"The conditions?"
"One throw," said Captain Runacles.
"And the highest cast to win," added Captain Barker.
"You, Captain Barker, are the senior by a year, I believe. Will you
throw first?"
The little man caught up the box, rattled the dice briskly, and
threw--four and three.
Captain Runacles picked them up, and made his cast deliberately--six
and ace.
"Gentlemen, you must throw again. Fortune herself seems to hesitate
between you."
Captain Barker threw again, and leant back with a sob of triumph.
"Two sixes, upon my soul!" murmured the Doctor.
"I'm afraid, Captain Jeremy--" Captain Jeremy took the dice up,
turned them between finger and thumb, and dropped them slowly into
the box. As he lifted his hand to make the cast he looked up and saw
the gleam in his friend's greenish eyes.
The next moment box and dice flew past the hunchback's head and out
at the open window.
"That's my throw," Captain Runacles announced, standing up and
turning his back on the pair as he staggered across the room for his
hat. But the little man also had bounced up in a fury.
"That's a vile trick! I make the best throw, and you force me to
fight."
"Ah," said the other, facing slowly about and putting on his hat.
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