back that bottle, you rascal."

"Just as you please, father," replied Tom, handing the bottle; "but
recollect, none of your _water bewitched_. Only help me as you love
me."

Old Tom mixed a pannikin of grog for Tom, and another for himself. I
hardly need say which was the _stiffer_ of the two.

"Well, father, I suppose you think the grog will run short. To be sure,
one bottle aren't too much 'mong four of us."

"One bottle, you scamp! there's another in the cupboard."

"Then you must see double already, father."

Old Tom, who was startled at this news, and who imagined that Tom must
have gained possession of the other bottle, jumped up and made for the
cupboard, to ascertain whether what Tom asserted was correct. This was
what Tom wished; he immediately changed pannikins of grog with his
father, and remained quiet.

"There _is_ another bottle, Tom," said his father, coming out and taking
his seat again. "I knew there was. You young rascal, you don't know
how you frightened me!" And old Tom put the pannikin to his lips.
"Drowned the miller, by heavens!" said he, "What could I have been
about?" ejaculated he, adding more spirit to his mixture.

"I suppose, upon the strength of another bottle in the locker, you are
doubling the strength of your grog. Come, father," and Tom held out his
pannikin, "do put a little drop in mine--it's seven-water grog, and I'm
not on the black-list."

"No, no, Tom; your next shall be stronger. Well, master, how do you
like your liquor?"

"Verily," replied the Dominie, "it is a pleasant and seducing liquor.
Lo and behold! I am at the bottom of my utensil."

"Stop till I fill it up again, old gentleman. I see you are one of the
right sort. You know what the song says--

"A plague on those musty old lubbers,
Who tell us to fast and to think,
And patient fall in with life's rubbers,
With nothing but _water_ to _drink_!

"Water, indeed! The only use of water I know is to mix your grog with,
and float vessels up and down the world. Why was the sea made salt, but
to prevent our drinking too much water. Water, indeed!

"A can of good grog, had they swigg'd it,
T'would have set them for pleasure agog,
And in spite of the rules
Of the schools,
The old fools
Would have all of them swigg'd it,
And swore there was nothing like grog."

"I'm exactly of your opinion, father," said Tom, holding out his empty
pannikin.

"Always ready for two things,