Cigars dropped unnoticed from nerveless fingers.

Each man sought his neighbor's eye, but found in it no ray of hope, no encouragement.

At last the fearful silence was broken.

The shadow of a desperate resolve settled upon Blucher's countenance like a cloud, and he rose up and said: "Landlord, this is a low, mean swindle, and I'll never, never stand it.
Here's a hundred and fifty dollars, Sir, and it's all you'll get--I'll swim in blood before I'll pay a cent more." Our spirits rose and the landlord's fell--at least we thought so; he was confused, at any rate, notwithstanding he had not understood a word that had been said.

He glanced from the little pile of gold pieces to Blucher several times and then went out.