During the night following the action an attempt was made to torpedo the _Huascar_ from the _Shah’s_ steam pinnace, but the enemy could not be found. Yet it is probable that the knowledge of the _Shah’s_ torpedoes was the reason why Pierola surrendered the _Huascar_ next morning to the Peruvian fleet. It must have been abundantly clear to him that he had next to nothing to fear from the British gun-fire, while a single water-line hit from him would probably have put the _Shah_ entirely at his mercy, save in so far as her torpedoes might make attempts to ram fatal to him. END OF VOL. I. A SHORT GLOSSARY OF COMMON NAVAL TERMS. =ABAFT.=--Behind or towards the stern of the vessel. Thus one would say that the aftermost turret guns in any ship are “abaft” the mainmast. =ABEAM.=--On the side of a vessel amidships. To say an object is abeam (or on the beam) means that its bearing by compass is at right angles to the vessel’s course. =ADMIRALTY, BOARD OF.=--That department of State which is responsible for the proper constitution, maintenance, disposition, and direction of the Fleet in its material and personal elements, executing the duties formerly charged upon the Lord High Admiral; it is presided over by the First Lord (a Cabinet Minister) and consists of Naval Officers--the Sea Lords--and Civil Officials. =AHEAD.=--In advance--an object is said to be ahead of the ship when its compass bearing is nearly the same as the vessel’s course. =AHEAD FIRE.=--The discharge of guns along the line of the keel directly ahead of the vessel. =AMIDSHIPS.=--Generally speaking, in the middle portion of a vessel. The point of intersection of two lines--one drawn from stem to stern, the other across the beam (or widest part)--is the actual “midships.” =ANCHOR.=--A ship carries several distinct kinds of anchor: the bowers, which are always used for anchoring or mooring the ship; the sheet anchor, as an auxiliary to the bowers; the stream and kedge anchors, which can be used for special purposes. =ANTI-TORPEDO ARMAMENT.=--Those guns in a ship which are specially mounted for repelling attack by torpedo craft. =ARC OF FIRE.=--That sector of a circle through which a gun can be moved or trained for effective practice. =ARMAMENT.=--The weapons of offence with which a ship is armed, including guns and torpedo tubes. =ARMOUR.=--Any effective covering which protects a ship. The following specify a few main features of armour protection:-- 1. =Armour Belt.=--The vertical belt of armour which forms the citadel or fortress of a ship, and may extend right forward to the bows and right aft the stern. 2. =Side Armour.=--Vertical armour placed on the exterior of a ship, being both the belt and additional thereto. 3. =Armoured Deck.=--A curved steel deck protecting the engine room and other vital portions of a ship inside the citadel. A ship may have as many as three armoured decks.