Are you sure? I too heard it was cannon fuses. Im not too sure on teh whole thing though, anyone who has set fire to their hair (lol not many i wager) will know it burns **** fast! If those fuses lit his beard he would have gone up like toast! I think its prolly a legend, or maybe the wax made it not burn?

Gahhh me hearties!! (had to say that...)

Hoist the mainsail!! Strike the missen mast! Ill keelhaul you landlubbers!