After years of service at sea, Captain Crutchley passed from sail to steam. He filled important commands with distinguished success. He began with the comparatively easy voyage to the Cape. In the later years of his career at sea he was engaged in Australasian voyages, when his experience in sailing-ships enabled him, by the combined power of sail and steam, to make successful voyages. In Captain Crutchley’s time ships coming direct from the homeland were the bonds of empire. They received a warm welcome on their arrival in the distant ports of New Zealand and Australia. Captain Crutchley earned a deserved popularity as a representative seaman. He began his work as an empire builder while serving at sea. It was continued ashore for a period of many years in the capacity of Secretary of the Navy League. The book abounds in valuable hints on discipline at sea. The vessels commanded by Captain Crutchley were happy ships. It only remains to commend this volume as interesting reading to all who love the sea and admire the hardy breed of men who do business in great waters. BRASSEY. _March 7, 1912._ CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I 1 CHAPTER II 25 CHAPTER III 51 CHAPTER IV 75 CHAPTER V 97 CHAPTER VI 125 CHAPTER VII 155 CHAPTER VIII 185 CHAPTER IX 215 CHAPTER X 241 CHAPTER XI 269 CHAPTER XII 301 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS _To face page_ CAPE HORN, DISTANT ONE MILE _Frontispiece_ (_From a photograph taken from the “Ruapehu”_) CLIPPER SHIP “ESSEX,” 1042 TONS. J. S. ATWOOD, COMMANDER 46 U.S.S. “ROMAN” 100 U.S.S. “NYANZA” 100 U.S.S. “AFRICAN” 100 U.S.S. “SYRIA” 145 (_From a painting by Willie Fleming of Cape Town_) N.Z.S. CO.’S “RUAPEHU” 243 N.Z.S.S. “KAIKOURA” 271 (_From a painting by Willie Fleming of Cape Town_) “KAIKOURA” IN HARBOUR 283 THE MASTER OF THE “KAIKOURA” 289 SHAKING A REEF OUT 303 A HANDY MAINSAIL WHICH DOES NOT DRIVE SMOKE DOWN ON THE BRIDGE 311 CHAPTER I “Ride with an idle whip, ride with an unused heel, But, once in a way, there will come a day When the colt must be taught to feel The lash that falls, and the curb that galls, And the sting of the rowelled heel.”--KIPLING.