Chapter I: Preface

In order to make it plain to my readers that the following pages may be read without danger of acquiring false information about the sea, or the ways of its servants, I beg to say that every incident recorded is fact, either well authenticated by others, or personal experience of my own. About the merits of the _story_ I can, of course, say nothing, but I assure my readers of the accuracy of the details and information herein contained. I have naturally used the incidents to make a story, and given fictitious names of ships, places, and people. And I am not without hope that the reading of this book may be quite profitable to parents of boys wishing to go to sea, as well as pleasurable to the boys themselves.

FRANK T. BULLEN.

R.M.S. _Omrah_,
AT SEA IN THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT,
_Easter Sunday_ 1906.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE CALL OF THE SEA 1

II. OUTWARD BOUND 16

III. HIS FIRST GALE 39

IV. A GREAT FIGHT 62

V. AMONG THE ISLANDS 83

VI. INTRODUCES AMERICANS 110

VII. HOMEWARD BOUND 132

VIII. HOME AT LAST 156

IX. THE TESTING OF A MAN 181

X. A CATASTROPHE 201

XI. THE IMMUTABLE EAST 222

XII. FRANK GETS HIS OPPORTUNITY 250

XIII. “CAPTAIN” BROWN 272

XIV. TO SEA ONCE MORE 293

XV. THE BITTER LESSON ENDS 314

XVI. CONCLUSION 331

FRANK BROWN

SEA APPRENTICE