Besides, the adventure had its own excitement, the stars looked splendid, and the stolen waters were sweet.
"I hope we shan't be seen crossing the play-ground," said Wildney.

"My eye, shouldn't we catch it!" He was obviously beginning to be afraid, so Eric assumed an air of nonchalance, and played the part of protector.
"Here, take my arm," he said; and as Wildney grasped it tight, instead of feeling angry and ashamed at having been misled by one so much his junior, Eric felt strongly drawn towards him by community of danger and interest.

Reaching Ellan, it suddenly struck him that he didn't know where they were going to buy the beer.

He asked Wildney.
"Oh, I see you're not half up to snuff," said Wildney, whose courage had risen; "I'll show you." He led to a little low public-house, whence tipsy songs were booming, and tapped at a side door three times.

As they looked in they saw some sailors boozing in a dirty tap-room, and enveloped in tobacco-smoke.
The side-door was opened, and a cunning wicked-looking man held up a light to see who they were.
"Hollo, Billy," said Wildney, confidentially, "all serene; give us two bottles of beer--on tick, you know." "Yessir--d'reckly," said the man, with a hateful twinkle of the eyes.
"So you're out for a spree," he continued, winking in a knowing way.
"Won't you walk into the back-parlor while I get them ?" And he showed them into a dingy horrid room behind the house, stale with smoke, and begrimed with dust.
Eric was silent and disgusted, but Wildney seemed quite at home.