"Looking at my toes sticking up at the other end, I reflect that my toenails could use a bit of a trim so I haul the right foot up and start gnawing 'em off all neat and trim with my teeth" (Chapter 1).

"It has been two days since I got here and at least half the crew knows my name and who I am. I think I can count some as my friends and that is good" (Chapter 6).

"We can hear him thrashing about in his cabin, groaning and cursing everything about him. Every soul on this ship hopes with all his heart that he dies of this affliction, and soon" (Chapter 10).

"It grows louder and I realize that it is the men, or most of them anyway, giving the time-honored warning to a captain that mutiny is imminent if he doesn't change his ways" (Chapter 13).

"With swords...