On reaching Liverpool, the second port in Britain, the delight with which I wandered about the vast docks and quays, can be easily imagined. Here I found splendid ships--ships that were even giants to those I had so frequently built up in my imagination. As I gazed at their slender tapering masts and net-work of cordage, I despaired in my heart of ever being able to distinguish one of the myriad of ropes from another; but I did what it is the best to do in all cases--I determined to try. It so happened that at the time of my arrival there was a demand for sailors before the mast, and with my knowledge of the sea it was not difficult for me to procure a berth. Thus on the third day I found myself enrolled as one of the crew of a splendid merchant ship--the _Columbus_, 2,500 tons, bound for Jamaica with full cargo. So many accounts have been written of sailor's first voyages and experiences that I shall pass over mine; they proved very uneventful till seven years had nearly elapsed, during which period I had made many visits home, bringing numerous curiosities for Katie, who now was my wife, and had one or two little sailors in embryo to console her during my absence. Ten years then do I skip over, and come to the time when I shipped on board the _Lively Ariel_, merchantman, bound for Madras. As it was the first time I had been in this part of the globe, I was no little delighted at the change, and promised Katie many Indian rarities, such as ivory work-boxes, etc--little dreaming what a long, long voyage I was about to take, and the vastly different things I should bring her to those I intended. But a merciful Providence kindly hides the future from us, for the knowledge would make cowards of us all; therefore, ignorant of what was to come, I bade her an affectionate farewell, tossed the crowing babies in my arms, and started on the longest voyage I ever made. It was a light favourable breeze with which we cleared out of the Mersey, and went down Saint George's Channel, all sails set, and the ship flying, gliding along, over the blue waves, like a perfect beauty as she was.