Surely, it would be better to volunteer than this.

He had been longing for the sea, and here an opportunity opened for him for abandoning the career his mother intended for him, without setting himself in opposition to her wishes.

Surely she would prefer that he should be at sea for a year or two to his being disgraced by imprisonment.

He therefore now stepped forward.
"I do not belong to the lugger's crew, sir, and had nothing to do with running their cargo, though I own I was on the spot at the time.

I am not a sailor, though I have spent a good deal of time on board fishing boats.