Probably some, if not all, of the six men in the deck-house of the West Wind were in the habit of taking intoxicating2 liquors when they were ashore3, and when it was served out on board of the ship in conformity4 with the rules and traditions of the navy. The commander and his executive officer labored5 for the promotion6 of total abstinence among the officers and crew. More than the usual proportion of the men commuted7 their "grog ration8" for money, through the influence of the principal officers.
While the commander of the present expedition accepted the aid of the powerful ally, "apple-jack," in the service of his country, drinking freely appeared to him to be about the same thing as going over to the enemy; and he could not permit his men to turn traitors9 involuntarily, when he knew they would not do so of their own free will and accord. He had settled the liquor question 93 to his own satisfaction in the deck-house, returning the bottle to French.
When Graines went below, a minute or two later than Captain Sullendine, he saw his new superior in the act of tossing off another glass of whiskey, as he concluded it was from the label on the bottle which stood on the cabin table. He had been considerably10 exhilarated before, and he was in a fair way to strengthen the ally of the loyalists by carrying his powerful influence to the head of the commander of the intending blockade-runner. The captain seated himself at the table, and Christy saw that he had a flat bottle in his breast-pocket.
"Now, Mr. Balker, we had better seal up the bargain we've made with forty drops from this bottle," said he, as he poured out a glass for himself, regardless of the fact that he had just indulged; and at the same time he pushed the bottle and another glass towards the new mate.
Graines covered the lower part of the glass with his hand, and poured a few drops into it. Putting some water with it from the pitcher12, he raised the tumbler in imitation of the captain.
"Here's success to the right side," added the 94 master, as he drank off the contents of the glass.
"I drink that toast with all my mind, heart, and soul," added the engineer, with decided13 emphasis, though he knew that "the right side" did not always convey the same idea.
"Help yourself, Mr.— I've forgot your name, Second Mate," he added as he moved towards the companion ladder.
"Jerry Sandman, sir, and I will help myself to what I want," replied Christy.
"That's right, Mr. Sandman; make yourself at home in this cabin. I must go on deck and take a look at the Tallahatchie," added the master as he went up the ladder, followed by Graines.
The lieutenant14 helped himself to a glass of water, after rinsing15 the tumbler, for that was what he wanted. Sopsy the cook immediately appeared, bearing a tray on which were several dishes of eatables, bread and ham being the principal. The bottle was in his way; and after he had drunk off half a tumblerful of its contents, he removed it to the pantry. He proceeded to set the table.
"Oft in der chizzly night, 'fore11 slumber16's yoke17 hab tooken me," hummed Sopsy as he worked at the table.
95 "Where is this schooner18 bound, Sopsy?" asked Christy.
"Bound to dat boon19 whar no trab'ler returns," replied the cook, pausing in his occupation and staring the second mate full in the face.
"That bourn is Nassau, I reckon," laughed the lieutenant.
"I s'pose she's gwine dar if she don't go to dat boon where no trab'lers come back agin," answered Sopsy seriously. "Be you Meth'dis' o' Bab'tis', Massa Mate?"
"Both, Sopsy."
"Can't be bof, Massa."
"Then I'm either one you like."
"That ain't right, Massa Secon' Mate, 'cordin' as you was brung up," said the cook, shaking his head violently, as though he utterly20 disapproved21 of the mate's theology.
"I'm a theosophist, Sopsy."
"A seehossofist!" exclaimed the cook, dropping a plate in his astonishment22. "We don't hab none o' dem on shore in de Souf. I reckon dey libs in de water."
"No; they live on the mountains."
"We hain't got no mount'ns down here, and 96 dat's de reason we don't hab none on 'em," added Sopsy as he went to the pantry; but presently returned with a plate of pickles23 in one hand and the whiskey bottle in the other. "Does dem sea-hosses drink whisker, Massa Secon' Mate?"
"They never drink a drop of it."
"Dis colored pusson ain't no sea-hoss, and he do drink whiskey when he kin1 git it," added the cook; and he half filled a tumbler with the contents of the bottle, and drank it off at a single gulp24.
He had hardly placed it on the table in the middle of the dishes before the captain came below. His first step was to take a liberal potation from the bottle. As he raised it to the swinging lamp, he discovered that the fluid had been freely expended25 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 97 can about the vessel26, 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. Christy went on deck, in obedience27 to the order he had received, and found the engineer on the quarter-deck buried in the fog, which was just then more dense28 than at any time before.
98 "The captain's pretty well set 'up,' isn't he Christy?" said Graines in a low tone.
"About half seas over; but he knows what he is about, though he took another heavy potion just now," replied the lieutenant.
"All right; I think we can manage this craft very well without him," added Graines with a smile, which could not be seen in the darkness.
