Characterization through a character's accomplishments

It is useful sometimes to tell of a character's accomplishments. One may judge him not only by what one sees him doing, but also by what he has done. By the nature of an accomplishment, one may learn something of a man's innate aptitudes; by the difficulty of the task and by his failure or success in it, something of his strength. Dravot introduces himself and Carnehan thus: "Now, Sir, let me introduce to you Brother Peachey Carnehan, — that's him, — and Brother Daniel Dravot, that is me, and the less said about our professions the better, for we have been most things in our time. Soldier, sailor, compositor, photographer, proof-reader, street-preacher, and correspondents of the Backwoodsman when we thought the paper wanted one." One has already heard something of Carnehan's ability as pretended correspondent of the Back¬woodsman; one is to learn later of Dravot's success¬ful mimicry of a mad priest. The men are clearly eager for adventure and capable of adapting them¬selves to any sort of life. To see them later "crowned kings of Kafiristan" is no greater surprise than to know that they, were once proof-readers and street- preachers.