CARD-CHEATING. 85 



neat shoulder-shot, I was graciously awarded a solu- 

 tion of the situation in which I discovered him. 



" I was singing ' the Old Hundred/ and I was in 

 prime voice, and didn't the echoes take it up re- 

 joicingly, for you see it is the first time that this be- 

 nighted heathen land has heard the voice of a 

 Christian, when that beast, the emissary of the evil 

 one doubtless, without a bit of provocation came ramp- 

 ing at me. There was no mistake in his intentions, for 

 his eyes were bleared, and I could see he was panting 

 for my blood. So I thinks of my weapon, but in my 

 hurry to let it off, I forgot to fetch it to my cheek, so 

 you see it was a merciful interposition of Providence 

 that caused the charge to go straight ; " and, looking at 

 the carcass he spoke a soliloquy about the children of 

 darkness ever succumbing to the children of light. 



If he had got the weapon to his cheek, our worth}' 

 friend would doubtless have missed the stag, which 

 from its appearance was rutting, and like all the deer 

 family when in that state exceedingly dangerous. 



A month's residence with the New England school- 

 master gave a considerable insight into his character ; 

 he was always trying to be good, very good, unless 

 when temptation came in his way, and one of these, 

 which he could not resist, was to cheat at cards. 

 At it I again and again detected him, lectured him in 

 consequence, asserting I would not play further with 

 him if it re-occurred, and in the very next deal he would 

 be guilty of the same malpractices ; so at length we both 

 agreed, our stakes being nil, to cheat our damdest; 

 and from that time forth to see how right and left 

 bowers, aces, and kings, used to be turned up in that 



