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(illegible text)ght as sufficed to render objects close at hand ⟨sufficiently⟩ distinguishable, while there was not ⟨enough⟩ of it to expose to view those at a distance. ⟨Thus⟩ favoured, the sixteen lion-hearted British ⟨seamen⟩ left their lurking place, and stole into the (illegible text)ay towards the Minerva About midnight, the ⟨full⟩ light of a lantern on board became visible, ⟨and⟩ in a few minutes afterwards the dim outline ⟨of⟩ the vessel’s hull was discovered. For a ⟨moment⟩ the drugger’s oars were suspended to allow ⟨her⟩ crew to draw one deep breath before striking ⟨the⟩ desperate blow. During this pause, each ⟨man⟩ ascertained that his brace of pistols was in ⟨his⟩ belt, and his cutlass and boarding-pike at ⟨hand⟩. Their courage required no “screwing (illegible text),” for in one and all of them it naturally ⟨remained⟩, at all times, above the “sticking point;" (illegible text)t at this moment of suspense, it may easily be ⟨conceived⟩ that their breasts were swelled with a ⟨tumult⟩ of distracted emotion, and with that ⟨burning⟩ solicitude which is produced, even in the ⟨breasts⟩ of the bravest, by the consciousness that ⟨the⟩ moment has arrived when nought remains but (illegible text) do or die. Agitated but not confused by these (illegible text)lings, the drugger’s crew rowed furiously ⟨forward⟩ upon the Minerva’s larboard side. All was ⟨quiet⟩, until they reached within musket shot of ⟨the⟩ ship; it was then that the night watch sung (illegible text)t a challenge. “Dispatches from the fleet for ⟨the⟩ captain,” was the fisherman’s answer. “Keep (illegible text)—the captain is on shore,” replied the sentry. "Pull on, pull on, ye devils,” whispered Mackay. "Stand off, stand off, you there, or I’ll sink you, (illegible text) St. Maria,” reiterated the sentry ; and the
