If anyone, however, pretended to contradict him in any of his
stories, he was on fire in an instant. His very cocked hat assumed
a momentary fierceness, and seemed to resent the contradiction.
"How the devil should you know as well as I? I tell you it was as
I say;" and he would at the same time let slip a broadside of
thundering oaths[5] and tremendous sea phrases, such as had never
been heard before within these peaceful walls.
[1] The coast of the northern part of South America along the
Caribbean Sea, the route formerly traversed by the Spanish treasure
ships between the Old and New Worlds.
[2] Ships are said to be yardarm and yardarm when so near as to
touch or interlock their yards, which are the long pieces of timber
designed to support and extend the square sails.
[3] "Broadside and broadside," i.e., with the side of one ship
touching that of another.
[4] The Feast of the Archangel Michael, a church festival
celebrated on September 29th.
[5] "Broadside of thundering oaths," i.e., a volley of abuse.
Indeed, the worthy burghers began to surmise that he knew more of
those stories than mere hearsay.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308