Idon’tmeantosaythatHeemskirkwasatypicalDutchnavalofficer。Ihaveseenenoughofthemnottofallintothatabsurdmistake。Hehadabig，clean—shavenface；greatflat，browncheeks，withathin，hookednoseandasmall，pursymouthsqueezedinbetween。Therewereafewsilverthreadsinhisblackhair，andhisunpleasanteyeswerenearlyblack，too。Hehadasurlywayofcastingsideglanceswithoutmovinghishead，whichwassetlowonashort，roundneck。Athick，roundtrunkinadarkundressjacketwithgoldshoulder—straps，wassustainedbyastraddlypairofthick，roundlegs，inwhitedrilltrousers。Hisroundskullunderawhitecaplookedasifitwereimmenselythicktoo，buttherewerebrainsenoughinittodiscoverandtakeadvantagemaliciouslyofpooroldNelson’snervousnessbeforeeverythingthatwasinvestedwiththemerestshredofauthority。
Heemskirkwouldlandonthepointandperambulatesilentlyeverypartoftheplantationasifthewholeplacebelongedtohim，beforeherwenttothehouse。Ontheverandahhewouldtakethebestchair，andwouldstayfortiffinordinner，justsimplystayon，withouttakingthetroubletoinvitehimselfbysomuchasaword。
Heoughttohavebeenkicked，ifonlyforhismannertoMissFreya。
Hadhebeenanakedsavage，armedwithspearsandpoisonedarrows，oldNelson（orNielsen）wouldhavegoneforhimwithhisbarefists。Butthesegoldshoulder—straps—Dutchshoulder—strapsatthat—wereenoughtoterrifytheoldfellow；soheletthebeggartreathimwithheavycontempt，devourhisdaughterwithhiseyes，anddrinkthebestpartofhislittlestockofwine。
Isawsomethingofthis，andononeoccasionItriedtopassaremarkonthesubject。ItwaspitiabletoseethetroubleinoldNelson’sroundeyes。Atfirsthecriedoutthatthelieutenantwasagoodfriendofhis；averygoodfellow。Iwentonstaringathimprettyhard，sothatatlasthefaltered，andhadtoownthat，ofcourse，Heemskirkwasnotaverygenialpersonoutwardly，butallthesameatbottom……