CHAPTER SIXTH
TAPPING
When Captain Seagrave appeared on deck next morning the first person he encountered was the chief officer.
Sam Slack looked decidedly seedy; there was an up-all-night and commenced-afresh-in-the-morning appearance about him. He lurched forward and saluted the skipper. "That was a fine tip, captain, a grand tip; I backed it, so did most of the men."
"When I came aboard last night I found the cabin boy in charge. Do you consider that the proper way in which to leave a ship?"
"The circumstances were exceptional; we made a night of it."
"Where's Mac?"
Sam Slack smiled as he replied—
"When I left him last night he was taking in sufficient Scotch to last him for a voyage; he'll turn up all right to-day, and we can do without him. I hope you had a good win."