I wondered if it was possible that Ransome's stories could be true, and half disbelieved them; they fitted so ill with the man's looks.

But indeed, he was neither so good as I supposed him, nor quite so bad as Ransome did; for, in fact, he was two men, and left the better one behind as soon as he set foot on board his vessel.
The next thing, I heard my uncle calling me, and found the pair in the road together.

It was the captain who addressed me, and that with an air (very flattering to a young lad) of grave equality.
"Sir," said he, "Mr.Balfour tells me great things of you; and for my own part, I like your looks.

I wish I was for longer here, that we might make the better friends; but we'll make the most of what we have.

Ye shall come on board my brig for half an hour, till the ebb sets, and drink a bowl with me." Now, I longed to see the inside of a ship more than words can tell; but I was not going to put myself in jeopardy, and I told him my uncle and I had an appointment with a lawyer.
"Ay, ay," said he, "he passed me word of that.