Ais a step in a food chain that demonstrates the transfer for energy

What does the first line in this stanza from old ironsides by oliver wendell holmes tell the reader about the ship

That alligator hungry. vittles very scarce that time a season. his belly be pinchin him hard, now. but bruh deer is fat, and so he is in heavy trouble. the alligator there in front of him. the beagles there behind him. what bruh deer gone do? he sees the alligator and he hears the beagles. how does the author readers understand what the word pinchin means?

What was noras point of view on what her parents were doing in keeping freedom in the family?