CHAPTER XIV.
The first lieutenant has more patients--Mr Chucks the Boatswain, lets me into the secret of his gentility.
Before I proceed with my narrative, I wish to explain to the reader that my history was not written in after-life, when I had obtained a greater knowledge of the world.

When I first went to sea, I promised my mother that I would keep a journal of what passed, with my reflections upon it.
To this promise I rigidly adhered, and since I have been my own master, these journals have remained in my possession.

In writing, therefore, the early part of my adventures, everything is stated as it was impressed on my mind at the time.

Upon many points I have since had reason to form a different opinion from that which is recorded, and upon many others I have since laughed heartily at my folly and simplicity; but still, I have thought it advisable to let the ideas of the period remain, rather than correct them by those of dear-bought experience.

A boy of fifteen, brought up in a secluded country town, cannot be expected to reason and judge as a young man who has seen much of life, and passed through a variety of adventures.