king
up my mind that I would swim off to her, I perceived that a man pushed
off in her jolly-boat, and was sculling to a post a little higher up,
where a hawser had been made fast; I ran round, and arrived there before
he had cast off the rope; without saying a word, I jumped into the boat.

"`What do you want, youngster?' said the seaman.

"`I want to go to sea,' said I, breathless; `take me on board--pray do.'

"`Well,' said he, `I heard the captain say he wanted an apprentice, and
so you may come.'

"He sculled the boat back again to the vessel, and I climbed up her
side.

"`Who are you?' said the captain.

"I told him that I wanted to go to sea.

"`You are too little and too young.'

"`No, I am not,' replied I.

"`Why, do you think that you dare go aloft?'

"`I'll show you,' replied I; and I ran up the rigging like a cat, and
went out at the topgallant yard-arm.

"When I came down, the captain said, `Well, I think you'll make a sharp
seaman by and by; so I'll take you, and, as soon as I get to London,
I'll bind you apprentice.'

"The ship, which was a collier, was soon out of port, and before the day
had dawned I found myself on the wide ocean, which was hereafter to be
my home.

"As soon as the hurry and confusion were over, I was examined by the
captain, who appeared to me to be a very rough, harsh man; indeed,
before the day was over I almost repented of the step which I had taken,
and when I sat down cold and wet upon some old sail at night, the
thoughts of my mother, and what distress I should occasion her, for the
first time rushed into my mind, and I wept bitterly; but it was too late
then. I have often thought, Mr Seagrave, that the life of hardship
which I have since gone through has been a judgment on me for my cruelty
to my mother, in leaving her the way I did. It broke her heart; a poor
return, William, for all her care and kindness! God forgive me!"

Old Ready left off for some little time, and the remainder of the party
kept silence. Then he said--"I'll leave off now, if you please: I don't
feel inclined to go on; my heart is full when I recall that foolish and
wicked deed of mine."

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

The next morning was fine, and as soon as breakfast was over, they took
the wheels down to the turtle-pond, and Ready having speared one of the
largest by means of a pike with a barb to it, which he had made on
purpose, they hauled it on shore, slung it under the wheels,