ished by what you have gone through, or I should have given you a
sound flogging; as it is, I intend to let you off, but you will
understand you must make yourself useful on board and try to pay for
your passage; I can have no idlers, remember, and you will get thrashed
if you do not work. I will speak to the mates about you, and they'll
see that you have something to do."

Poor Dick, looking very much ashamed of himself, returned forward. The
mates took care that he should have something to do, and the men also,
for Dick was at everybody's beck and call, and had to do all sorts of
dirty and disagreeable work. When there was no other work for him he
was employed by the cook to sweep out the caboose and clean the pots and
pans. He now and then got his back up, when he received a rope's-ending
for his pains. I did the best I could for him, but often could not save
him from ill-treatment, and at last, in the bitterness of his soul, he
complained that he was leading a regular dog's life, and that he
heartily wished he had not come to sea.

"I won't stand it any longer," he exclaimed. "I'll jump overboard and
drown myself."

"Don't even talk of doing so wicked and foolish a thing," I said. "You
wished to become a sailor, now that you have the opportunity of learning
your duty you do nothing but grumble and complain. You must take the
rough and the smooth together. I wasn't over well off on my first
voyage, though my mother had paid a premium to the owners and I was on
the quarterdeck, but I saw while I remained on board that there was no
use complaining, so I took things as they were, and by keeping my eyes
open and my wits awake became in a short time a fair seaman."

Poor Dick said that he would try to follow my advice, but he,
notwithstanding, would answer when spoken to, and consequently I was
unable to save him from ill-treatment, as he had brought it down upon
himself.

During a heavy gale we encountered, when near the latitude of the Cape,
one of the so-called midshipmen fell overboard and was drowned. The
captain knowing that I could take an observation, and hearing that I was
able to keep accounts and would be useful to him, invited me to take the
poor fellow's berth. This, though it gave me a good deal of work, I was
very glad to do, and I thus saw much less than before of Dick. As I was
well treated I soon regained my old affection for a sea life, and had
half determined to return home in the ship