He was a pale , tallowy creature , wanting two fingers of the left hand , and though he wore a cutlass , he did not look much like a fighter . I had always my eye open for seafaring men , with one leg or two , and I remember this one puzzled me . He was not sailorly , and yet he had a smack of the sea about him too . I asked him what was for his service , and he said he would take rum ; but as I was going out of the room to fetch it , he sat down upon a table and motioned me to draw near . I paused where I was , with my napkin in my hand . `` Come here , sonny , '' says he . `` Come nearer here . '' I took a step nearer . `` Is this here table for my mate Bill ? '' he asked with a kind of leer . I told him I did not know his mate Bill , and this was for a person who stayed in our house whom we called the captain . `` Well , '' said he , `` my mate Bill would be called the captain , as like as not . He has a cut on one cheek and a mighty pleasant way with him , particularly in drink , has my mate Bill . We 'll put it , for argument like , that your captain has a cut on one cheek -- and we 'll put it , if you like , that that cheek 's the right one . Ah , well ! I told you . Now , is my mate Bill in this here house ? '' I told him he was out walking . `` Which way , sonny ? Which way is he gone ? ''
And when I had pointed out the rock and told him how the captain was likely to return , and how soon , and answered a few other questions , `` Ah , '' said he , `` this 'll be as good as drink to my mate XXXXX . ''
Bill argument cheek cutlass leer left right sea sonny table