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world is only by bits and scraps; except, mayhap, what we can pick out of books. And that's no great matter; for the chief of a seaman's library is most commonly the history of cheats and rogues; so that we are always upon the look out, d'ye see, for fear of false colours."
Ambroise began a warm protestation of his honesty.
"Not but that, let me tell you, Sir!" the Admiral went on, "we have as many good scholars upon quarter-deck, counting such as could pay for their learning when they were younkers, as in any other calling. But this was not the case with myself, who owe nothing to birth nor favour; whereof I am proud to be thankful; for, from ten years old, when I was turned adrift by my family, I have had little or no schooling,—except by the buffets of the world."
Then, after ruminating for some minutes, he told Ambroise that he should not be sorry to make his apologies to the
