There was a savage pirate holding a pistol at the head of each of the officers at the table.

He threw up his cards.

The trick was won by Peter and his men.
The rest of the game was easy enough.

When the pirates spread themselves over the vessel, the frightened crew got out of sight as well as they could.

Some, who attempted to seize their arms in order to defend themselves, were ruthlessly cut down or shot, and when the hatches had been securely fastened upon the sailors who had fled below, Peter the Great was captain and owner of that tall Spanish man-of-war.
It is quite certain that the first thing these pirates did to celebrate their victory was to eat a rousing good supper, and then they took charge of the vessel, and sailed her triumphantly over the waters on which, not many hours before, they had feared that a little boat would soon be floating, filled with their emaciated bodies.
This most remarkable success of Peter the Great worked a great change, of course, in the circumstances of himself and his men.