What a pity it is so far off. Ah! ah! what is that dreadful noise?"
For her horrible small talk, that grated on those anxious souls like the
mockery of some infantine fiend, was cut short by ponderous blows and
tremendous smashing below. It was the captain staving in water-casks: the
water poured out at the scuppers.
"Clearing the lee guns," said a middy, off his guard.
Colonel Kenealy pricked up his ears, drew his cigar from his mouth, and
smelt powder "What, for action ?" said he briskly. "Where's the enemy?"
Fullalove made him a signal, and they went below.
Mrs. Beresford had not heard or not appreciated the remark: she prattled
on till she made the mates and midshipmen shudder.
Realise the situation, and the strange incongruity between the senses and
the mind in these poor fellows! The day had ripened its beauty; beneath a
purple heaven shone, sparkled, and laughed a blue sea, in whose waves the
tropical sun seemed to have fused his beams; and beneath that fair,
sinless, peaceful sky, wafted by a balmy breeze over those smiling,
transparent, golden waves, a bloodthirsty Pirate bore down on them with a
crew of human tigers; and a lady babble babble babble babble babble
babble babbled in their quivering ears.
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