Beadle's Dime Novels No. 94: The Mad Skipper — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

64 THE MAD SKIPPER. common-lookiug nightcap of blue cloth, he seated himself by the warm stove in the state-room. “ This is comfort—ahem !—comfort indeed, after flounder- ing about in that disagreeable tub. Strange that I should have imagined I had fallen overboard,” he continued, holding up the flask and eyeing it affectionately ; “ it makes me shud- der to think of it.” And he swallowed several mouthfuls of the brandy. | “ This is prime !’ he continued, smacking his lips. ‘“ Ah— ahoo! gvod Jiquor as a medicine is—” IIe paused on hearing footsteps behind him, and turning, saw Tom Collins. “Halloa! So you are up yet” cried the steward. “ Yes, warming myself just previous to going to bed.” “JT thought Pd come liere to see how the fire is,” said Col- lins. “It’s mighty hard, it is; my having to get up out of my warm bed in the steerage in the middle of the night to see about the fire. But I have to do it; it’s the captain’s orders.” “ Here is something to warm you up inside,” said the doc- tor, kindly presenting the flask. “Tm temperance,” said Collins. “ Hows’ever, I won’t re- fuse to oblige you, seeing it’s in the way of medicine.” And he took a long pull at the flask. “The liquor in there is the best as was ever drunk,” he said, as he returned the bottle; “ just mind how it sparkles, will you?” The doctor held up the flask, and examined it narrowly. “Ahem! My friend, there is no sparkle to it now, as it is all gone. The bottle is empty.” “Is it possible ?” “Yes; but never mind. Ihave plenty more of the same sort in my chest.” “Which, beggin’ your pardon, if I may make a suggestion, had better be procured at once while I brighten up the fire.” “ Ahem—very good.” And going to the chest, the doctor took out a second bottle. “You seem pretty well provided, sir,” remarked the stew- ard. “ Well, yes. Itis the duty of our profession to carry brag _ Of medicine with them when it is:convenient.” _ connicloooks.comn