"On her deck swarmed her crew. Down in her hold they chased ther pirates. But that wuz only a ruse on thar part. As soon's our crew went below, up came ther lubbers through ther hatch, an' fastened our marines down in ther hold. They wuz prisoners. I alone wuz lef aboard ther Wabash. Seein' 'em makin' a rush fer our deck I grabbed a ax an' cut ther grapplin's. We drifted apart afore they could board ther frigate. Seein' as all wuz lost onless I licked ther swabs, I manned ther guns an' gave 'em broadside ar ter broadside. I smashed thar ship ter pieces. She went down never ter rise again. Most o' her crew wuz killed. Them wot wuzn't swum on ther sea. Then I amused myself firin' shots at thar heads. I took 'em off as clean as a whistle every time I let 'em have it. In jest four minutes by ther clock they was all gone. Turnin' ter my messmates—"
"Confined in the pirate's hold, they all went to the bottom with the ship," said Jack, quietly.
"I–oh–ouch!"
"The powder was so wet you couldn't use it. But in spite of this you did some remarkably good shooting, didn't you, Tim?"
"Wha'–wha–what d'yer mean?" feebly stammered the old sailor.
"Just what you said," laughed Jack.
"I must a fergot about sayin' that."
"Very likely. Will you acknowledge now that I've got you?"
"Ay, ay. There's no help for it."
"In a big lie?"