ur deep.

Some one was singing a rollicking song of the range at one end of the
bar, and a chorus of four bellowed a profane parody at the other end.

The ears of Pierre le Rouge tingled hotly, and he lowered his eyes to
the floor. Truly, Father Victor would be very wrath when all this was
confessed. Partly to escape this uproar he worked his way to the
quieter room at the back of the saloon.

It was almost as crowded as the bar, but here no one spoke except for
an occasional growl. Sudden speaking, and a loud voice, indeed, was
hardly safe. Some one cursed at his ill-luck as Pierre entered, and a
dozen hands reached for six-guns. In such a place one had to be
prepared.

Pierre remembered with quick dismay that he was not armed. All his
life the straight black gown had been weapon enough to make all men
give way before him. Now he carried no borrowed strength upon his
shoulders.

Automatically he slipped his fingers under the breast of his shirt
until their tips touched the cold metal of the cross. That gave him
stronger courage. The joy of the adventure made his blood warm again
as he drew out his one coin and looked for a place to start his venture.

"It is God who governs me," he said, "and why should I doubt Him?"

So he approached the nearest table. On the surface of it were marked
six squares with chalk, and each with its appropriate number. The man
who ran the game stood behind the table and shook three dice. The
numbers which turned up paid the gambler. The numbers which failed to
show paid the owner of the game.

His luck had been too strong that night, and now only two men faced
him, and both of them lost persistently. They had passed the stage of
intelligent gaming; they were "bucking" the dice with savage
stubbornness.

Pierre edged closer, shut his eyes, and deposited his coin. When he
looked again he saw that he had wagered on the five.

CHAPTER V

HURLEY

The dice clattered across the table and were swept up by the hand of
the man behind the table before Pierre could note them. Sick at heart,
he began to turn away, as he saw that hand reach out and gather in the
coins of the other two betters. It went out a third time and laid
another fifty-cent piece upon his. The heart of Pierre bounded up to
his throat.

Again the dice rolled, and this time he saw distinctly two fives turn
up. Two dollars in silver were dropped upon his, and still he let the
money lie. Again,