Het Begin van het Leven

Then he became angry. His son had told him my story. "What kind of fool runs away from a good father? What kind of fool throws a comfortable life away? I would not sail with you again for thousand pounds! You bring bad luck! You cause the death!"

We are not ashamed to do wrong. But we are ashamed to make it right. We are not ashamed to be fools. But we are ashamed to become wise. So I went to London. On the way I fought with myself. But pride won every argument.

In London I stayed some time. The memory of the storm began to fade. My fear became weaker. My desire for adventure became stronger. I thought less of home. I thought less of my father's tears. I thought less of God's warnings.

Finally I made my choice. I would find another ship. I would try again. I would prove that I was not a coward. I would show everyone that I could be a sailor. I was the biggest fool who ever lived. And I would pay dearly for my foolishness.