"Hand me the stiff." He replenished his glass, and, after taking a sip or two, asked Wylie if he had ever had the luck to be boarded by pirates.
"No," said Wylie.

"Have you ?" "Ay; and they rescued me from a watery grave, as the lubbers call it.

Ye see, I was employed by Downes & Co., down at the Havanna, and cleared for Vera Cruz with some boxes of old worn-out printer's type." "To print psalm-books for the darkies, no doubt," suggested Wylie.
"Insured as specie," continued Hudson, ignoring the interruption.

"Well, just at daybreak one morning, all of a sudden there was a rakish-looking craft on our weather-bow.

Lets fly a nine-pounder across our forefoot, and was alongside before my men could tumble up from below.