They made him relate once more his story of the battle as he saw it from inside the French lines at Ticonderoga, and, just as he came to the end of the tale, he caught a glimpse of a tall man entering the tavern.
"Tell us what you saw from the other side," he said to Grosvenor, and they compelled the reluctant Englishman to talk.

Then Robert turned his eyes toward the tall man who was now sitting at a small table in the corner and drinking from a long glass.

Something familiar in his walk had caught his attention as he came in, and, under cover of Grosvenor's talk, he wished to observe him again without being noticed even by his own comrades.
The stranger was sitting with the side of his face to Robert, and his features were not well disclosed.

His dress was that of a seafaring man, rough but rather good in texture, and a belt held a long dirk in a scabbard which was usual at that time.

The hand that raised the long glass to his lips was large, red and powerful.