It was his grimmest deed since the days when he had brought Barbecue to heel ; and knowing as we do how vain a tabernacle is man , could we be surprised had he now paced the deck unsteadily , bellied out by the winds of his success ? But there was no elation in his gait , which kept pace with the action of his sombre mind . Hook was profoundly dejected . He was often thus when communing with himself on board ship in the quietude of the night . It was because he was so terribly alone . This inscrutable man never felt more alone than when surrounded by his dogs . They were socially so inferior to him . Hook was not his true name . To reveal who he really was would even at this date set the country in a blaze ; but as those who read between the lines must already have guessed , he had been at a famous public school ; and its traditions still clung to him like garments , with which indeed they are largely concerned . Thus it was offensive to him even now to board a ship in the same dress in which he grappled her ; and he still adhered in his walk to the school 's distinguished slouch . But above all he retained the passion for good form . Good form ! However much he may have degenerated , he still knew that this is all that really matters . From far within him he heard a creaking as of rusty portals , and through them came a stern tap-tap-tap , like hammering in the night when one can not sleep . ` Have you been good form to-day ? ' was their eternal question . ` Fame , fame , that glittering bauble , it is mine , ' he cried . ` Is it quite good form to be distinguished at anything ? ' the tap-tap from his school replied . ' I am the only man whom Barbecue feared , ' he urged ; ` and Flint himself feared Barbecue . '
` Barbecue , XXXXX -- what house ? '
Barbecue Flint days dress night portals quietude ship tap-tap tap-tap-tap