CHAPTERXI
Andstilltherearoseinmenodesireforalcohol，nochemicaldemand。Inyearsandyearsofheavydrinking，drinkingdidnotbegetthedesire。DrinkingwasthewayofthelifeIled，thewayofthemenwithwhomIlived。Whileawayonmycruisesonthebay，Itooknodrinkalong；andwhileoutonthebaythethoughtofthedesirablenessofadrinknevercrossedmymind。ItwasnotuntilItiedtheRazzleDazzleuptothewharfandgotashoreinthecongregatingplacesofmen，wheredrinkflowed，thatthebuyingofdrinksforothermen，andtheacceptingofdrinksfromothermen，devolveduponmeasasocialdutyandamanhoodrite。
Then，too，therewerethetimes，lyingatthecitywharforacrosstheestuaryonthesand-spit，whentheQueen，andhersister，andherbrotherPat，andMrs。Hadleycameaboard。Itwasmyboat，I
washost，andIcouldonlydispensehospitalityinthetermsoftheirunderstandingofit。SoIwouldrushSpider，orIrish，orScotty，orwhoeverwasmycrew，withthecanforbeerandthedemijohnforredwine。Andagain，lyingatthewharfdisposingofmyoysters，therewereduskytwilightswhenbigpolicemenandplain-clothesmenstoleonboard。Andbecausewelivedintheshadowofthepolice，weopenedoystersandfedthemtothemwithsquirtsofpeppersauce，andrushedthegrowlerorgotstrongerstuffinbottles。
DrinkasIwould，Icouldn’tcometolikeJohnBarleycorn。I