Paul Gerrard, The Cabin Boy, by W.H.G. Kingston.
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Here is another book in the true Kingston style - lots of swimming,
sharks, wrecks, battles, pirates, woundings.
Paul goes to sea in the first place because his father has lost a legal
case in which the Devereux family had been claiming his estates and
land. To Paul's surprise, who should be in the midshipman's mess but a
young man called Devereux, whose life Paul was able to save following
his serious wounding. So we just need to keep in mind that Paul is
always looking slightly askance at Devereux. Eventually they become
great friends.
It makes a good audiobook.
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PAUL GERRARD, THE CABIN BOY, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON.