decks. "Mr. Thompson," said he, "here is a lad who wants to go
to sea, and I have foolishly engaged to take him as a cabin boy.
Keep him on board the brig; look sharp after him; don't let him
have an idle moment; and, if possible, make him useful in some
way until the vessel is ready for sea."

Mr. William Thompson was a worthy man, who subsequently became a
shipmaster and merchant of great respectability in Portsmouth.
He treated me with consideration and kindness, and took pleasure
in teaching me the details of the business I was about to
undertake.

During the few days in which the Dolphin lay at the wharf I
gained much nautical information. I learned the names of the
different parts of a vessel; of the different masts, and some
portions of the rigging. But the great number of ropes excited
my admiration. I thought a lifetime would hardly suffice to
learn their different names and purposes. I accomplished
successfully the feat of going aloft; and one memorable day,
assisted the riggers in "bending sails," and received an ill-
natured rebuke from a crusty old tar, for my stupidity in failing
to understand him when he told me to "pass the gasket: while
furling the fore-topsail. Instead of passing the gasket around
the yard, I gravely handed him a marlinspike!

In the course of my desultory reading, I had learned that vessels
at sea were liable to "spring a leak," which was one of the most
dreaded perils of navigation; and I had a vague notion that the
hold of a ship was always so arranged that a leak could be
discovered and stopped. I was, therefore, not a little puzzled