ing extraordinary must have happened. All the
gentlemen, except Captain Irwin and one of the players, laid down their
cards, and the unpleasantly penetrating voice of Captain Irwin was
heard.

"You are an old fox, Captain McGregor! But I am aware of your tricks and
cannot be taken in by them. Therefore, once more, six hundred rupees!"

Every poker-player knows that, so far from being considered
dishonourable, it is a chief sign of skill in the game, where each man
plays for his own hand, for one to deceive the rest as to the value of
the cards he holds. The name of "bluff," which has been given to this
game, is itself sufficient to show that everyone has to try his best to
puzzle his adversaries.

But this time Irwin appeared to have met his match in McGregor. For the
Captain replied calmly: "Six hundred and fifty. But I advise you not to
see me, Irwin."

"Seven hundred."

"Seven hundred and fifty."

"Thousand!" shouted Irwin with resounding voice, and leant back in his
chair smiling, as if certain of victory.

"You had better consider what you are about," said McGregor. "I have
given you warning."

"A convenient way to haul in seven hundred and fifty rupees. I repeat: A
thousand rupees."

"One thousand and fifty!"

"Two thousand!"

All the gentlemen present in the tent had risen and stood round the two
players, who, their cards concealed in their hands, watched each other
with sharp glances. Hermann Heideck, who had stepped behind Irwin,
noticed on the right hand of the Captain a magnificent diamond ring. But
he also perceived, by the way the bright sparkle of the stone quivered,
how the gambler's fingers trembled.

Captain McGregor turned to his companions. "I take the gentlemen to
witness that I have advised my comrade Irwin not to see me at six
hundred."

"To the devil with your advice!" Irwin interrupted almost furiously. "Am
I a boy? Will you see me at two thousand, McGregor, or will you not?"

"Very well, since you insist upon it--three thousand."

"Five thousand."

"Five thousand five hundred."

"Ten thousand."

One of the higher officers, Major Robertson, laid his hand lightly upon
the shoulder of the rash gambler.

"That is too much, Irwin. I do not care to interfere in these things,
and since you do not belong to my regiment, I can only speak to you as a
comrade, not as a superior. But I am afraid you will be in difficulties
if you lose."

Angrily the Captain fired up--

"What d