As the incidents related herein took place during voyages between
England and America, I dedicate this book to the Vagabond Club of
London, and the Witenagemote Club of Detroit, in the hope that, if any
one charges me with telling a previously told tale, the fifty members
of each club will rise as one man and testify that they were called
upon to endure the story in question from my own lips prior to the
alleged original appearance of the same.