[#] A Very's light is somewhat the same idea as a Roman candle firework. It throws out one very brilliant ball of coloured light.
"It was grand work in those boats," he continued; "they couldn't see us, and went on firing and wasting ammunition. I kept on running away in the steamboat, easing off a few shells at them, and then going back again, and they'd fire off twenty or thirty rounds where she had been."
"I expect you had some pretty narrow shaves, for all that, sir?"
He growled out "Umph!" and winked at me very slowly.
Now that he and I were alone, I saw that he had something which he wanted to tell me, and when presently he had sent Willum to bed, he lighted a fresh cigar and began. "You know that man Hoffman? What d'you think of him, eh?"
"I can't quite say, sir. Can't quite 'place' him."
"What would you say if I told you he is the pirates—bosses the show, or did. What d'ye say to that?"
I supposed I looked surprised. I certainly felt so.
"He's told me all about it. He is running this show, or was."
"What d'you mean, sir?" I could hardly understand him.