"Old Bill" Bowde is getting on in years, but is still spry enough to give any impertinent whippersnappers a piece of his mind.  Grizzled and grey he might be, but he remains a dead shot with pistol or cannon, and his eyes, peering out under bushy brows, are as keen as ever.  His hearing, on the other hand, is not what it used to be; too many black powder bangs have taken their toll.  Usually dressed in comfortable ships slops, he is the consummate old salt; he's been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale.