William Clark Russell 
Death Ship, A Strange Story, Vol.1 (of 3) [EPUB ebook] 

Excerpt: "I will pass by all the explanations concerning the reasons of my going to sea, as I do not desire to forfeit your kind patience by letting this story stand. Enough if I say that after I had been fairly well grounded in English, arithmetic and the like, which plain education I have never wearied of improving by reading everything good that came in my way, I was bound apprentice to a respectable man named Joshua Cox, of Whitby, and[2] served my time in his vessel, the Laughing Susan-a brave, nimble brigantine."