ration of a man that he can and will
be honest at last and face his Maker humbly, but still as a man. Come,
then, my friend, and let us see which of us two is the decent and
honorable one. Stake your manhood against mine, and stake your life
with your manhood. We'll see which is the more honorable of the two;
for I tell you now, Mr. Shark, that we are going to gamble for our
lives and our honor.

"Come up closer and watch the throw. No? Afraid of the oar? You
sneaking coward! You would be a decent shark at last did the oar but
split your skull. See this visiting card, you villain? Look at it as I
hold it up. There is printing on one side; that is my name; it is I.
The other side is blank; that is you. Now, I am going to throw this
into the water. If it falls name up, I win; if blank side up, you win.
If I win, I eat you; if you win, you eat me. Is that a go?

"Hold on. You see, I can throw a card so as to bring uppermost either
side I please. That wouldn't be fair. For this, the last game of my
life, is to be square. So I fold one end down on this side, and the
other down on that side. When you throw a card folded like that no
living shark, whether he have legs or only a tail, can know which side
will fall uppermost. That is a square game, old man, and it will settle
the little difference that has existed between you and me for four days
past--a difference of ten or fifteen feet.

"Mind you, if I win, you are to come alongside the boat and I am to
kill you and eat you. That may sustain my life until I am picked up. If
you win, over I go and you eat me. Are you in the game? Well, here
goes, then, for life or death.... Ah! you have won! And this is a game
of honor!"

* * * * *

A black-smoking steamer was steadily approaching the drifting boat, for
the lookout had reported the discovery, and the steamer was bearing
down to lend succor. The captain, standing on the bridge, saw through
his glass a wild and nearly naked man making the most extraordinary
signs and gestures, staggering and lurching in imminent danger of
falling overboard. When the ship had approached quite near the captain
saw the man toss a card into the water, and then stand with an ominous
rigidity, the meaning of which was unmistakable. He sounded a blast
from the whistle, and the drifting man started violently and turned to
see the steamer approaching, and observed hasty preparations for the
lowering of a boat