two P.M. of the 9th
February
In that idle place , the proposal was accepted with delight . Mac , as the owner of the cards , was given a stake ; the sum was played for in five games of cribbage ; and when Amalu , the last survivor in the tournament , was beaten by Mac , it was found the dinner hour was past . After a hasty meal , they fell again immediately to cards , this time -LRB- on Carthew 's proposal -RRB- to Van John . It was then probably two P.M. of the 9th February ; and they played with varying chances for twelve hours , slept heavily , and rose late on the morrow to resume the game . All day of the 10th , with grudging intervals for food , and with one long absence on the part of Tommy from which he returned dripping with the case of sherry , they continued to deal and stake . Night fell : they drew the closer to the fire . It was maybe two in the morning , and Tommy was selling his deal by auction , as usual with that timid player ; when Carthew , who did n't intend to bid , had a moment of leisure and looked round him .