Following the sea, Hanz urged, was a very dangerous occupation, and where one man made any money by it, more than a dozen lost their lives by storms.

But Tite was not to be put off by such arguments.

The spirit of adventure was in the boy, and all other objects had to yield to his natural inclinations.

And now, at the age of twelve, we find Tite a smart, sprightly cabin-boy, on board the good sloop Heinrich, making the voyage to New York and back once a week, and taking his first lessons in practical seamanship.
Wonderful changes had been developed along the beautiful Hudson during these twelve years.

People in the country said New York was getting to be a very big, and a very wicked city.