But the conversation was interrupted at this point by the appearance of the cook, whose legs were more tangled29 up by his tipples30 than his master's. He delivered the request of Captain Sullendine that they should come into the cabin, and partake of the lunch which had been set out for them. As they moved towards the companion, they saw Sopsy creep over to the alley31 where Bokes had been sleeping, and take up the bottle of apple-jack Christy had given him, and drink from it. It was evident to them that the cook could not be much longer in condition for any duty.
The two mates went below as invited, and found the captain at the table. He had brought out the bottle of whiskey, and was eating of the dishes before him, but plainly with little relish32.
"Have another little drink, Mr. Balker; but I 99 think Mr. Sandman had better not take anymore," said the master, whose speech was rather thick by this time.
"Thank you, Captain Sullendine; I will do a little in that way, for we are likely to have a very damp night of it," replied Graines, as he helped himself, though he did not take ten drops.
"A little does one good; but it don't do to take too much when we have very important business on our hands. After that one, Mr. Balker, I advise you not to take any more till we get clear of the blockaders," added the skipper, as he emptied the bottle into his glass.
The ham on the table was of excellent quality, and the two mates ate heartily33 of it, with the ship-bread. The last dose the captain had taken appeared to cap the climax34, and he could no longer eat, or talk so as to be clearly understood. When the mates had finished their lunch, they saw that the skipper had dropped asleep in his chair. They rose from their places, and rattled35 the stools. The noise roused the sleeper36, and he sprang to his feet with a violent start.
"What's time'z it, Mr. Zbalker?" he demanded, catching37 hold of the table to avoid falling on the cabin floor.
100 He seemed to be conscious that he was not presenting a perfectly38 regular appearance to his new officers; and he dropped into his chair, making a ludicrous effort to stiffen39 his muscles and put on his dignity, but it was a failure.
"Quarter-past two, Captain Sullendine," replied Graines in answer to the question.
"Most an hour more 'fore we git started," stammered40 the invalid41. "I didn't sleep none last night, I'm sleepy. I'm go'n to turn in for half an hour, 'n then I'll be on deck ready for busi— ready for buzness."
Graines assisted him to his stateroom, for he could not walk, and he was afraid he would fall and hurt himself. He helped him into his berth42, and arranged him so that he could sleep it off, and he did not care if he did not do so before the next day. He waited till he had dropped off into a deep slumber, and then joined Christy in the cabin.
"If I had not been a temperance man before, I should be now," said the lieutenant. "It is just as well that the captain is clean over the bay, for we might have been obliged to shoot him if he had been sober."
"But we could have taken possession of the 101 vessel in spite of him, if the steamer had not interfered," replied Graines, as he led the way to the deck. "I don't see that we have anything to do but wait for the moving of the waters, or for the moving of the steamer. I suppose our men are all right forward."
"I have no doubt of it, though I have not seen them lately. I gave one of the bottles of apple-jack the captain sent forward for them to Bokes, and poured the contents of the other into Mobile Bay. I think we had better go forward and look the vessel over," said Christy.
They had gone but a few steps before they stumbled over the body of Sopsy, who had evidently succumbed43 to the quantity of firewater he had consumed. He had assisted Bokes to empty the bottle given to him, and both of them were too far gone to give an alarm if they discovered at any time that something was wrong about the movements of the West Wind.
They found the Belleviters lounging about on the cotton bales, some of them asleep, and others carrying on a conversation in a low tone. They were glad to see their officers, who told them the time for some sort of action was rapidly approaching. 102 Then they went to the bow of the vessel, where they found that she was anchored, though the chain had been hove short. The hawser44 by which she was to be towed to sea was made fast to the bowsprit bitts, and led to the stern of the steamer, where it was doubtless properly secured.
While they were looking over the bow, a boat approached from the Tallahatchie, and an officer hailed, asking for Captain Sullendine.
"He is in the cabin; I am the mate," replied the engineer, "and the captain has shipped a new crew, we are all right now."
"Weigh your anchor at three short whistles," added the officer.
"Understood, and all right," said the new mate.
The boat pulled back to the steamer.
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1
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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2
intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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3
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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4
conformity
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| n.一致，遵从，顺从 | |
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5
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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7
commuted
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| 通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 )； 减（刑）； 代偿 | |
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8
ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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9
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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10
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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11
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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12
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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13
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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14
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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15
rinsing
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| n.清水，残渣v.漂洗( rinse的现在分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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16
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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17
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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18
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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19
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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20
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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23
pickles
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| n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱 | |
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24
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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25
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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26
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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27
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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28
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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29
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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30
tipples
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| n.致醉的饮料，烈酒( tipple的名词复数 ) | |
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31
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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32
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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33
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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34
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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35
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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36
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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37
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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38
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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39
stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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40
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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42
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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43
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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44
hawser
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| n.大缆；大索 | |
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