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, snatching the flask from his friend's grasp, and applying it to his own lips.
Both the lieutenant and Ruby pronounced the gin perfect, and as Minnie positively refused either to taste or to pronounce 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.