or a sailor, though, as I
said, I did not think he was one. Mr Marsh, the mate, listened to my
account, and as he stepped into the boat, seemed to be looking for the
stranger. After waiting a few minutes, as the man did not appear, he
gave the order to shove off.

"There he comes, sir," said I, seeing him walking rapidly along the quay
with a seaman's bag over his shoulder, while a porter accompanied him
carrying a moderate-sized chest.

"If you want another hand, I'm ready to ship for the voyage," said he,
coming down the slip, and abruptly addressing the mate.

"Seaman or not, he'll do," said Mr Marsh to himself. "Well, put your
traps into the boat, and come aboard, and we'll see what the captain has
to say to the matter," he answered, aloud.

The young man dropped a shilling into the hand of the porter, who looked
at the coin and then at his countenance, and touched his hat. The
stranger sat down on his chest in the bow of the boat, and we were soon
on board. The captain then sent for him aft, and held him in
conversation for half an hour or more. What was said I do not know; but
the result was, that the young man came forward and told me that he had
been entered as one of the crew, requesting me to show him where he was
to stow his chest and bag. "In the forepeak," said I; but he evidently
did not know where that was, so without saying a word I helped him down
with it.

The first night we were at sea I had the middle watch, and scarcely had
I made a dozen turns on deck, when he joined me. "What is your name?"
said he; "I did not catch it." I told him.

"Well," he continued, "there is no use denying it--I am not a sailor.
The captain knows this; but I have promised soon to become one, and I
want to keep my promise. Will you help me to do so, by teaching me all
I want to know?"

I told him I would do all I could for him, but that, as this was my
first voyage in a whaler, I could not help him much about whaling
matters.

"Oh, that will soon come," he answered. "I seldom see a thing done once
that I cannot do afterwards; but I want you to help me in seamanship. I
have been constantly on the water, and know how to handle a boat, but
never before made a voyage."

I was so pleased with the frank way in which he acknowledged his
ignorance, and the hearty desire he showed to learn, that I resolved to
instruct him in everything I knew.

I never found anybody pick up information so rapidly as he did.