PREFACE. 



WITH this volume my story of life at sea *B 

 complete. I have endeavored to give a strictly 

 faithful account of the various phases of a sailor's 

 existence. I have borne in mind the usual 

 objection to books of this class: that they are 

 likely to inspire youth with an uneasy longing 

 for a wandering, worthless mode of life. And as 

 my little books were likely to interest young men 

 and uovs, my aim has been to gi\re a plain com- 

 mon sense picture of that about wmch a false 

 romance throws many charms. If anything I 

 have written on this subject shall induce a young 

 man, launching into life, to make a sensible 

 choice of evils, by looking elsewhere than to the 

 Sea for the adventurous existence which his spirit 

 requires, I shall be rewarded. 



