He was what is called an adventurous boy.

He did not like to stay quietly at home with his father and comb out the tangled wool.

He thought it would be much nicer to sail away to sea and be a brave captain or a rich merchant.
When he was about fourteen years old he really did go to sea.

There was a captain of a sailing vessel that sometimes came to Genoa who had the same last name--Columbus.

He was no relation, but the little Christopher somehow got acquainted with him among the wharves of Genoa.