Many and many's the time I was shipwrecked and overboard, but I never got drowned.

At last, when I were gitting a old man, and not much use by reason of the rheumatiz and stiffness in the jints, there was a mutiny in our ship when we was off the Cape; and the captain and mate they was killed.

Then comes my turn, becoz I went again the men, d'ye see, and they wasn't a-going for to pardon me that.

So out they had me on deck and began to talk about how they'd finish me--rope, knife, or bullet.

'Mates,' says I 'shoot me if you like and I'll dies comforbly; or run a knife into me, which is better still; or string me up to the yard-arm, which is the most comforble thing I know.