As he spoke he gave Officer and myself each a handful of uncounted money, and we proceeded to carry out his instructions.  I knew the game perfectly, having spent several years’ earnings on my tuition, and was past master in the technical Spanish terms of the game, while Officer was equally informed.  John took the table to the right, while I took the one on the left, and waiting for a new deal, called the cards as they fell.  I inquired the limit of the dealer, and was politely informed that it was fifty to-day.  At first our director ordered a number of small bets made, as though feeling his way, for cards will turn; but as he found the old luck was still with him, he gradually increased them to the limit.  After the first few deals, I caught on to his favorite cards, which were the queen and seven, and on these we bet the limit.  Aces and a “face against an ace” were also favorite bets of The Rebel’s, but for a smaller sum.  During the first hour of my playing—­to show the luck of cards—­the queen won five consecutive times, once against a favorite at the conclusion of a deal.  My judgment was to take up this bet, but Priest ordered otherwise, for it was one of his principles never to doubt a card as long as it won for you.

The play had run along some time, and as I was absorbed with watching, some one behind me laid a friendly hand on my shoulder.  Having every card in the layout covered with a bet at the time, and supposing it to be some of our outfit, I never looked around, when there came a slap on my back which nearly loosened my teeth.  Turning to see who was making so free with me when I was absorbed, my eye fell on my brother Zack, but I had not time even to shake hands with him, for two cards won in succession and the dealer was paying me, while the queen and seven were covered to the limit and were yet to be drawn for.  When the deal ended and while the dealer was shuffling, I managed to get a few words with my brother, and learned that he had come through with a herd belonging to one-armed Jim Reed, and that they were holding about ten miles up the river.  He had met Flood, who told him that I was in town; but as he was working on first guard with their herd, it was high time he was riding.  The dealer was waiting for me to cut the cards, and stopping only to wring Zack’s hand in farewell, I turned again to the monte layout.

Officer was not so fortunate as I was, partly by reason of delays, the dealer in his game changing decks on almost every deal, and under Priest’s orders, we counted the cards with every change of the deck.  A gambler would rather burn money than lose to a citizen, and every hoodoo which the superstition of the craft could invoke to turn the run of the cards was used to check us.  Several hours passed and the lamps were lighted, but we constantly added to the good—­to the discomfiture of the owners of the games.  Dealers changed, but our vigilance never relaxed for a moment.  Suddenly an altercation sprang up between