A cold and haughty silence was Blair's defence against their scolding and their railing.

With a feeling of conscious superiority he moved among them, desiring their praise even less than their persecution.
The names of the crew of the Molly were as unattractive as their appearance and manners.

These soubriquets spoke not of pious parents who had given their children to God, with a Christian name which they trusted would be registered in heaven.

They told rather of lawless lives, and a past which must be buried in oblivion or acknowledged with shame and perhaps fear.

"Fighting-cock," "Torpedo," "Brimstone," and "the Slasher," were among the leaders who dubbed Blair with the title of "Mum," and so saluted him on all occasions.