Then, with a slight laugh, he said, "Very well, one thing at a time, the other can wait." "Come on!" cried Harry, "who goes in?
LeNoir, you ?" LeNoir looked at Ranald.
"What you say ?" "No," said Ranald, shortly, "this is my game!" With that he turned aside from the table and spoke a few words in a low tone to LeNoir, who assisted Rouleau from the room, and after some minutes' absence, returned with a little linen bag.

Ranald took the bag and began to count out some money upon the table before him.
"I will play to one hundred dollars," he said.
The lieutenant and Mr.Sims each laid the same amount before them upon the table.
"I have not so much on me," said Harry, "but perhaps my I.O.

U.will do." "What shall we say," said Mr.Sims, "a dollar to play and five dollars limit ?" "Say five and twenty-five," said De Lacy, who was commanding himself with a great effort.
"Is that too high ?" said Harry, looking toward Ranald.
"No," said Ranald, "the higher the better." It was soon evident that Ranald knew the game.

He had learned it during the long winter nights in the shanty from Yankee, who was a master at it, and he played it warily and with iron nerve.

He seemed to know as by instinct when to retreat and when to pursue; and he played with the single purpose of bleeding the lieutenant dry.