"No sir, he is not here!" and the door was slammed violently to.
"Ha, ha! man mit de proken nose, you vake up de wrong bassenger. Ha, ha!
I dells you again you ish von pig sheat!"
Now the voice came from the skylight overhead, apparently, and with a fierce imprecation the irate gamester rushed upon deck, and ran hither and thither in search of his tormentor.
His victim, who had been looking on during the little scene and listening to the mysterious voice in silent wide-eyed wonder and fear, now rose hastily, his face deathly pale, with trembling hands gathered up the money he had staked, and hurrying into his state room, locked himself in.
The remaining passengers looked at each other.
"What does it mean?" cried one.
"A ventriloquist aboard, of course," returned another. "Let's follow and see the fun."
"I wonder which of us it is!" remarked the first, looking hard at our party.
"I don't know, but come on. That fellow Nick Ward, is a noted blackleg and ruffian: had his nose broken in a fight and is sensitive on the subject; was cheating of course."
They passed out, our party close in their rear.