MALTA AND SICILY. 
267 
tain’s father, who was the owner of the vessel, 
boasted that he had once commanded a pri¬ 
vateer, and we strongly suspected that his 
attacks had not been confined to vessels of 
any particular nation. He was a tall thin 
old man, with little restless eyes, sparkling 
with cunning and villany; but he was the 
best seaman on board, and on the subject of 
wind and weather, he had almost a gift of 
prophecy. He prided himself on the warlike 
appearance of his vessel. On deck he had 
four very ancient long six-pounders, and in 
one corner of the cabin were a dozen mus¬ 
kets of English, French, and Spanish manu¬ 
facture, which had evidently seen many years 
hard service. One or two of these pieces 
appeared to have been favourites with the 
owners, who had carved the initials of their 
names, and other devices on the stocks. 
They had perhaps assisted in many a dread¬ 
ful scene of rapine and bloodshed. 
