that Jacob, who
had always been such a good nurse to him, is much cast down by his bad
luck, and has taken to drink, and that he has lost or spent all his
money, and can't get credit at the store. He went out quite drunk last
night, and has not returned since. Of course poor Daniel has had
nothing to eat, for he can't leave his bed without help, and even if he
could, there isn't a morsel of food in the house."

This story created much sympathy in the hearts of Polly's hearers.

"Well now, messmates, what's to be done in this case?" asked Captain
Samson, looking round.

"Make a c'lection," said O'Rook.

"Here you are," said Watty, taking up his cap and dropping several small
nuggets into it as he handed it to Jack.

The philosopher contributed a pretty large nugget, which, in his heart,
he had intended to stake at the gaming-table. "Well," said he, "we are
reduced to low enough circumstances just now, but we are rich compared
with poor Buckley."

The entire party at that time numbered only nine, including Polly,
Bounce, and Badger, the other members of the crew of the _Lively Poll_
having separated soon after leaving San Francisco. But as all of them
were men of generous spirit, Watty's cap soon contained a very
creditable "c'lection," which was made up forthwith into a bag, and
carried with some cooked provisions by Polly to Redman's Gap, under the
safe escort of her father and Baldwin Burr.

The following evening, after supper, Philosopher Jack quietly put his
last bag of gold into his pocket and went off with it to Higgins' store.
On the way up he entered into a debate with himself as to the rectitude
of gambling. He seemed to himself to be composed of two persons, one of
whom condemned, while the other defended gambling. But Jack had a
strong will of his own. He was not to be lightly turned from a purpose,
either by the disputants within him or by the arguments of his friend
Wilkins. Being a good reasoner, our philosopher found that the
condemner of gambling within him was rapidly getting the best of the
argument; he therefore brought the matter to a point by suddenly
exclaiming aloud, "Now, the question is, shall I do it?"

"Don't?" said his old, brusque, but faithful friend Conscience, with a
promptitude that made him quite uncomfortable.

"Or," continued Jack slowly, "shall I go back and wait to see whether
things will turn and mend?"

"Do!" answered his friend at once.

If Jack had put more