One thing with another , I made up my mind . `` Very well , '' says I , `` let us go to the Ferry . '' My uncle got into his hat and coat , and buckled an old rusty cutlass on ; and then we trod the fire out , locked the door , and set forth upon our walk . The wind , being in that cold quarter the north-west , blew nearly in our faces as we went . It was the month of June ; the grass was all white with daisies , and the trees with blossom ; but , to judge by our blue nails and aching wrists , the time might have been winter and the whiteness a December frost . Uncle Ebenezer trudged in the ditch , jogging from side to side like an old ploughman coming home from work . He never said a word the whole way ; and I was thrown for talk on the cabin-boy . He told me his name was Ransome , and that he had followed the sea since he was nine , but could not say how old he was , as he had lost his reckoning . He showed me tattoo marks , baring his breast in the teeth of the wind and in spite of my remonstrances , for I thought it was enough to kill him ; he swore horribly whenever he remembered , but more like a silly schoolboy than a man ; and boasted of many wild and bad things that he had done : stealthy thefts , false accusations , ay , and even murder ; but all with such a dearth of likelihood in the details , and such a weak and crazy swagger in the delivery , as disposed me rather to pity than to believe him . I asked him of the brig -LRB- which he declared was the finest ship that sailed -RRB- and of Captain Hoseason , in whose praises he was equally loud . Heasyoasy -LRB- for so he still named the skipper -RRB- was a man , by his account , that minded for nothing either in heaven or earth ; one that , as people said , would `` crack on all sail into the day of judgment ; '' rough , fierce , unscrupulous , and brutal ; and all this my poor cabin-boy had taught himself to admire as something seamanlike and manly . He would only admit one flaw in his idol . `` He ai n't no seaman , '' he admitted . `` That 's Mr. Shuan that navigates the brig ; he 's the finest seaman in the trade , only for drink ; and I tell you I believe it ! Why , look ` ere ; '' and turning down his stocking he showed me a great , raw , red wound that made my blood run cold . `` He done that -- Mr. Shuan done it , '' he said , with an air of pride . `` What ! '' I cried , `` do you take such savage usage at his hands ? Why , you are no slave , to be so handled ! '' `` No , '' said the poor moon-calf , changing his tune at once , `` and so he 'll find .
See'ere ; '' and he showed me a great case-knife , which he XXXXX me was stolen .
baring believe buckled let lost remembered side thought told trudged