The men were all at their dinner, when I heard the boat thumping under the main channels.

I got into her to ease off a fathom or two of the painter; but as I hauled her ahead to get at the bend, it appears that the monkey of a boy who made her fast, and has been but a few months at sea, had made a '_slippery hitch_,' so away it went, and I was adrift.

I hailed them on board; but they did not hear me, although the first mate might have, for he was in the cabin, and the stern-window was up; but hailing to windward is hard work, such weather as this; the words are blown back again down your own throat.

And now, let me know a little about you, my lad, and see whether I cannot in return be of some use to you." Newton's history was soon told; and, at the conclusion, he had the satisfaction of finding that he had obtained the very situation which he had been in search of.
"I have no second mate on board," observed the captain of the brig; "but I intended to have shipped one tomorrow.

I was only divided between which to take of two who have offered themselves, with equally good recommendations.