1 Wendy: It be lookin’ like the British be plannin’ to be boardin’ and fightin’ person to person.
2 Higgs: This will be my first fight to the death, Miss Wendy!
3 Wendy: Be ye knowin’ how to be handlin’ a pistol?
4 Higgs: Close yer eyes, be pullin’ the trigger, and be hopin’ fer the best?
4 Wendy: Here. Take a cutlass...

Actually, given the reliability of firearms of the period, Higgs's method is probably not much worse than any other way of firing a pistol. At least your eyeballs will be somewhat protected if there's a backfire.