As he raised it to the swinging lamp, he discovered that the fluid had been freely expended in his absence.
"You've punished this bottle all it deserves," said he when he perceived that its level had been considerably lowered, and he did not ask the new officer to join him.

"That's all right, Mr.Sandman; but I don't want you to take more than you can manage to-night, for we have a big job on our hands, and we want our heads where we shall be able to find them.
Now go on deck, and learn what you can about the vessel, for we hain't got but half an hour more before the Tallahatchie goes to sea.

We may have lots of music after we get outside; but I reckon our steamer can outsail anything the Yankees have got on the blockade.

Don't drink no more, Mr.Sandman; and when we git to Nassau you can have a reg'lar blowout." "I won't touch another drop before we get out of the bay, Cap'n Sullendine," protested Christy, without betraying the misdemeanor of the cook, as doubtless it was.
"That's right, Mr.Sandman; we must all have our heads on our shoulders to-night," said the captain, as he drank off the potion he had prepared.
Christy wished to hold the commander to his own advice; but that would have been fighting on the wrong side for him, and Sopsy escaped a reprimand, if not a kick or two, by his forbearance.

By this time the bottle was nearly empty; but the skipper put it under lock and key in a closet, which seemed to be well filled with others like it.