passed into other hands. Has he made his fortune, and retired? Such
we might suppose to be the case, did we not know that he trusted to
moderate drinking. Man might as well trust a leaky vessel to bear
him across the ocean, as to trust that.

The clock struck twelve.

"'T is midnight," said a female voice, "and he has not come. God
send repentance to his heart! Hope has almost failed me; yet I will
hope on."

"Another glass of brandy for me," said a man, addressing Mr. Dago
Pump.

"And rum for me," said another.

"Gin with a hot poker in it for me," said the third; and Mr. Pump
poured out the poisons.

Half a dozen men stood in front of some rough boards that served as
a "bar."

One of these-a tall, well-formed man-gazed fixedly upon the glasses,
seemingly in deep thought.

"Stop!" he suddenly exclaimed. Mr. Pump nearly dropped the bottle.
It was as an electric shock to him: an ashy paleness came over his
face. "Stop!" he again exclaimed. All eyes were fixed upon him. Some
tried to laugh, but could not. Dago set down the bottle, and the
glasses, half filled, stood upon the bench before him.