Free Hydrofoil Mystery by Eric Walters

running down my sides. I’d just thrown three sevens in a row.
    â€œ ’Course he could! Three, four or even five hundred times in a row,” Isaac answered with a cackle.
    â€œBut how come when we use the dice we don’t roll sevens?” asked another man.
    Half the eyes looked up at Isaac while the rest continued to stare at me. I couldn’t risk exchanging the dice.
    â€œNow, I’m not saying the boy is doing this,” Isaac began, although again it was clear he was saying exactly that, “but I’ve heard tell of people switching dice. They have two pairs on them, one for themselves to throw and a second set for the rest of the players.”
    Now every eye was on me. I looked up at Isaac. He was enjoying seeing me twist in the wind like this. I was as good as dead.
    â€œWhat a joke! What a good joke!” boomed a voice.
    I turned around and saw Simon peering between two of the men. I was surprised to see him there because he didn’t work in Sheepville. He was a gardener and lived in the staff house two doors down from my room. He was one of the few people who were friendly to me.
    â€œIsaac, you old coot, you really had them all going. Imagine, convincing all these men they’d been cheated by this lad … imagine,” he laughed.
    â€œHow else can you explain him winning our money and throwing three sevens in a row?”
    â€œMaybe he’s lucky,” Simon answered.
    â€œThree times in a row sounds like more than luck,”
    Isaac said.
    â€œAre you accusing the boy of cheating?” Simon challenged.
    â€œI didn’t say that,” Isaac replied.
    â€œLuck or cheating. I see no other options,” Simon countered. “And I think it is just luck … and I’m willing to bet on it.” Simon, who was bigger than most of theother men, shouldered his way through the crowd and stopped right beside me.
    â€œI am willing to make a small wager,” Simon said.
    â€œA wager?”
    â€œA bet. I am willing to bet Billy will not throw a seven.
    Are you willing to bet that he will, Isaac?”
    â€œWell … I … don’t know if …”
    â€œIf Isaac doesn’t want to bet, how about the rest of you? If you’re so certain he’s cheating and using loaded dice, then put your money where your mouth is. Anybody interested?”
    There was a mumbling of conversation but nobody spoke up to take Simon’s offer.
    â€œOkay, everybody, break is over,” Isaac spoke up. “Everybody get back to work!”
    The mumbling was replaced by grumbling and complaining. The men who were just spectators started to move away. The five on their knees, who were down money, didn’t budge, though.
    â€œGo,” Simon said.
    Relieved, I tried to rise to my feet but was stopped by Simon’s hand on my shoulder.
    â€œI mean, go … roll the dice.”
    â€œBut … but …”
    â€œI know there’s no bet, but just do it anyway to prove to them you weren’t cheating.”
    â€œYeah, go ahead,” Isaac said. A few of the people who’d started to walk away turned around to watch.
    I looked at Simon and then at Isaac. I pulled back my left hand and let the dice fly. At that same instant, while every pair of eyes followed the dice, I took my right handand tucked it into the side of my pants, dumping the “lucky” pair into my underpants.
    â€œNine!” Simon yelled out.
    He offered me a hand and pulled me to my feet. The remaining crowd quickly dispersed, but not without a fair amount of quiet cursing and grumbling.
    â€œI guess I better get back to work too,” I offered. “Wait!” Isaac called out.
    He walked toward me. He was old and wasn’t very big, hardly as tall as my eyes, but he was a stubborn and cantankerous old bird and I was unnerved by him.
    â€œDon’t you want your dice?” he asked, holding out his hand.
    â€œThanks,” I said,