“‘I’ll tell you,’ exclaimed No. 1, ’and you will see what a fool I have made of myself.  You must know that it is impossible to follow the pendulum of the clock with the hand, and to repeat “Here she goes—­there see goes,” just as it swings to and fro, that is when people are talking all round you, as it puts you out.  One day I was with a set of jolly fellows in a dining-room, with a clock just like this in your room; the conversation fell upon the difficulty of going on “Here she goes,” and “there she goes,” for half an hour, without making a mistake.  Well, I thought it was the easiest thing in the world to do it; and upon my saying so, I was defied to do it:  the consequence was the bet of a hundred dollars, and, having agreed that they could talk to me as much as they pleased, but not touch me, I posted myself before the clock and went on—­“Here she goes, there she goes,” while some of my companions began singing, some shouting, and some laughing.  Well, after three minutes I felt that the task was much more difficult than I had expected; but yet I went on, till I heard somebody saying, “As I am alive there is Miss Reynolds walking arm-in-arm with that lucky dog, Jenkins.”  Now, you must know, landlord, that Miss Reynolds was my sweetheart, and Jenkins my greatest enemy, so I rushed to the window to see if it was true, and at that moment a roar of laughter announced to me that I had lost the bet.’

“Now, Slick Bradley, as I have said, was very fond of betting.  Moreover, he prided himself not a little upon his self-command, and as he had not any mistress to be jealous of, as soon as the gentleman had finished his story he came at once to the point.

“‘Well,’ said he, ’you lost the wager, but it don’t signify.  I think myself, as you did, that it is the easiest thing in the world.  I am sure I could do it half an hour, aye, and an hour too.’

“The gentlemen laughed, and said they knew better, and the now excited host proposed, if the liberty did not offend them, to make any bet that he could do it for half an hour.  At first they objected, under the plea that they would not like to win his money, as they were certain he had no chance; but upon his insisting, they consented to bet twenty dollars; and Slick, putting himself face to face with his great grandfather’s clock, began following the pendulum with his hand, repeating ‘Here she goes, there she goes.’

“The two gentlemen discovered many wonderful things through the window:  first a sailor had murdered a woman, next the stage had just capsized, and afterwards they were sure that the shop next door was on fire.  Slick winked and smiled complacently, without leaving his position.  He was too old a fox to be taken by such childish tricks.  All at once, No. 2 observed to No. 1, that the bet would not keep good, as the stakes had not been laid down, and both addressed the host at the same time, ’Not cunning enough for me,’ thought Slick; and poking his left hand into the right pocket of his waistcoat, he took out his pocket-book containing the larger notes, and handed it to his customers.