Well, my lad, I'm sorry for what's happened, but talking won't do it any good.

You've got a long voyage before you, and you'd best turn in and make yourself comfortable for it.' "'I ain't going a long voyage,' says I, beginning to wipe my eye, 'I wants to be put ashore at the first port.' "'Well, my lad, I daresay the skipper will do that, but as we're bound for the coast of Chili from Hamburg, and ain't likely to be there for about five months, you've got, as I said, a long voyage before you.

If the weather had been fine the skipper might have spoken some ship in the Channel, and put you on board, but before the gale's blown out we shall be hundreds of miles at sea.

Even if it had been fine I don't suppose the skipper would have parted with you, especially if you told him the watch was asleep.

He would not care next time he entered an English port to have a claim fixed on his ship for the vally of the smack.' "I saw what the sailor said was like enough, and blamed myself for having let out about the watch.