" Thoughtfully he balanced the pistol he was still holding on the palm of his hand, and half unconsciously examined the priming, while I watched him, half with misgiving, half with a reluctant sort of admiration.

At the same instant the connecting rope was severed, the foreyard creaked back into position again, and the bucketful of salt water soused down over the gunner and his gun, putting out his linstock and wetting his priming.

The American vessel, having no priming in her guns, was unable to return the fire, and after being severely bruised by repeated broadsides she surrendered to her assailants.

A fowling-piece, loaded with ball, was under the awning; and freshening the priming, the young man watched his opportunity when one of the grunters was in a good position, and shot it in the head.

Fortunately, it was a real pump with real water and a sucker in good standing, warranted to need no priming.

Copley Banks had brushed away the priming of the gun, and had sprinkled fresh powder over the touch-hole.

If the water in the harbor, as is not improbable, is muddy, some method of filtering it before pumping it into the boilers ought, if at all practicable, to be resorted to, for the twofold reason of preserving the boiler plates from muddy deposit, and also to prevent priming, which would certainly ensue from the use of muddy water.

Marble brought up the muskets left by the privateersmen, and began to renew their primings.

In vain the men tugged and strained at their oars while the gunner worked like a maniac to relight his linstock and to replace his priming.

" I looked at my pistols to see if the damp woods had spoiled the priming.

Watching, without seeming to, I saw his forefinger touch the priming, stealthily, and find it dry.

In feeding the boilers with water, and the furnaces with fuel, a good deal of care and some tact are necessary, as irregularity in the production of steam will often occasion priming, even though the water be maintained at a uniform level; and an excess of water will of itself occasion priming, while a deficiency is a source of obvious danger.

In crossing the stream I must have damped the priming.

By means of a hammer, m, a smart blow is given the valve i, and this detonates the priming, and causes an explosion of the charge.