



Produced by Al Haines.




[Illustration: Cover art]




[Illustration: "He sat down to rest himself."--_Page_ 10.]




                         *THE CAPTAIN'S STORY*

                                   OR

                         *THE DISOBEDIENT SON*

                        ADAPTED PROM THE GERMAN


                                   BY

                           WILLIAM S. MARTIN



                       JAMES NISBET & CO. LIMITED
                           21 BERNERS STREET
                                  1868




                              *CONTENTS.*


                               CHAPTER I.

The Stranger--The Castle--The Captain's Soliloquy--The Pastor--The
Invitation


                              CHAPTER II.

The Children's Expectation Disappointed--The Scapegrace--The Forester's
House--Curiosity of the Villagers--Their Remarks--The Captain's Luggage


                              CHAPTER III.

Invitation to Tea--<DW64>s--Curiosities--The Fable of the Grasshopper
and the Ant--The Explanation


                              CHAPTER IV.

The Portrait--The Captain begins his Story--His Wilfulness--Goes to the
University--Bad Behaviour there--His Father's Letter--Refuses to send
him Money--He Runs Away


                               CHAPTER V.

He writes to his Father--Arrives at Amsterdam--His Father's Answer--The
Curse--On the Quay--Meets a Fellow-Countryman--Is Kidnapped and
Robbed--Sent to Sea--Endures many Hardships


                              CHAPTER VI.

The Tempest--All Hope Lost--The Ship Founders--The only Survivor--The
Spar--Remorse--The Rock--A Sail in Sight--The Signal--Despair--The Sail
in Sight again--The Signal Seen--Saved--He Works his Passage to
England--Is Tired of a Seafaring Life


                              CHAPTER VII.

He Arrives at Portsmouth--Resolves to Return to his Father--Arrives at
Rotterdam--Sunday Morning--Writes to his Father--Is Penniless--The Curse
of Disobedience--The Sermon--Is Starving--Obtains Temporary Relief from
an Old Fellow-Student--Receives News of his Father's Death--His Sorrow
and Remorse--Goes to Sea Again--Becomes Captain of a Ship


                             CHAPTER VIII.

His Marriage--The Portrait--His Terror--His Good Fortune Deserts
him--Heavy Losses--The Beggar--Recognises an Old Enemy--His Two Children
are Drowned--His Wife Dies--Is Bankrupt--In Prison--The English
Clergyman--Is Brought to Repentance--Is Set Free--The Fisherman and
Basket-maker


                              CHAPTER IX.

Accepts the Command of a Ship--The Pirates--The Fight--Victory--Meets an
Old Friend--His Friend's Adventures


                               CHAPTER X.

Makes Several Successful Voyages--Becomes Rich--Buys a Ship of his
Own--Makes his Fortune--Retires from the Sea--Returns to his Native
Village


                              CHAPTER XI.

The Curse Revoked--Conclusion




                         *THE CAPTAIN'S STORY.*


                              *CHAPTER I.*


The Stranger--The Castle--The Captain's Soliloquy--The Pastor--The
Invitation.


    "I travelled among unknown men,
      In lands beyond the sea;
    Nor did I know, sweet home, till then,
      What love I bore to thee.

    "'Tis past, that melancholy dream!
      Nor will I quit thy shore
    A second time; for still I seem
      To love thee more and more.
        --WORDSWORTH.


Towards the close of a beautiful day in autumn, the last rays of the
setting sun were gilding the tops of the mountains, which overhang the
picturesque valley of Bergstrasse, along which winds the road from
Heidelberg to Frankfort.  The heavily laden country carts and waggons
were toiling slowly along the dusty highway, both horses and drivers
looking hot and tired, and both, no doubt, very glad that they had
nearly reached the end of their day's journey; while every now and then
a horseman, or a carriage with ladies and gentlemen inside, dashed
rapidly along, and soon left the more heavily loaded vehicles far
behind.  What a striking picture of human life and the great journey we
all are taking--some of us struggling wearily, and oftentimes painfully,
but always, let us trust, hopefully, under a heavy load, and others
trotting merrily along their course, happy, and apparently at least