He was an Englishman, a veritable cockney, about nineteen or twenty years of age, a strong-built and rather good-looking young man.

His countenance, although intelligent, was not prepossessing; there was a sort of nameless expression about the eye which repelled confidence and invited suspicion.

But it was no time for me to entertain prejudices which might be unfounded, or indulge in surmises unfavorable to the character of my new shipmate.

He could talk English, and talk it well.

He was the victim of misfortune, being destitute of friends and money in a strange country.