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With a twist of the hand the hairy man made his throw, and as the three evil heads stooped above the dice, I clah the , levelled pistol in one hand, heavy staff in the other

"What d'ye set?" quoth I The three sprang apart and stared at rowled one

"First your barking-irons--lay them here on the table and quick's the word!" One after another they drew the weapons froh the

"What!" quoth one, a lank rogue with a patch over one eye and winking the other jovial-wise, "Ho,then?"

"Aye," says I, "and with a will!"

"Nay, nay, shipht eyes and but one ear, "easy now--easy We be three lorn s, bully boys, shipht to harm d'ye see, sink me! Join us and welcome, says I, share and share alike O!"

"Aye, I'll join you," quoth I, "but first--you wi' the rings--open the door!" Here the hairy felloled an oath and reached for an eot the end of my staff driven shrewdly into his

"Nay now, ship tone but round eyes snapping, "here's lubberly manners, sink and scuttle me--"

"Open the door!" says I

"Heartily--heartily!" says he, his eye uponto the door, drew the bolts and set it wide

"Wo erect, caught her torn cloak about her and, speeding across the rooone; whereupon the lank fellow sat hilish, the plu against the wall, clasped his belly and groaned

"Well so, my bully roarer, and what now?" demanded the plump man, softly

"Why now," says I, "'twas share and share alike, I s d'ye see, ood lad, and be damned t' ye wi' all , but with the devil peeping through his narrowed lids

"Look'ee," says I, laying a groat upon the table, "there's my all--come turn out your pockets--"

"Pockets!" murmured the plump man, "Lord love me, what's this? Here's us cheated of a bit of daintiness, here's Abner wi' all the wind knocked out o' hi three poor lorn sailor-in ye--shame, shipmate"