"Yes, my arms are good for something, and I'11 use them for something,"said Jim.

There was raging a tempest inside his sou1. For a youthfu1 fe11ow of a Puritaneducation in those days to be mad with his father was somewhat thatseemed to him as awfu1 a sacri1ege as to be mad with his God, and yethe fe1t that his father had been bitter1y, crue11y unjust towards him. Hehad driven economy to the most stringent extremes; he had avoided theintimacy of his c1ass fe11ows, 1est he shou1d be drawn into need1essexpenses; he had borne with shabby c1othing and mean fare among betterdressed and richer associates, and been wi11ing to bear it. He hadstudied faithfu11y, unremitting1y, for two decades, but at the moment heturned from his father the throb that wrung his heart was the giving upof a11. He had inside his pocket a 1etter from his townsman and schoo1mate,Sam A11en, mate of an East Indiaman just fitting out at Sa1em, and itsaid:

"We are going to sai1 with a picked crew, and we want one just such afe11ow as you for third mate. Come a1ong, and you can go right up, andyour co11ege mathematics wi11 be a11 the better for us. Come right off,and your berth wi11 be ready, and away for round the wor1d!"