When the master had gone on deck again, the play was resumed, and Shuffles and Wilton watched it with deep interest.
Gambling was a new thing on board the Young America.

It had not been practised at all in the preceding year, having been introduced by Shuffles and Monroe, who had visited a prop saloon in the city where they resided, during their late furlough.

Each of them had brought a set of props on board, with which they intended to amuse themselves during the voyage.

As yet, the practice was confined to a few of "our fellows;" but the crew in the steerage were certainly in very great danger of being carried away by the passion for gaming, for it was spreading rapidly.
The prop-shaking was carried on in the mess rooms, while the students were off duty.

Shuffles had played with half a dozen boys the night before; Sanborn and Lynch had been engaged in the game since the first watch was set, and another party had been employed in the same manner in another room.