"`What do you want, youngster?' said the seaman.
"`I want to go to sea,' said I, breathless; `take me on board - pray
do.'
"`Well,' said he, `I heard the captain say he wanted an apprentice, and
so you may come.'
"He sculled the boat back again to the vessel, and I climbed up her
side.
"`Who are you?' said the captain.
"I told him that I wanted to go to sea.
"`You are too little and too young.'
"`No, I am not,' replied I.
"`Why, do you think that you dare go aloft?'
"`I'll show you,' replied I; and I ran up the rigging like a cat, and
went out at the topgallant yard-arm.
"When I came down, the captain said, `Well, I think you'll make a sharp
seaman by and by; so I'll take you, and, as soon as I get to London,
I'll bind you apprentice.'
"The ship, which was a collier, was soon out of port, and before the
day had dawned I found myself on the wide ocean, which was hereafter to
be my home.
"As soon as the hurry and confusion were over, I was examined by the
captain, who appeared to me to be a very rough, harsh man; indeed,
before the day was over I almost repented of the step which I had
taken, and when I sat down cold and wet upon some old sail at night,
the thoughts of my mother, and what distress I should occasion her, for
the first time rushed into my mind, and I wept bitterly; but it was too
late then.
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