the prize. They moved along with a careless and
unconcerned air, in order not to awaken any suspicion of their designs.
They were suspected, however, both of them, by Mr. Chauncy. He
accordingly walked forward, too; and he reached a part of the promenade
deck that was near the smoke pipe, where he could look down upon the
place where the woman was sitting. He reached the spot just as the two
men came before her, one having descended by one staircase, and the
other by the other. When they met each other, close before where the
woman was sitting, they each understood in an instant for what purpose
the other had come. They knew, too, that it would defeat the object
altogether if they both attempted to buy the ticket; and yet there was
no time or opportunity to make any formal stipulation on the subject
between them. Such men, however, are always very quick and cunning, and
ready for all emergencies. The mate, without speaking to the woman, gave
a wink to the Colonel, and said in an undertone, as he sauntered slowly
along by him,--

"Colonel! half!"

"Done!" said the Colonel.

So the mate passed carelessly on, leaving the Colonel to manage the
negotiation, with the understanding that they were to share the profits
of the transaction between them.

Just at this moment, Mr. Chauncy, who was looking down upon this scene
from above, called out to the woman,--

"My good woman, your ticket has drawn the prize. The Colonel has come to
pay you the money."

The Colonel was overwhelmed with astonishment and vexation at this
interruption. He looked up, with a countenance full of rage, to see from
whom the sound proceeded. There were one or two other gentlemen standing
with Chauncy as witnesses of the scene; and the Colonel saw at once that
his scheme was defeated. So he made a virtue of necessity, and, taking
out the purse, he poured the ten sovereigns into the poor woman's lap.
She was overwhelmed and bewildered with astonishment at finding herself
suddenly in possession of so much money.

As for Hilbert, there were no bounds to the vexation and anger which he
experienced in the failure of all his hopes and expectations.

"What a miserable fool I was!" said he. "I might have had that very
ticket. He as good as offered to exchange with me. Such a stupid dolt as
I was, not to know when it was upside down! Then, besides, I was offered
two pounds for my ticket, sure--and I believe I should have taken it, if
my father had not a