He called the captains of his two remaining consorts on board his own ship to arrange details.

Those worthies had much of fastidious remark to make against the plan.

After losing much time in trying to bring to a conclusion their sage deliberations, Paul, by addressing their cupidity, achieved that which all appeals to their gallantry could not accomplish.

He proclaimed the grand prize of the Leith lottery at no less a figure than L200,000, that being named as the ransom.
Enough: the three ships enter the Firth, boldly and freely, as if carrying Quakers to a Peace-Congress.
Along both startled shores the panic of their approach spread like the cholera.

The three suspicious crafts had so long lain off and on, that none doubted they were led by the audacious viking, Paul Jones.