It would be a weary watch to keep all by myself, with naught but the horizon in sight.
Now, among the crew was a fine old seaman, one Jarl; how old, no one could tell, not even himself.

Forecastle chronology is ever vague and defective.

"Man and boy," said honest Jarl, "I have lived ever since I can remember." And truly, who may call to mind when he was not?
To ourselves, we all seem coeval with creation.

Whence it comes, that it is so hard to die, ere the world itself is departed.
Jarl hailed from the isle of Skye, one of the constellated Hebrides.
Hence, they often called him the Skyeman.

And though he was far from being piratical of soul, he was yet an old Norseman to behold.