Mounted on the trunk, he applied his eye to the orifice and
discovered that he could see into the Frenchman's room very nicely.
"What can you see?" grunted Browning.
"I can see everyone in there," answered Jack.
"Name them."
"The Frenchman, the Englishman, the superstitious man, and our fresh
friend, Bloodgood."
"Same old crowd," murmured Frank.
"Yes, and a hot old game!" came from the youth on the trunk. "My! my!
but they are whooping her up! They've got plenty to drink, and they are
playing for big dust."
"Tell them to saw up till to-morrow," mumbled Bruce.
Jack did not do so, however. He remained on the trunk, watching the
game, seeming greatly interested.
A big game of poker interested him any time. It was through the
influence of Frank that he had been led to renounce the game, but the
thirst for its excitements and delights remained with him, for he had
come from a family of card-players and sportsmen.
"Come, come!" laughed Frank, after a while; "I can hear your teeth
chattering, old man. Get off that trunk and turn in."
"Wait!" fluttered Jack--"wait till I see this hand played out."
In less than half a minute he cried:
"It's a skin game! I knew it was!"
"What's the lay?" asked Merry.
"That infernal Frenchman is a card-sharp!"
"I suspected as much."
"His pal is the Englishman.
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