This appendage, much cared for and sheathed tightly in a porpoise skin, hung half way down his broad back to the great admiration of all beholders and to the great envy of some.
Our young officer dwells on the manly qualities of Cuba Tom with something like affection.

This sort of relation between officer and man was not then very rare.

A youngster on joining the service was put under the charge of a trustworthy seaman, who slung his first hammock for him and often later on became a sort of humble friend to the junior officer.
The narrator on joining the sloop had found this man on board after some years of separation.

There is something touching in the warm pleasure he remembers and records at this meeting with the professional mentor of his boyhood.
We discover then that, no Spaniard being forthcoming for the service, this worthy seaman with the unique pigtail and a very high character for courage and steadiness had been selected as messenger for one of these missions inland which have been mentioned.

His preparations were not elaborate.