I'd been at sea with father off and on ever since I was about nine years old, and a smarter boy wasn't to be found on the beach.

The Dolphin was a good sea boat, but she wasn't, so to say, fast, and I dunno' as she was much to look at, for the old man wasn't the sort of chap to chuck away his money in paint or in new sails as long as the old ones could be pieced and patched so as to hold the wind.

We sailed out pretty nigh over to the French coast, and good sport we had.

We'd been out two days when we turned her head homewards.

The wind was blowing pretty strong, and the old man remarked, he thought we was in for a gale.