another purse. After playing some
two hours more, McGawley had all our money; so I said to him, "As
you have broke us both, will you lend me $1,000 for a few days,
until I get some from New Orleans?" He said, "Certainly," pulled
out the money and handed it to me, and I gave my New York partner
half, saying, "Perhaps we will have better luck next time, as I
will have all the money I want, soon, from New Orleans; then I will
tackle him again, and of course you are in with everything that I
do."
I had some $600 in silver that I did not know how to get on board
the ship, that laid outside of Bagdad, without paying duty on it.
So I went to a man from New Orleans, whom I knew well, by the name
of Eugene Dupratt. I told him I had this silver, and asked him if
he could get it on board the vessel, as he had lighters running
all the time. It was about equal to running the blockade, or
smuggling. "Well," said he, "I will take yourself, partner, trunks,
and silver, and land you safe on board the ship, for $200." "I
will give you the money." That night we slipped the things out of
the hotel and got them safely on board the lighter, and were soon
on board the vessel, and in two hours were under sail for New
Orleans. We got home all right, and in ten days after we landed
we were both broke, and ready for another trip.
BROKE A SNAP GAME.
We left New Orleans on a Red River packet, and had been out about
an hour, when a man came up to me and said, "Captain, have you any
objection to a man opening faro on your boat?" I said, "No, you
can open any time you please." He took me to be Captain Heath,
and I knew he did not care. He said, "I will open after supper."
It was near that time then, and I thought I must go to work if I
wanted to beat this man. I found out what room he occupied, and
then told my partner to stay and entertain him till I returned.
I went to his room, and found an old-fashioned valise that held
his tools. I tried the keys I had, and found one to fit. I opened
the valise, took out the cards and punched every one of them; then
I put them back and carefully locked the valise, went back and
invited them to take a drink. Then we went to supper, and after
it was over the old fellow brought out his kit and opened a game.
He shuffled and put the cards in the box
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