"And if she does not," said he, "and should happen to go only 267 miles, then I shall have ten pounds; and that is almost fifty dollars." So saying, Hilbert began to caper about the deck in the exuberance of his joy. His antics were, however, suddenly interrupted by the Colonel, who just then came up to him and asked to see his ticket. Hilbert held it up so that the Colonel could see the number upon it. "Sixty-seven," said the Colonel. "That is not worth much. Nobody thinks she'll go less than 270. However," he added, in a careless tone, "I'll give you twelve shillings for it. That is two shillings over what you paid for it--nearly half a dollar.[C] You'd better make sure of half a dollar than run the risk of losing every thing on such a poor ticket as that." [Footnote C: The Colonel meant English shillings, which are twenty-four cents each in value.] "Would you?" said Hilbert, turning to Rollo. "I don't know," replied Rollo, shaking his head. "I don't know any thing about it." "No," said Hilbert, turning to the Colonel again; "I believe I will keep my ticket, and take my chance." The Colonel said, "Very well; just as you please;" and then went away. Hilbert had, after this, several other offers, all which he declined; and in about a quarter of an hour the Colonel met him again, as if accidentally, and began to talk about his ticket. He said that all the tickets under 270 were selling at a low price, as almost every body believed that the ship's run would be more than that; but still, he said, he would give a pound for Hilbert's ticket, if he wished to sell it. "Thus," said he, "you'll get back the half sovereign you paid, and another half sovereign besides, and make sure of it."