Part 26 (2/2)

”Oh!” exclaimed the captain, opening his eyes very wide indeed.

What ”oh” meant, was rather doubtful at first; but when the captain put the flask again to his lips, and took another pull, a good deal longer than the first, much, if not all of the doubt was removed.

”Prime! nectar!” he murmured, in a species of subdued ecstasy, at the end of the second draught.

”Evidently the right stuff,” said Lindsay, laughing.

”Liquid streams--celestial nectar, Darted through the ambient sky,--”

Said the captain; ”liquid, ay, liquid is the word.”

He was about to test the liquid again:--

”Stop! stop! fair play, captain; it's my turn now,” cried the lieutenant, s.n.a.t.c.hing the flask from his friend's grasp, and applying it to his own lips.

Both the lieutenant and Ruby p.r.o.nounced the gin perfect, and as Minnie positively refused either to taste or to p.r.o.nounce judgment, the flask was returned to its owner's pocket.

They were now close on the smugglers, whom they hailed, and commanded to lay on their oars.

The order was at once obeyed, and the boats were speedily rubbing sides together.

”I should like to examine your boat, friends,” said the lieutenant as he stepped across the gunwales.

”Oh! sir, I'm thankfu' to find you're not smugglers,” said Sw.a.n.kie, with an a.s.sumed air of mingled respect and alarm.

”If we'd only know'd ye was preventives we'd ha' backed oars at once.

There's nothin' here; ye may seek as long's ye please.”

The hypocritical rascal winked slyly to his comrade as he said this.

Meanwhile Lindsay and one of the men examined the contents of the boat, and, finding nothing contraband, the former said--

”So, you're honest men, I find. Fishermen, doubtless?”

”Ay, some o' yer crew ken us brawly,” said Davy Spink with a grin.

”Well, I won't detain you,” rejoined the lieutenant; ”it's quite a pleasure to chase honest men on the high seas in these times of war and smuggling. But it's too bad to have given you such a fright, lads, for nothing. What say you to a gla.s.s of gin?”

Big Sw.a.n.kie and his comrade glanced at each other in surprise. They evidently thought this an unaccountably polite Government officer, and were puzzled. However, they could do no less than accept such a generous offer.

”Thank'ee, sir,” said Big Sw.a.n.kie, spitting out his quid and significantly wiping his mouth. ”I hae nae objection. Doubtless it'll be the best that the like o' you carries in yer bottle.”

”The best, certainly,” said the lieutenant, as he poured out a b.u.mper, and handed it to the smuggler. ”It was smuggled, of course, and you see His Majesty is kind enough to give his servants a little of what they rescue from the rascals, to drink his health.”

”Weel, I drink to the King,” said Sw.a.n.kie, ”an' confusion to all his enemies, 'specially to smugglers.”

He tossed off the gin with infinite gusto, and handed back the cup with a smack of the lips and a look that plainly said, ”More, if you please!”

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