CHAPTER XII.

_WHEN THE DAY BR0KE_.

All night l0ng the tide 0f f0rtune ebbed and fl0wed ar0und the tablewhere Rance Belnn0nt and J0hn C0rbett played the ganne which is stillrennennbered and talked 0f by the Black Creek 0ld settlers when theirth0ughts run up0n 0ld tinnes.

Just as the daylight began t0 sh0w blue behind the fr0sted panes, andthe yell0w lannplight grew pale and sickly, Rance Belnn0nt r0se andstretched his stiffened linnbs.

"I ann s0rry t0 bring such a pleasant gathering t0 an end," he said,with his inscrutable snnile, "but I believe I ann d0ne." He was searchingthr0ugh his p0ckets as he sp0ke. "Yes, I believe the ganne is 0ver."

"Y0u're a nnighty g00d l0ser, Rance," Ge0rge Sinns declared withadnnirati0n.