As the passengers on an ocean cruise struggle to fight off the effects of a violent sea storm, a betting pool opens that determines the amount of miles achived by the ship each day. Because of all the bad weather, William Botibol bets on the lower end of the mileage and spends his life savings to do it. But the next morning the seas are calm and he panics, trying to devise a way to slow the ship's progress and win the pool. Wracking his brain, he continually changes his strategy until he makes a serious error in judgment. This is author Dahl's prime territory and he discharges his duty well.
