I resolved, therefore, to take leave of the ship if Stormy would allow me to become his companion, and even if he should not, I had more than half determined upon running away. Volume One, Chapter IV. A CHANGE OF CALLING. Two days before we reached New Orleans, Stormy Jack expressed some sham contrition for what he had done, with an inclination to return to his duty. He was liberated, and once more the deck was enlivened by the sound of his rough manly voice giving the necessary orders for working the ship. I found a favourable opportunity of telling him, that I should like to go along with him. At first he objected to aid me, and urged me to remain, as a reason for my doing so, urging the argument: that a boy serving his apprenticeship was much better off than one wandering about without a home. To me this argument was worth nothing. The idea of remaining for seven years in a situation chosen for me by Mr Leary, was too absurd to be seriously entertained for a moment. I told Stormy so; and he finally consented that I should go with him. "My reason for objecting at first," said he, "was because I did not like to be troubled with you; but that's not exactly the right sort o' feeling for a Christian to steer by. One should expect to have some trouble with those as need a helping hand, and I don't know why I should try to shirk from my share of it." I promised Stormy that I would try not to cause him any trouble, or as little as possible. "Of course you will try," said he, "or if you don't, I'll teach you manners." Stormy's threat did not alarm me; and our conversation at the time ended--leaving me well pleased with the prospect of getting clear of the ship, by his assistance. Stormy's return to duty was only a pretence. It was done to deceive the officers--so that he might the more easily find an opportunity of escaping from the ship. Two days after our arrival in the port of New Orleans, he was allowed liberty to go ashore; and I was permitted to accompany him. The Captain probably supposed that the wages due to Stormy would bring him back; and the suspicion, that a boy like myself should wish to leave the ship, had never entered into his mind. Several of our shipmates went ashore along with us; and the first thing we all thought of was, what the reader will readily imagine, to find a place where strong drink was sold. This is usually a sailor's first thought on going ashore after a voyage. After having taken two or three glasses with our shipmates, Stormy gave me a wink, and sidled towards the door. I followed him; and slipping unperceived into the street, we turned a corner, and kept on through several streets--until we had arrived at another part of the city. The little that Stormy had drunk had by this time only sharpened his appetite for more.