The Pilot

Chapter 33

"Furious press the hostile squadron,

Furious he repels their rage.

Loss of blood at length enfeebles;

Who can war with thousands wage?"

_Spanish War Song._

We cannot detain the narrative to detail the scenes which busy wonder,

aided by the relation of divers marvelous feats, produced among the

curious seamen who remained in the ship, and their more fortunate

fellows who had returned in glory from an expedition to the land. For

nearly an hour the turbulence of a general movement was heard, issuing

from the deep recesses of the frigate, and the boisterous sounds of

hoarse merriment were listened to by the officers in indulgent silence;

but all these symptoms of unbridled humor ceased by the time the morning

repast was ended, when the regular sea-watch was set, and the greater

p