He dwelt
upon them with peculiar relish, heightening the frightful
particulars in proportion to their effect on his peaceful auditors.
He gave a swaggering detail of the capture of a Spanish
merchantman. She was lying becalmed during a long summer's day,
just off from the island which was one of the lurking places of the
pirates. They had reconnoitered her with their spyglasses from the
shore, and ascertained her character and force. At night a picked
crew of daring fellows set off for her in a whaleboat. They
approached with muffled oars, as she lay rocking idly with the
undulations of the sea, and her sails flapping against the masts.
They were close under the stern before the guard on deck was aware
of their approach. The alarm was given; the pirates threw hand
grenades[1] on deck, and sprang up the main chains,[2] sword in
hand.
[1] "Hand grenades," i.e., small shells of iron or glass filled
with gunpowder and thrown by hand.
[2] "Main chains," i.e., strong bars of iron bolted at the lower
end to the side of a vessel, and secured at the upper end to the
iron straps of the blocks by which the shrouds supporting the masts
are extended.
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