Swiftly progressed the game, and no one could fail to see how it was
going by watching the cunning light in the gambler's eye. At last the
game-card went down, and next instant, after the sharp had raked in
his stakes, a cocked revolver in either hand of Ned Harris covered the
hearts of the two players.

"Hello!" gasped Redburn, quailing under the gaze of a cold steel
tube--"what's the row, now?"

"Draw your revolver!" commanded Harris, sternly, having an eye on the
card-sharp at the same time, "Come! don't be all night about it!"

Redburn obeyed; he had no other choice.

"Cock it and cover your man!"

"Who do you mean?"

"The cuss under my left-hand aim."

Again the "pilgrim" felt that he could not afford to do otherwise than
obey.

So he took "squint" at the gambler's left breast after which Harris
withdrew the siege of his left weapon, although he still covered the
young Easterner, the same. Quietly he moved around to where the
card-sharp sat, white and trembling.

"Gentlemen!" he yelled, in a clear, ringing voice, "will some of you
step this way a moment?"