I did not dislike a sea life; and would not have been dissatisfied with
any situation on a ship, providing it had not been procured for me by
Mr Leary.
On running away from Mr Sullivan's shop, my inclination was to leave
New Orleans in some ship; but, unfortunately, I knew not the proper
manner of going to work to accomplish my desires.
I walked along the levee, till I reached a ship, that was just being
hauled from the wharf--evidently for the purpose of standing down the
river and out to sea.
I stepped aboard intending to apply for work; and after looking around
for a while, I observed a man who, to all appearance, was the captain.
When asked to give me some situation in the ship, he appeared too busy
to pay any attention to my request.
I was on a vessel proceeding to sea; and, knowing my ability to make
myself useful, I determined not to go ashore without a hearing.
I walked forward; and amidst the confusion of getting the ship under
way--where there was so much to be done--I found work enough to do; and
took much care, while doing it, to keep out of the way of others--which,
to a boy aboard of a ship, is a task of some difficulty.
No one seemed to take any notice of me that afternoon or evening; and
about nine o'clock at night I laid down under the long boat, fell
asleep, and slept till morning.
I turned out at the earliest hour, and lent a hand at washing the decks;
but still no one seemed to know, that I was not one of the ship's
company!
At eight o'clock the crew were mustered, and divided into watches. My
name was not called: and the captain observing the circumstance,
requested me to walk aft.
"Who are you?" asked he, as I drew near.
Something whispered me not to undervalue myself, but to speak up with
confidence; and in answer to his demand, I told him that I was a
_Rolling Stone_.
"A Rolling Stone, are you?" said the captain. "Well, what have you
rolled here for?"
"Because I wanted to go somewhere," I answered.
He then asked me if I had ever been at sea; and, on learning the name of
the ship I had deserted, he said that she had sailed the week before, or
he would have sent me back to her.
He concluded his examination, by giving the steward orders to look after
me--telling him that I could assist in the slop work to be done in the
cabin.
To this arrangement I decidedly objected, declaring that I was a
_sailor_, and would not be made a _cuddy servant_!
I have every reason to believe, that this declaration on my part
elevated me several degrees in the captain's good opinion.
He replied by expressing a hope, that I would not aspire to the command
of the ship; and if not, he would see what could be done for me.
The vessel was bound for Liverpool with cotton; and was owned by the
captain himself, whose name was Hyland.