!" And the Jew laughed with the glee of a demon.

"Not that I want to hurt any one,--not that I 'd like to squeeze a
fellow too hard," broke in Beecher, suddenly, for a quick thrill of
superstitious fear--the gambler's innate conscience--shot through him,
and made him tremble to think that by a chance word or thought he might
disgust the Fortune he would propitiate. "No, no; my motto is, 'Live
and let live!' There's room for us all!" And with the utterance of a
sentiment he believed so truly generous, he took leave of the Jew, and
departed.

CHAPTER V. A VILLAGE NEAR THE RHINE

It was at a little village called Holbach, about fifteen miles from
the right bank of the Rhine, Grog Davis had taken up his quarters while
awaiting the arrival of his daughter. Near as it was to that great
high-road of Europe, scarcely out of earshot of whizzing steamers and
screaming trains, the spot was wonderfully secluded and unvisited.
A little trout-stream, known to a few, who treasured the secret like
fishermen, made the inn resorted to in the months of May and June; but
for the rest of the year the "Golden Hook" had few customers, and the
landlord almost abdicated his functions till spring came round again.
The house, originally intended for a mill, was built over the river
itself, so that the indolent angler might actually have fished from the
very window. The pine-clad mountains of Nassau enclosed the narrow glen,
which straggled irregularly along for miles, now narrowing to a mere
strip, now expanding into little plains of fertile meadow-land, with
neat cottages and speckled cattle scattered around them. A narrow belt
of garden flanked the river, on whose edge a walk of trellised vines
was fashioned,--a charming spot in the sultry heat of summer, with its
luxuriant shade above and the rippling stream below. Davis had seen
the place years before in some hurried Journey; but his retentive mind
carried a full memory of the spot, and he soon found that it comprised
all he was in search of,--it was easy of access, secret, and cheap.

Only too well pleased to meet with a guest at this dead season of the
year, they gave up to him the choicest apartment, and treated him with
every solicitude and attention.

His table was supplied well, almost luxuriously; the good wine of
Ettleberg given in liberal profusion; the vine alley converted into a
pistol gallery for his use; and all for such a sum _per diem_ as would
not have satisfied a