CHAPTER XII.

THE FINISH OF A THRILLING GAME.

The captain listened to what Frank had to say, but his sternness did not
seem to relax in the least, as Merry described the sufferings the
prisoner was enduring. But Frank would not be satisfied till the captain
had made a promise to visit Harris himself and see that the fellow was
taken out and cared for if he needed it.

Needless to say that the captain forgot to make the visit right away.

Frank did not tell his friends where he had been and what he had seen.
He did not feel like talking about it, and they noticed that he looked
strangely grim and thoughtful.

Tutor Maybe tried to talk to him about studies, but Merry was in no
mood for that, as his instructor soon discovered.

Despite the fact that the sea was running high, Rattleton seemed to have
recovered in a great measure from his sickness, so he was able to get on
deck with the others. At noon, he even went to the table and ate
lightly, drinking ginger ale with his food.

An hour after dinner Frank found a game of poker going on in the
smoking-room. Mr. Slush was in the game. So were the Frenchman, the
Englishman, and Bloodgood.

No money was in sight, but it was plain enough from the manner in which
the game was played that the chips each man held had been purchased for
genuine money, and the game was one for "blood."

M. Montfort looked up for a moment as Frank stopped to watch the game.
Their eyes met. The Frenchman permitted a sneer to steal across his
face, while Frank looked at him steadily till his eyes dropped.

At a glance, Merry saw that Bloodgood was "shakey." The fellow had been
growing worse and worse as the voyage progressed, and now he seemed on
the verge of a break-down.

A few minutes after entering the room Frank heard one of the spectators
whisper to another that Bloodgood was "bulling the game," and had lost
heavily.

Bloodgood was drinking deeply. Mr. Slush seemed to be indulging rather
freely. The Frenchman sipped a little wine now and then, and the
Englishman drank at regular intervals.

The Frenchman was perfectly cool. The Englishman was phlegmatic. Slush
hesitated sometimes, but, to the surprise of the boys, seemed rather
collected. Bloodgood was hot and excited.

Frank took a position where he could look on. He watched every move.
After a time he discerned that the Englishman and the Frenchman were
playing to each other, although the trick was done so skillfully