Chapter 6

           Assoonaswecametotheinn,Ransomeledusupthestairtoasmallroom,withabedinit,andheatedlikeanovenbyagreatfireofcoal.Atatablehardbythechimney,atall,dark,sober-lookingmansatwriting.Inspiteoftheheatoftheroom,heworeathicksea-jacket,buttonedtotheneck,andatallhairycapdrawndownoverhisears;yetIneversawanyman,notevenajudgeuponthebench,lookcooler,ormorestudiousandself-possessed,thanthisship-captain.

           Hegottohisfeetatonce,andcomingforward,offeredhislargehandtoEbenezer.“Iamproudtoseeyou,Mr.Balfour,”saidhe,inafinedeepvoice,“andgladthatyearehereintime.Thewind’sfair,andthetideupontheturn;we’llseetheoldcoal-bucketburningontheIsleofMaybeforeto-night.”

           “CaptainHoseason,”returnedmyuncle,“youkeepyourroomuncohot.”

           “It’sahabitIhave,Mr.Balfour,”saidtheskipper.“I’macold-rifemanbymynature;Ihaveacoldblood,sir.There’sneitherfur,norflannel—no,sir,norhotrum,willwarmupwhattheycallthetemperature.Sir,it’sthesamewithmostmenthathavebeencarbonadoed,astheycallit,inthetropicseas.”

           “Well,well,captain,”repliedmyuncle,“wemustallbethewaywe’remade.”

           Butitchancedthatthisfancyofthecaptain’shadagreatshareinmymisfortunes.