those around us? By daylight most of those present will be either
drunk or asleep, and then we could get off without much of a struggle."

The advice of the inspector was good, and perhaps we should have adopted
it; but just at that moment a burly fellow staggered towards our table,
and seemed determined to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance.

"You coves don't seem to drink as though you liked our lush," he began,
steadying himself by holding on to the table with one hand, and pointing
to the half-filled glasses before us. "If the liquor isn't good why
don't you say so, and be hanged to you," he continued.

We made a short reply that we liked the liquor very much, and was going
to drink our share of it as soon as we got some business arranged.

"Well, let us have a rousing drink, and I'll pay for it," our
troublesome friend continued, and in spite of our declaration he ordered
a pint of whiskey, and then sat down beside us as though he was
determined to see that full justice was done to his treat.

I shoved Jackson's hands under the table so that his bracelets could not
be seen, and then I held them in that position until the liquor was
brought, when a new source of trouble awaited us. It was necessary, to
escape without a quarrel, that each of us should honor the unexpected
treat by partaking of it; but when it came Jackson's turn to drink, we
all protested that he had his reasons for not imbibing, but our
troublesome friend overruled them.

"He shall drink, by G----d, or fight," roared the ruffian; and as he
spoke we saw, with some misgivings, that our corner of the room was the
centre of attraction, and that the sleeping thieves were waking up, and
listening to hear what the row was about.

"Sit down, man," cried the inspector, calmly, "and let me drink his
share. I'll drink glass after glass with you, until daylight."

"Not by a d----d sight. I want that fellow to respond to my toast:
'Death and confusion to all policemen!'" shouted the ruffian, bringing
his glass down upon the table with so much force that it was shivered to
pieces, and one of the fragments struck our prisoner on his face, and so
startled him that he sprang up, in defiance of the inspector's threat,
and revealed what we had attempted to conceal, his confined hands.

The secret was out, and frowns and threats were in vain. We felt in our
pockets and satisfied ourselves that our revolvers were ready, and then
waited for the astonished ru