"Alger Jr, Horatio - The Young Explorer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alger Horatio Jr)

"Yes, youngster, there's nothin' to bender, but take a fool's advice, and ef
you've got money in your pocket, don't do it."
"You don't think I'd gamble, do you?" said Ben, horror-struck.
"I've seen youngsters smaller than you bet their pile."
"You won't catch me doing it. I am a poor boy, and have nothing to lose."
"All right, then. You're a country boy, ain't you?"
"Yes."
"So was I once, but I've had the greenness rubbed off'n me. I was jest such a
youngster as you once. I wish I could go back twenty years."
"You're not very old yet," said Ben, in a tone of sympathy. "Why don't you
reform?"
"No, I'm not old-only thirty-six-and I ain't so bad as I might be. I'm a rough
customer, I expect, but I wouldn't do anything downright mean. Ef you're goin'
into this den, I'll go with you. I can't take care of myself, but mayhap I can
keep you out of danger."
"Thank you, sir."
So Ben and his new acquaintance entered the famous gambling-den. It was
handsomely furnished and decorated, with a long and gaily appointed bar, while
the mirrors, pictures, glass, and silverware excited surprise, and would rather
have been expected in an older city. There were crowds at the counter, and
crowds around the tables, and the air was heavy with the odor of Chinese punk,
which was used for cigar-lights, The tinkle of silver coin was heard at the
tables, though ounces of gold-dust were quite as commonly used in the games of
chance.
"I suppose a good deal of money is won here?" said Ben, looking around
curiously.
"There's a good deal lost," said Ben's new acquaintance.
"Gentlemen, will you drink with me?" said a young man, with flushed face, rising
from a table near-by, both hands full of silver and gold, "I've been lucky
to-night, and it's my treat."
"I don't care if I do," said Ben's companion, with alacrity, and he named his
drink.
"What'll the boy have?"
"Nothing, thank you," answered Ben, startled,
"That won't do. I insist upon your drinking," hiccuped the young man, who had
evidently drunk freely already. "Take it as a personal insult, if you don't."
"Never mind the boy," said his new friend, to Ben's great relief. "He's young
and innocent. He hasn't been round like you an' me."
"That's so," assented the young man, taking the remark as a compliment. "Well,
here's to you!"
"I wouldn't have done it," said Ben's new friend rejoining him; "but it'll help
me to forget what a blamed fool I've been to-night. You jest let the drink
alone. That's my advice,"
"I mean to," said Ben firmly. "Do people drink much out here?"
"Whisky's their nat'ral element," said the miner. "Some of 'em don't drink water
once a month. An old friend of mine, Joe Granger, act'lly forgot how it tasted.
I gave him a glass once by way of a joke, and he said it was the weakest gin he
ever tasted."
"Are there no temperance societies out here?" asked Ben.
The miner laughed.