“It is a fair plan,” the caballero said. He took a purse from his bosom, opened the mouth of it, and began taking out gold coins, piece by piece, piling them before him on the table, while the mule’s owner counted under his breath and the ensign pretended not to be interested, and the sergeant and the soldiers bent forward, their eyes bulging. Bit by bit the pile of gold grew, yet the caballero did not hesitate, and the tenth piece was placed on the table as quickly as the first. “Hold!” called the mule’s owner, presently. “It is agreeable, _señor_?” “I am satisfied. As you say, mules have risen in demand and price.” “Then we play!” He reached to his belt, and drew a pack of cards from behind it and tossed them on the table. He took dice forth, and placed them beside the cards. “Your choice, _señor_?” he asked. “Let it be cards,” the caballero answered. “Ah! Cards it is!” He picked up the dice and returned them to his pocket, and then reached for the pack, and his long fingers shuffled the bits of pasteboard with a skill born of experience. “But not that pack of cards, _señor_!” There was a certain ring in the caballero’s voice that caused the ensign to glance at him sharply and made the mule’s owner flush. The smile left the latter’s face and his chuckling ceased again. “You have objections to this particular pack of cards?” he asked. “I have indeed, _señor_. This is to be a game of chance, not one of skill.” “Just what do you mean by that, _señor_?” “We are playing for high stakes, perhaps--possibly for more than a mule and guitar. Suppose we use some deck of cards procured by our good friend, the sergeant. There will be no question then of--er--undue familiarity with a certain pack.” “You mean to insinuate, _señor_, that I would cheat at cards?” “Would you use my private deck, _señor_, had I one with me?” “Possibly not.” “You see? Let us use the sergeant’s cards. I assure you that I have not touched one of them.” “So be it!” The mule’s owner shrugged his shoulders. His teeth did not flash in a smile again. His fists were clenched until the knuckles were white. Sergeant Cassara fetched the cards and threw them on the table, then stood back. “We will allow the ensign to shuffle them and place them before us,” the caballero said. “Each of us will then draw a card. The one who draws the highest will ride away on the mule and take this heap of gold with him. Is anything simpler?” “As you say, it is very simple.” “And you are agreed?” “Certainly, _señor_.” Ensign Sanchez drew a deep breath and shuffled the cards. He put the pack in the middle of the table and looked at his two guests. “Draw first, _señor_,” the caballero offered. “Suppose we cut the pack in the middle and discard the top,” said the other. “It is best to be careful.” “You dare to insinuate--” began the ensign, starting to get up from his stool.