CHAPTER IV.
THE REVELATIONS OF THE REVELLERS "'We won't go home till morning,'" sang the two counterfeit revellers, as they approached the fire of the bivouackers.
The four carousel's sprang to their feet when the first strain reached their ears.

They were not as intoxicated as they might have been, for they were able to stand with considerable firmness on their feet, after the frequency with which the bottle had been passed among them.

They did not do what soldiers would naturally have done at such an interruption, grasp their muskets, and it was probable they had no muskets to grasp.
"'We won't go home till morning, till daylight doth appear,'" continued the two officers, without halting in their march towards the revellers.
[Illustration: "The two counterfeit revellers." Page 48.] No weapons of any kind were exhibited; but the tipplers stood as though transfixed with astonishment or alarm where they had risen, but were rather limp in their attitude.

They evidently did not know what to make of the interruption, and they appeared to be waiting for further developments on the part of the intruders.
"It isn't mornin' yit, but we just emptied our bottle," said Christy, with a swaggering and slightly reeling movement, and suiting his speech to the occasion.

"How are ye, shipmates ?" "Up to G, jolly tars," replied one of the men, with a broad grin on his face.