This novel tells the story of Percival Keene, a young man who joins the British navy and experiences the highs and lows of life at sea. Along the way, he encounters romance, adventure, and danger. This edition also includes a memoir of the author, providing insight into Marryat's life and inspiration for his writing. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.