`` It beckoned , gliding noiselessly before him down a corridor as dark and cold as any tomb . Shadowy effigies in armor stood on either side , a dead silence reigned , the lamp burned blue , and the ghostly figure ever and anon turned its face toward him , showing the glitter of awful eyes through its white veil . They reached a curtained door , behind which sounded lovely music . He sprang forward to enter , but the specter plucked him back , and waved threateningly before him a. . . '' `` Snuffbox , '' said Jo , in a sepulchral tone , which convulsed the audience . '' ` Thankee , ' said the knight politely , as he took a pinch and sneezed seven times so violently that his head fell off . ` Ha ! Ha ! ' laughed the ghost , and having peeped through the keyhole at the princesses spinning away for dear life , the evil spirit picked up her victim and put him in a large tin box , where there were eleven other knights packed together without their heads , like sardines , who all rose and began to ... '' `` Dance a hornpipe , '' cut in Fred , as Jo paused for breath , `` and , as they danced , the rubbishy old castle turned to a man-of-war in full sail . ` Up with the jib , reef the tops ' l halliards , helm hard alee , and man the guns ! ' roared the captain , as a Portuguese pirate hove in sight , with a flag black as ink flying from her foremast . ` Go in and win , my hearties ! ' says the captain , and a tremendous fight began . Of course the British beat -- they always do . '' `` No , they do n't ! '' cried Jo , aside . `` Having taken the pirate captain prisoner , sailed slap over the schooner , whose decks were piled high with dead and whose lee scuppers ran blood , for the order had been ` Cutlasses , and die hard ! ' ` Bosun 's mate , take a bight of the flying-jib sheet , and start this villain if he does n't confess his sins double quick , ' said the British captain . The Portuguese held his tongue like a brick , and walked the plank , while the jolly tars cheered like mad .
But the sly dog dived , came up under the XXXXX , scuttled her , and down she went , with all sail set , ` To the bottom of the sea , sea , sea ' where ... '' `` Oh , gracious !
Cutlasses Fred Jo alee bight effigies foremast man-of-war princesses scuppers