Twenty or thirty pounds in dollars and half-dollars depended on the wavering coin.

Suddenly it stopped, balanced as if in doubt, and fell on its face.
"Two tails!" cried the gaffers, and the trot of heads was finished.
Chook's stake was swept away, and the boxer handed him ten pounds.
Chook tossed a pound to him for commission.

He acknowledged it with a grunt, and looking round the ring at the winning players cried out "How is it ?--how is it ?" With his other winnings Chook had over fifteen pounds in his pocket, and he decided to go, although the night was young.

As he went to the stairs, the boxer cried out, "No one to leave for five minutes!" following the custom when a big winner left the room, to prevent a swarm of cadgers, lug-biters, and spielers begging a tram fare, a bed, a cup of coffee from the winner.

When Chook reached the top of the staircase, the G.P.O.clock began to strike, and Chook stopped to listen, for he had forgotten the lapse of time.