The liquor was the important thing.

The man stood motionless, holding in his left hand the half-filled cup that gave off a pungent, sickening smell of whisky; his eyes were intent on the engineer.

Behind Lee, Carrigan was already herding the others from the tent.
"Where did you get that stuff ?" Bryant demanded.

But as the Mexican only shook his head, he changed to Spanish.

"Trying to start a big drunk here ?" "To-morrow is a fete day, senor," was the reply.