Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs, A Tale of Land and Sea, by William H G
Kingston.
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Owen is a teenager who had been quite well educated, but who had just
been orphaned. There is a family relation who has a shipping business
in Wapping, London. A kind friend escorts the boy there, and he is
granted an interview with the head of the firm, his relation. He is
able to prove to the old man that he is indeed his relation, and is
given a job as an assistant clerk. He does his work very well, and it
is decided that he ought to be sent on a round trip away by sea, so that
he shall understand more of the business.
Unfortunately the kind and helpful captain is taken ill, and his place
is taken by the mate, who is a very nasty piece of work. Owen is
supposed to be an honoured passenger, but is ordered to give up his
cabin, and take a berth among the ship's boys. One of the boys, Nat, is
an especial target for the general nastiness of the mate, now the
captain. Owen had previously rescued Nat when he had fallen overboard,
and they had become great friends.
The stupid and drunken mate, now acting as the captain, insists one day
that his sunsight is correct, while everybody else's is wrong, and
insists on the ship holding her course, which the other officers knew
would lead her into danger. Of course there is a wreck. But maybe we
have now told you enough, so you can read it for yourselves, or listen
to it.
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OWEN HARTLEY; OR, UPS AND DOWNS, A TALE OF LAND AND SEA, BY WILLIAM H G
KINGSTON.