62 THE LONG BOW. 



that is between the main and foremasts; 

 a little barley would be strewed in the 

 trough, and when the bird put its head 

 out to feed, it presented a fair mark to 



the two officers who stood on the poop, 







when one or the other seldom missed; 

 and this was repeated till a sufficient 

 number had been killed, to supply the 

 captain's and ward-room officers' tables. 

 By this method they became experienced 

 and excellent marksmen. 



The captain had heard from some 

 officious talebearer, that a young and 

 excellent officer had said, when speak- 

 ing of him, (Captain S.,) that he was a 

 good fellow enough, but that he could 

 pull the long bow ; which the generality of 

 my readers will at once understand, means 

 that he could exaggerate, and perhaps 

 a little more. This, it seems, the captain 

 cherished in his memory. One day being 

 at anchor in Port -Royal, Jamaica, a 

 man-of-war was seen steering for the har- 



