tleman must know everything's square when he plays
with me. When we ring again, just bring in the usual. Adieu. Au revoir.
Haere ra, which is Maori. Parting is such sweet sorrow."

As the bar-maid disappeared the digger placed a pile of bank-notes on
the table, and Tresco looked at them with feigned astonishment. "If you
think, mister, that I can set even money again that, you over-estimate
my influence with my banker. A modest tenner or two is about my height.
But who knows?--before the evening is far spent perhaps my capital may
have increased. Besides, there are always plenty of matches for
counters--a match for a pound."

"What shall it be?" asked the digger.

"'Kitty,'" answered Tresco. "A pound a throw, best of three."

"I'm agreeable," said the digger.

"Throw for first 'go,'" said Tresco.

The digger nodded, took the dice, and threw "eight."

The goldsmith followed with six, and said, "You go first."

The Prospector put three pounds in the centre of the table beside
Tresco's stake, and began to play. His highest throw was ten. Tresco's
was nine, and the digger took the pool.

"Well, you got me there," said the goldsmith. "We'll have another 'go.'"

Again the pool was made up, and this time Tresco threw first. His
highest throw was "eleven," which the digger failed to beat.

"She's mine: come to me, my dear." Taking the pool, the goldsmith added,
"We're quits, but should this sort of thing continue, I have a
remedy--double every alternate 'Kitty.'"

The game continued, with fluctuations of luck which were usually in the
digger's favour.

But the rattling of the dice had attracted attention in the bar, and,
lured by that illusive music, four men approached the room where the
gamblers sat.

"No intrusion, I hope," said the leader of the gang, pushing open the
door.

"Come in, come in," cried Tresco, barely glancing at the newcomers, so
intent was he on the game.

They entered, and stood round the table: an ugly quartette. The man who
had spoken was short, thick-set, with a bullet head which was bald on
the top, mutton-chop whiskers, and a big lump under his left ear. The
second was a neat, handsome man, with black, glittering eyes, over which
the lids drooped shrewdly. The third was a young fellow with a weak
face, a long, thin neck and sloping shoulders; and the fourth, a
clean-shaven man of heavy build, possessed a face that would have
looked at home on the shoulders of a convict. He answered