One might have imagined that he was taking in all possible sails; close reefing the others; battening down the hatches; and preparing to run before a storm; and yet his demeanor did not indicate that he expected any violent commotion of the elements.

I push the door open and clamber up the iron ladder to the deck, just as the men are battening down the cover of the hold.

When Cowley tells of Hervey that they studied together, it is easy to suppose how much he must miss the companion of his labours and the partner of his discoveries; but what image of tenderness can be excited by these lines? We drove afield, and both together heard What time the gray fly winds her sultry horn, Battening our flocks with the fresh dews of night.

The wind had by this time entirely dropped, but battening the prisoners below, Harry set his men to thrust the ships past one another, until they were sufficiently in line for their guns to be brought to bear upon the third enemy.

Went on with the work, some at caulking, others at battening the seams with strips of canvas, and pieces of pine nailed over, to keep the oakum in.

"Thou shalt not be left for the carrion crow, Or the wolf to batten o'er thee: Or the coward insult the gallant dead, Who in life had trembled before thee." Then dug he a grave in the crimson earth Where his warrior foe was sleeping, And he laid him there in honour and rest, With his sword in his own brave keeping.