Ben wore an English walking jacket, in the pocket of which he carried his revolver. With one hand resting upon the trusty weapon, he made answer to his antagonists:
“I am unarmed, gentlemen, and I trust to your honor not to shoot me.”
“Oh the devil take your honor,” rejoined the Southerner. “You leave that money alone and get out of here, or we’ll put a bullet through you before you can wink!”
“Yes,” chimed in Reddy, “I’m damned if I don’t put a bullet through him whether he clears out or not!”
Seeing the desperate position in which he was placed, Ben resolved upon desperate measures. Just as Reddy was cocking his pistol, Hogan, by a sharp, quick blow, struck the weapon out of his hand. Then, whipping forth his own revolver, he discharged one bullet at Reddy, and a second at his companion—the latter also having drawn a shooter. The two men dropped to the floor. The third, who was unarmed, attempted to seize one of his confederates’ pistol, but Ben threatened to shoot him also if he stirred an inch. Then gathering up the four hundred dollars, our hero passed out of the room, locked the door behind him, and made his way into the street.
It did not take him long to get out of Mobile. From the reports which afterward reached him, he learned that none of the gamblers had been killed by his shots. Under the circumstances, he did not trouble his conscience. By easy stages he made his way North, and eventually brought up in Albany.
STEAMER BURNSIDE.