first voyage. I sometimes
wish that I had lived comfortably on shore, and made it my last, but I
got accustomed to a roving life, and having no regular business or tie,
when circumstances compelled Mr Griffiths--who married my sister--to
come to sea again, I agreed to accompany him."

I felt sure from the kind way in which Doctor Cockle spoke that he would
wish to serve me.

I asked him if the ship was going to put into Saint Helens, or if not,
would he get the captain to land Jim and me at Portland?

"We are some way to the westward of Portland, already," he answered.
"It is possible that he may land you at Plymouth or Falmouth, or if not
put you on board some pilot or fishing boat, or any vessel we may fall
in with coming up Channel."

"Surely, sir, he would not carry us away from home? I would give
anything to be on shore, where my young sister is expecting me, and it
would break her heart to fancy I was lost, which she would do if I did
not appear," I said.

"As Mr Griffiths and I only joined the ship at Hull, ten days ago, we
are not very intimate with the captain: but I hope he would not refuse
your request."

The doubtful way in which he spoke made me feel very unhappy. Still, I
hoped that when I told the captain the strong reasons I had for wishing
to be put on shore as soon as possible, he would not refuse.

The doctor left me to attend to one of the men who was sick forward, and
I joined Jim, who had also come on deck. I had a long talk with him
about the matter. He fancied we were only then just abreast of the
Downs, and that the captain would put in willingly enough for the sake
of getting rid of us. It was a great disappointment to find that we
were so far down Channel, and that we should thus, at all events, have a
long journey back to Portsmouth. Still we neither of us doubted for a
moment that we should be put on shore somewhere to the westward, as I
saw by a look I had at the compass that we were standing for the land.

While we were talking, the captain, whom we had not yet seen, came on
deck. He was a fine, tall, sailor-like looking man, with a handsome
countenance and large eyes, which seemed to take in everything at a
glance--a person of whom the roughest crew would stand in awe.

His bright eyes fell on Jim and me; he beckoned us to come up, and,
looking at me, bade me give him the particulars of the loss of the brig,
about which Mr Griffiths and the doctor had told him.

I gave