_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?"