A GAME AT EUCHKE. 85 



My antagonists were both miners from the north of 

 England, but a long time residents in the new land, my 

 partner a regular down-east Yankee. For some time all 

 went on straight and fair, but it was not destined that 

 auch should continue. We had been euchred three times 

 in succession, when both my partner and self detected our 

 opponents passing cards to each other beneath the blanket 

 that covered our knees. Hard language immediately 

 ensued, knives and pistols were drawn, but all thought 

 better of it, aod peace between the belligerents was 

 proclaimed for the night. 



On the morrow, however, we, partner and self, left the 

 old camp, and started with the intention of founding a 

 settlement of our own. 



Half-an-hour before dark we reached one of the prettiest 

 camping-grounds that the eye of wearied hunter ever rested 

 on, and as the night was fine, we satisfied ourself with 

 a fire, without taking the trouble to erect a wigwam of 

 boughs. Thus far I had not studied my new friend ; from 

 his manner on the previous evening he undoubtedly was 

 pluck to the backbone ; not insufficiently educated, but 

 crude deucedly crude. I say this from a habit he had, 

 namely, of expectorating on whatever offered a fair surface 

 for a shot, the piece of birch-bark that had been pinned up 

 at the corner to make a wash-dish, in fact, anything 

 smooth he could not resist squirting at. The first time 

 he indulged in this weakness was to deluge the upper 

 of my cowskin boot. On my angrily remonstrating, he 

 protested that he meant no insult, but simply wished 

 to see what kind of map he made. " Well, what do you 



