Explore "Tom Wallis" by Louis Becke on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The boat drew alongside, and the tall bearded man climbed up the rope ladder hung on the side amidships, and then jumped lightly on the deck, where he was met just inside the gangway by Captain Hawkins, who had descended from the poop.
'How do you do, captain? ' said the stranger, affably, extending his hand. 'My name is Hayes; ' and then, as his bright blue eye took in the surroundings, and he saw the brig's crew standing by the guns, and a group of armed men on the poop deck, he gave a loud hearty laugh, so genuine and spontaneous that old Sam stared at him in astonishment.