howling of dogs. It was not every night that high stakes were
played on the Yukon, and for that matter, this was the highest in
the history of the country. The saloon-keeper finally spoke.

"If anybody else wins, they'll have to take a mortgage on the
Tivoli."

The two other players nodded.

"So I call, too." MacDonald added his slip for five thousand.

Not one of them claimed the pot, and not one of them called the
size of his hand. Simultaneously and in silence they faced their
cards on the table, while a general tiptoeing and craning of
necks took place among the onlookers. Daylight showed four
queens and an ace; MacDonald four jacks and an ace; and Kearns
four kings and a trey. Kearns reached forward with an encircling
movement of his arm and drew the pot in to him, his arm shaking
as he did so.

Daylight picked the ace from his hand and tossed it over
alongside MacDonald's ace, saying:--

"That's what cheered me along, Mac. I knowed it was only kings
that could beat me, and he had them.

"What did you-all have?" he asked, all interest, turning to
Campbell.

"Straight flush of four, open at both ends--a good drawing hand."