“‘All right, my lad; jump in.’
“It took us nearly an hour, but we did it.
“I was very wet, and the gentleman kindly took me below, and gave me warm coffee.
“‘Now,’ he said, ‘I’m going to give you half a guinea, and the man half, for if he has to change the gold, he will cheat you.’
“‘Are you captain of this ship, sir?’ I asked.
“‘I am, lad; I’m all that is for the captain.’
“‘Well, sir,’ I said, ‘give the man all the guinea, and take me with you as a boy.’
“I then told him all my story.
“‘We don’t sail for a week,’ he said, ‘and if in that time you get your mother’s consent, I’ll be glad to have so plucky a youngster on board my craft.’
“My dear mother gave her consent, as you know, Archie; and so I became a sailor and a wanderer.”