Dad had practically nothing left, and he decided to return to the sea.

He'd always loved it, and I half believe that he was glad things had happened as they did.

He was like a boy again, busy with plans and preparations from morning till night.

He used to sit up half the night talking things over with me.

That was after I had shown him that I was really resolved to go along.
"He had made his start, you know, in the South Seas--pearls and pearl shell--and he was sure that more fortunes, in trove of one sort and another, were to be picked up.