ught back to her recollection with painful
vividness the time when my kind father last sailed I suspect she thought
that she might never see me again; still she knew that I must work for
my livelihood, as I did myself, and I was going to begin the profession
I had chosen, and for which I had long had a desire. For dangers and
hardships I was ready, fully persuaded that, though I might encounter, I
should get through them.

We were at sea at last, running down channel with a fair wind. Uncle
Jack had had no difficulty in obtaining a good crew, for when he could
find them, he picked up old shipmates, who were always glad to sail with
him. He had promised Timothy Howlett and Bill Trinder to look them up,
and they, having spent the last shilling in their pockets, were glad to
ship on board, he hoping that they having been before in those seas
might be useful. James Ling was second mate and Sam Crowfoot boatswain,
making up the complement of our officers, besides which there was our
supercargo, Edward Blyth, a young but very intelligent man, who had
already made a voyage to the Eastern seas, understood Dutch as well as
the Malay languages, and was thus able to act as interpreter at many of
the places where we were going. He was well informed on many subjects
also, and possessed a good knowledge of natural history. I must not
forget "Little Jem," the smallest boy on board. Instead of being
knocked about and bullied, he was somewhat of a favourite among the men,
with whom, however, he was pretty free and easy in his way of talking;
but they liked him all the better for that. To the officers he was
always respectful, well-mannered, and, being very intelligent and
active, was consequently a favourite with them.

We had on board four carronades and a long gun, as where we were going
it was necessary to have the means of defence, but they were stowed
below during the first part of the voyage. We had also a supply of
cutlasses, pistols, and boarding pikes for all hands, which ornamented
the fore bulk head of the main cabin, though occasionally taken down to
be cleaned and polished, so that they might be of use when wanted.

Uncle Jack took great pains to teach me navigation, and, as I had learnt
mathematics at school, I was soon able to take a good observation with
my sextant and to work out the calculations correctly. A knowledge of
seamanship I found was not to be obtained so rapidly, though Crowfoot,
the boatswain, w