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Sociology

Poverty - by James Platt

followed with the most disastrous consequences, for in crossing her bows a shot from the Milan killed the two men at the wheel, and cut the tiller ropes. She was unmanageable, sails flapping against the masts, before they could fix new ones. The French captain saw his opportunity; piped up the boarders, about two hundred and fifty men; ran his bowsprit right across the quarter-deck, and the boarders dropped on the deck of the Cleopatra like a swarm of bees, and we were instantly overpowered. Our colours were hauled down by the French, but rehoisted under the French tricolour. My post as gunner was in the magazine supplying the powder to my mate through a scupper, and he supplied the powder monkeys, as they were called. I felt the shock when the Milan ran into us, and said to my mate," Are they aboard of us? " His reply was, "I am afraid they are." Then I said, "I am afraid it is all over; our crew are so short." Immediately there was a great noise and confusion. It was a number of our crew had broken into the purser's