Carl understood the game in an instant.
"Here, you fish!" he said, in the midst of Gad's potation. "Leafe a little trop for me, vill you?"
It was some time before the torrent in Gad's throat ceased its murmuring, and he removed his eyes from the cobwebs. Then, smacking his lips, and remarking that it was the right sort of stuff, he passed the bottle to Carl.
"Who's the fish this time?" said he, enviously, after Carl had made believe swallow for a few seconds.
He snatched the bottle, and was drinking as before, when the guard above, hearing what passed, called for a taste.
"You shust vait a minute till Gad trinks it all up, then you shall pe velcome to vot ish left," said Carl. And, possessing himself of the bottle, he handed it up to his comrades.
All the soldiers above were asleep except the sentinels. They drank freely, and returned the bottle to Gad. He had not finished it before he began to be overcome by drowsiness, its contents having been drugged for the occasion.
He sat down on the stairs, and soon slid off upon the ground. Carl, who had not in reality swallowed a drop, followed his example. Their guns were then taken from them. Penn stole softly up the stairs, and reconnoitred while Grudd and his companions opened the passage in the wall.
"All asleep!" Penn whispered, descending. "Carl!"
Carl opened one eye, with a droll expression.