I am not ashamed to declare that I, too, felt pleasure in this sort of thing: like all old soldiers and sailors, who proverbially delight to "fight their battles o'er again." These desultory recitals continued for some time, until one day, as I met my young friends in the ordinary way, only somewhat earlier than common, I saw that there was something unusual in the wind. They mustered stronger than was their wont, and I noticed that one of them-- the biggest boy of the crowd--held a folded paper in his hand, upon which I could perceive there was writing. As I drew near, the paper was placed in my hands without a word being said; and I saw by the superscription that it was directed to myself. I opened the paper, and soon perceived the nature of its contents. It was a "petition" signed by all the boys present. It ran thus:-- "Dear Captain,--We have been allowed holiday for the whole of to-day; and we know of no way in which we could spend it with so much of pleasure and profit, as by listening to you. We have therefore taken the liberty of asking you to indulge us, by the narration of some remarkable incident that has happened to you. A stirring passage we should prefer, for we know that many of these have befallen you during your adventurous life; but choose whatever one it may be most pleasant for you to relate; and we shall promise to listen attentively, since one and all of us know that it will be an easy thing to keep that promise. And now, dear captain! grant us the favour we ask, and your petitioners shall be for ever grateful." Such a polite request could not be refused; and without hesitation I declared my intention to gratify my young friends with a chapter from my life. The chapter chosen was one which I thought would be most interesting to them--as it gave some account of my own boy-life, and of my first voyage to sea--which, from the odd circumstances under which it was made, I have termed a "Voyage in the Dark." Seating myself upon the pebbly beach, in full view of the bright sea, and placing my auditory around me, I began. CHAPTER TWO. SAVED BY SWANS.