THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

He heard many things strange and wonderful; he heard how the men went forth at night in all weathers to catch the herring and the cod; he heard how some of them had served on colliers and coasters, and so knew all the ports and the humours of each from Whitby to Wapping; how some, again, had gone forth to the Arctic seas in whalers and had met with perils many and various among the ice, the bears, and the great whales.  Now to some boys, when they hear such stories, there falls upon their senses a longing so mighty that it overpowers them.  They hear strange voices; they see imaginary splendours, the washing of the waves upon the shore falls upon their ears like the sweetest music; their hearts swell only to see a black collier beating up slowly against the wind; and presently a voice not to be resisted calls upon them to arise and betake themselves to some place where they, too, can be received upon shipboard and become sailors for good or for evil.

Besant/Cook, 1914