Fortunately the tipplers had no tumblers, so that the guests were not compelled to pour out the fluid and drink it off.

All drank directly from the bottles, so that the two officers could easily conceal in the semi-darkness the extent of their indulgence.
"Who be you, strangers ?" asked the man who had acted thus far as spokesman of the party.
"My name is Tom Bulger, born and brought up in the island of Great Abaco, and this feller is my friend and shipmate, Sam Riley," replied Christy, twisting and torturing his speech as much as was necessary.
"Now who be you fellers ?" "Born and fetched up in Mobile: my name is Bird Riley; and I reckon t'other feller is a first cousin of mine, for he's got the same name, and he's almost as handsome as I am.

Where was you born, Sam ?" "About ten miles up the Alabama, where my father was the overseer on a plantation before the war," replied Graines as promptly as though he had been telling the truth.
"Then you must be one of my cousins, for I done got about two hundred and fifty on 'em in the State of Alabammy.

Give us your fin, Sam." Bird Riley and Sam shook hands in due and proper form, and the relationship appeared to be fully established.

The names of the three other revellers were given, but the spokesman was disposed to do all the talking, though he occasionally appealed to his companions to approve of what he said.