CHAPTER VI.
WHAT BEFELL AT THE QUEEN'S FERRY As soon as we came to the inn, Ransome led us up the stair to a small room, with a bed in it, and heated like an oven by a great fire of coal.
At a table hard by the chimney, a tall, dark, sober-looking man sat writing.

In spite of the heat of the room, he wore a thick sea-jacket, buttoned to the neck, and a tall hairy cap drawn down over his ears; yet I never saw any man, not even a judge upon the bench, look cooler, or more studious and self-possessed, than this ship-captain.
He got to his feet at once, and coming forward, offered his large hand to Ebenezer.

"I am proud to see you, Mr.Balfour," said he, in a fine deep voice, "and glad that ye are here in time.

The wind's fair, and the tide upon the turn; we'll see the old coal-bucket burning on the Isle of May before to-night." "Captain Hoseason," returned my uncle, "you keep your room unco hot." "It's a habit I have, Mr.Balfour," said the skipper.

"I'm a cold-rife man by my nature; I have a cold blood, sir.