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Chapter 5
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Myunclegotintohishatandcoat,andbuckledanoldrustycutlasson;andthenwetrodthefireout,lockedthedoor,andsetforthuponourwalk.
Thewind,beinginthatcoldquarterthenorth-west,blewnearlyinourfacesaswewent.ItwasthemonthofJune;thegrasswasallwhitewithdaisies,andthetreeswithblossom;but,tojudgebyourbluenailsandachingwrists,thetimemighthavebeenwinterandthewhitenessaDecemberfrost.
UncleEbenezertrudgedintheditch,joggingfromsidetosidelikeanoldploughmancominghomefromwork.Heneversaidawordthewholeway;andIwasthrownfortalkonthecabin-boy.HetoldmehisnamewasRansome,andthathehadfollowedtheseasincehewasnine,butcouldnotsayhowoldhewas,ashehadlosthisreckoning.Heshowedmetattoomarks,baringhisbreastintheteethofthewindandinspiteofmyremonstrances,forIthoughtitwasenoughtokillhim;hesworehorriblywheneverheremembered,butmorelikeasillyschoolboythanaman;andboastedofmanywildandbadthingsthathehaddone:stealthythefts,falseaccusations,ay,andevenmurder;butallwithsuchadearthoflikelihoodinthedetails,andsuchaweakandcrazyswaggerinthedelivery,asdisposedmerathertopitythantobelievehim.
Iaskedhimofthebrig(whichhedeclaredwasthefinestshipthatsailed)andofCaptainHoseason,inwhosepraiseshewasequallyloud.
