Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/47

 Prince Jim was beginning to talk hoss sense, and Cap warmed up. "It was jest this way: that was the only trick we turned where you made a good scoop that I didn't deal. You remember how I dealt you an ace to fill, a seven to make fours, two flushes under the whip, an' always had good hands out against 'em."

The Southerner flinched; each item in the count was perfectly true. Clenching his hands behind him, he let Cap Wright proceed: "That young feller Shields don't know a thing about cards; he never watches nobody. Joe fixed 'em up, and I slipped Shields a cold deck. That's how you got the king-full against Eaton's jack-full. We expected you to hit him for his stack. He was drinkin' an' bettin' wild."

"You infernal scoundrel!" Colonel Spottiswoode still spoke beneath his breath, but there was no mistaking what he said and no doubt that he meant it. Zack edged nearer to hear what else the Colonel was saying; "You common thief, you"

Cap Wright needed the hide of a rhinocerous—he was so accustomed to being denounced; but the suddenness of this surprised him into a movement toward his pocket.

Quicker than thought the Colonel grappled both his wrists, "No you don't; not on me."

"Cunnel! Cunnel! he's got a knife—got a