Still in so wild a sea it was in vain to try to get on board the
ship which had sent out the men, or to use our oars in the boat,
and all we could do was to let it drive to shore.

In the space of half an hour our own ship struck on a rock and
went down, and we saw her no more. We made but slow way to the
land, which we caught sight of now and then when the boat rose
to the top of some high wave, and there we saw men who ran in
crowds, to and fro, all bent on one thing, and that was to save
us.

At last to our great joy we got on shore, where we had the luck
to meet with friends who gave us the means to get back to Hull;
and if I had now had the good sense to go home, it would have
been well for me.

The man whose ship had gone down said with a grave look, "Young
lad, you ought to go to sea no more, it is not the kind, of life
for you." "Why Sir, will you go to sea no more then?" "That is
not the same kind of thing; I was bred to the sea, but you were
not, and came on board my ship just to find out what a life at
sea was like, and you may guess what you will come to if you do
not go back to your home. God will not bless you, and it may be
that you have brought all this woe on us."

I spoke not a word more to him; which way he went I knew not, nor
did I care to know, for I was hurt at this rude speech. Shall I
go home thought I, or shall I go to sea? Shame kept me from home,
and I could not make up my mind what course of life to take.