Of course he liked
adventure, but of late he had begun to feel that perhaps he had had
enough of the strenuous life to last him the remainder of his years.
He certainly did not intend to grow gray on coastwise lines. Bluff,
gnarled old Harrison, his predecessor on this vessel, had served as a
striking object lesson. He could spin yarns of his adventures by the
hour, but at best no one would call him anything but an interesting old
character, a retired shell-back on half pay. Dan found no pleasure in
looking forward to anything of the sort.
Since he had gained a command in the famous Coastwise and West Indian
Shipping Company, he had begun to commend himself to persons who never
before had played a part in his life, principally a cousin of his
father's, a wealthy merchant of Boston, who had written him a long
letter, received just before the _Tampico_ sailed on her present
voyage, expressing a desire to meet him.
"It is not possible," the letter read, "you will want to follow the sea
all your life. There must be plenty of opportunities ashore for men of
your evident executive ability and initiative. I want you to come to
Boston at your first opportunity. I know I can give you good advice,
and it may be I can prove of material assistance to you."
When he first read the letter, Dan smiled to himself, not failing to
note the interest taken in him by relatives, now he seemed to be
proving his ability, who, heretofore, had known little about him and
cared less.
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