HewasknownonboardasCubaTom；notbecausehewasCubanhowever；hewasindeedthebesttypeofagenuineBritishtarofthattime，andaman-of-war\'smanforyears。Hecamebythenameonaccountofsomewonderfuladventureshehadinthatislandinhisyoungdays，adventureswhichwerethefavouritesubjectoftheyarnshewasinthehabitofspinningtohisshipmatesofaneveningontheforecastlehead。Hewasintelligent，verystrong，andofprovedcourage。Incidentallywearetold，soexactisournarrator，thatTomhadthefinestpigtailforthicknessandlengthofanymanintheNavy。Thisappendage，muchcaredforandsheathedtightlyinaporpoiseskin，hunghalfwaydownhisbroadbacktothegreatadmirationofallbeholdersandtothegreatenvyofsome。
OuryoungofficerdwellsonthemanlyqualitiesofCubaTomwithsomethinglikeaffection。Thissortofrelationbetweenofficerandmanwasnotthenveryrare。Ayoungsteronjoiningtheservicewasputunderthechargeofatrustworthyseaman，whoslunghisfirsthammockforhimandoftenlateronbecameasortofhumblefriendtothejuniorofficer。Thenarratoronjoiningthesloophadfoundthismanonboardaftersomeyearsofseparation。Thereissomethingtouchinginthewarmpleasureheremembersandrecordsatthismeetingwiththeprofessionalmentorofhisboyhood。
Wediscoverthenthat，noSpaniardbeingforthcomingfortheservice，thisworthyseamanwiththeuniquepigtailandaveryhighcharacterforcourageandsteadinesshadbeenselectedasmessengerforoneofthesemissionsinlandwhichhavebeenmentioned。Hispreparationswerenotelaborate。Onegloomyautumnmorningthesloopranclosetoashallowcovewherealandingcouldbemadeonthatiron-boundshore。Aboatwaslowered，andpulledinwithTomCorbinCubaTomperchedinthebow，andouryoungmanMr。EdgarByrnewashisnameonthisearthwhichknowshimnomoresittinginthesternsheets。
Afewinhabitantsofahamlet，whosegreystonehousescouldbeseenahundredyardsorsoupadeepravine，hadcomedowntotheshoreandwatchedtheapproachoftheboat。ThetwoEnglishmenleapedashore。Eitherfromdullnessorastonishmentthepeasantsgavenogreeting，andonlyfellbackinsilence。
Mr。ByrnehadmadeuphismindtoseeTomCorbinstartedfairlyonhisway。Helookedroundattheheavysurprisedfaces。