A STORY IN ILLUSTRATION.

At length it was insisted by some of the passengers that the Captain should exhibit the old game of Thimble-rig, which, with his usual modesty, he declined to do, protesting, among other things, that he had no thimbles. This difficulty was easily remedied, by having recourse to the stewardess for the required number. The Captain made a little ball of paper and commenced his performance. At first he was quite unlucky—but he paid up punctually, and consoled himself with a favourite expression of his, that "Sometimes I am very severe, then again not quite so sly."

Among the lookers-on was a gentleman from America, on his first visit "home." This Mr. Sinclair soon manifested much interest in the game, declaring he knew the thimble under which the ball might be found. The Captain gave him a knowing wink, and told him in a whisper not to tell. But so often did our friend "guess" right, that he laid aside all scruples of conscience, and desired to be permitted to bet a few pounds. To this proposition the performer at first objected, declaring "he did not like the young man's eye, it was too keen," that "he saw the ball," &c. This seemed to please the Scotch Yankee very much, and made him more anxious to bet.

After much parley and a good deal of reluctance on the part of the Captain, it was at last agreed that Sawnee Slick might bet a few shillings, "just a few" if he would allow the gambler a little chance against two such piercing eyes as he had, by betting two to one. This being at length settled, our young friend put up his sovereign against the other's ten shillings. Hands off and all being ready, he lifted the thimble, and sure enough there was the ball. The Captain gave up the money, and all enjoyed a hearty laugh at his expense. This was the largest bet that had been made. The Captain observed, "Sometimes he was not so sly." The ball and thimbles were again put in motion—again all being ready our lucky friend proposed to bet; but the performer declared he must have some chance against such great odds as "Yankee eyes," and insisted on three to one being made. This was also accepted : again the thimble was raised, and sure enough there was the ball. Our friend again pocketed another half-sovereign, and again the welkin rang with laughter at the victim's expense.

The thimbles were again arranged; this time we observed the game closely, as we thought from his repeated losses the Captain was hardly entitled to that great reputation for cunning and sagacity which had ever been attributed to him. Now, in the moving of the little paper ball, we thought we discovered the source of the gentleman's misfortunes, for becoming a little unrolled, a portion of the paper of which it was made stuck out from under one of the thimbles. This our Transatlantic friend plainly saw, and we presumed the Captain, through old age (then about 70), had his sight so impaired as not to be able to sec it, and could not, therefore, play his game with his accustomed adroitness. But the tale was soon told. Our "American cousin" proposed to double the bet, "having the thing so dead sure." The Captain, impatient of repeated losses, told him to make it tens instead of ones. This was done, and our friend bet a hundred pounds against thirty. (Just here I thought it a shame to take advantage even of a professional gambler's blindness, for the position of the ball was evident.)

The money up, Mr. Sinclair was all impatience to realize his expectations, and in great eagerness he again raises the thimble—but, sure enough, it was not there! He had reached the climax of the Captain's expectations in regard to his ready cash and willingness to bet, and he did not win. We have seen many pictures of disappointment, but the appearance of that young traveller's countenance we can never forget. The laugh was now uproarious. As much as you might have pitied the poor dupe the laugh was irresistible—but the poor fellow, "like the boy the calf run over, saw nothing to laugh at." He was a statue of amazed misery. The Captain coolly pocketed his cash, while our friend stammered out his astonishment with the declaration that all was not right, that he had never been "beat" before, and had surely been taken in.

"Never mind," says the old gentleman, with old-fashioned politeness, "what's a hundred pounds to a young gentleman with your eyes ? The ladies all admire them—I have heard them speak of them—and you won twice out of three times—that's the best two in three, at all events!"

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