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.