“An’ will you bet me a hundred dollahs I can’t?” said the darkey, on whose black face I could read enterprise.
I happened to be sitting by the railing of the cabin deck just above, and could look down and witness the whole scene.
“Why—I—yes—yes, I will,” stammered Number Two, with well-feigned hesitation.
“You’ll lose then,” Number One said, in a low tone, as though speaking to himself.
“Will you put up de money?” pursued the darkey.
“I—why wouldn’t—yes, I will. I won’t be backed out, even if I lose. I’ll put up the money in the hands of this gentleman or any one else.” When he said “this gentleman,” he pointed to Number One.
“You had better not trust me with the stakes,” said the latter jocosely, “I might run off.”
“O, no fear of that,” replied Number Two. “We’ll trust you. I know a gentleman when I see one.”
“By golly!—I—I bet,” said the darkey, decidedly. And he produced a fifty-dollar bill and some odd tens and fives amounting in all to one hundred dollars; and he handed the money to Number One, who was to act as stake holder.
“Come, now,” said another darkey, to Number Two, as the latter hesitated. “Don’t back out. Put up your money.”