r, the captain of the boat, to be kind and friendly.
Not that he took any notice of me for several days. He did not. But
when we arrived at Plymouth, and were away from the crew, he began to
talk kindly to me.

"Tretheway," he said, "I don't know anything about you, and it may be
that in talking freely to you I am in one sense taking a liberty. May
be you have been brought up well; fact, I'm sure you have. But all
that's no business of mine. What I want to say is this, I like you. I
daren't show it at sea, as there'd be jealousy. At the same time, if
ever I can show my real friendship to you, or if ever you want a
friend, you know where to come."

I thanked him warmly.

"There's just another thing to say, lad. You've had a quiet time on
board yet, for the men ain't known what to make of you, but they begin
to feel their way. They fancies you are a swell and a sneak, so keep
your weather eye open. The best men of the crew are leaving here, too,
and I am afraid I shall have to pick up a rough lot, so, as I say, keep
a sharp look out."

I found this advice very much to the point a day or two after. Not
that I minded much. I was too terribly bitter towards almost
everything to care what happened to me. Still, when we were fairly out
at sea from Plymouth, and the men began to play practical jokes upon
me, I remembered the captain's words and remained cool.

There were one or two discontented men on board who took it into their
heads that I had a doubtful past, and, moreover, that I had a secret in
my life of the discovery of which I was in constant fear.

It was afternoon, and the men having nothing special to do were
standing lazily around. I was making my way to the bowsprit, and was
walking rather rapidly, when the biggest bully on the boat put out his
foot and threw me head foremost. This was received with a loud guffaw
of derisive laughter, and the man who had done it was highly
complimented on his achievement. I took no notice, however, doing that
which I had set out to do. This, instead of lessening their dislike
for me, increased it, and for days after I was subjected to many petty
annoyances. A few weeks before, I should not have stood it. I was
wild and passionate then, full of life and strength, now I was so
bitter that I scarcely felt any interest in anything. Besides that,
the men were so low and brutal that I disliked encountering them.

At last I went to them and asked what I had do