and
I was put down on the books as a supernumerary boy. I was on board of
her for nearly four years, and we were sent about from port to port, and
from clime to clime, until I grew a strong, tall lad, and was put into
the mizen-top. I found it very comfortable. I did my duty, and the
consequence was, I never was punished; for a man may serve on board of a
man-of-war without fear of being punished, if he only does his duty, and
the duty is not very hard either; not like on board of the merchant
vessels, where there are so few hands--there it is hard work. Of
course, there are some captains who command men-of-war who are harsh and
severe; but it was my good fortune to be with a very mild and steady
captain, who was very sorry when he was obliged to punish the men,
although he would not overlook any improper conduct. The only thing
which was a source of constant unhappiness to me was, that I could not
get to England again, and see my mother. I had written two or three
letters, but never had an answer; and at last I became so impatient that
I determined to run away the very first opportunity which might offer.
We were then stationed in the West Indies, and I had very often
consultations with Hastings on the subject, for he was quite as anxious
to get away as I was; and we had agreed that we would start off together
the very first opportunity. At last we anchored in Port Royal, Jamaica,
and there was a large convoy of West India ships, laden with sugar,
about to sail immediately. We knew that if we could get on board of
one, they would secrete us until the time of sailing, for they were
short-handed enough, the men-of-war having pressed every man they could
lay their hands upon. There was but one chance, and that was by
swimming on board of one of the vessels during the night-time, and that
was easy enough, as they were anchored not a hundred yards from our own
ship. What we were afraid of was the sharks, which were so plentiful in
the harbour. However, the night before the convoy was to sail we made
up our minds that we would run the risk, for we were so impatient to
escape that we did not care for anything. It was in the middle watch--I
recollect it, and shall recollect it all my life, as if it were last
night--that we lowered ourselves down very softly from the bows of the
ship, and as soon as we were in the water we struck out for one of the
West Indiamen close to us. The sentry at the gangway saw the light i