Oh, when we came to a lingering fond farewell, I was drunk.

But I had the satisfaction of seeing Old Scratch as drunk as I.

My youthful modesty scarcely let me dare believe that the hardened old buccaneer was even more drunk.
And afterwards, from Spider, and Pat, and Clam, and Johnny Heinhold, and others, came the tips that Old Scratch liked me and had nothing but good words for the fine lad I was.

Which was the more remarkable, because he was known as a savage, cantankerous old cuss who never liked anybody.
(His very nickname, "Scratch," arose from a Berserker trick of his, in fighting, of tearing off his opponent's face.) And that I had won his friendship, all thanks were due to John Barleycorn.

I have given the incident merely as an example of the multitudinous lures and draws and services by which John Barleycorn wins his followers..