So, when we had embarked at Fort Madison, and were gliding up the river, I saw the Iowa gentleman sauntering through the cabin, and said:
“Are you ready for that game of checkers?”
“O, yes,” he replied; “I was looking for you.”
We sat down by one of the tables, arranged the board and “men,” and went at it. He moved with much circumspection, and was very careful lest he should make a blunder. But, with all his caution, he soon made one, which I quickly saw; and I gave him one of my men, took three of his in exchange, and hopped into the king-row.
“Pshaw!” he exclaimed, in a tone of vexation. “I wasn’t watching!”
I soon won that game, and he didn’t get a king.
“Let’s try it again,” said he. “I will do better next time.”
“I hope so,” I replied, as we replaced the men—but I didn’t hope so.
This time he moved with more care than ever, and succeeded—in getting beaten as badly as before.
He tried it again and again, till we had played eight games, and I had won two-thirds of a dozen of them.