"What you have just told me, general," said I, "was also told me briefly by Carter last night, and he, too, seemed to consider it necessary to warn me that the skipper is a somewhat peculiar man.  Naturally, after such a warning, I have been keeping my eyes and ears open, and I confess that I find the man something of a puzzle.  Carter quite led me to anticipate the possibility that Williams might order us down the side into our boats again, instead of which, so far as words, and even deeds, are concerned, I have not the least fault to find.  But all the time that he was saying kind things to me this morning, his eyes and the expression of his face belied him."