Part II A few months after Martin had started to educate himself, he had to go to sea again as all his money was spent. He went as a sailor on a ship that was going to the South Sea. The captain of the ship had a complete Shakespeare, which he never read. Martin had
washed his clothes for him and in return was allowed to read the books. For a time all the
world took the form of Shakespearean tragedy or comedy; even Martin's thoughts were
expressed in the language of Shakespeare. This trained his ear and gave him a feeling for
good English.
The eight months were spent well; he learned to understand Shakespeare and speak
correctly, and what was most important, he learned much about himself. Now he knew that he
could do more than he had done. He wanted to show Ruth the beauty of the South Sea and
decided to do it in his letters.
And then the great idea came to him. He would describe the beauty of the world not
only for Ruth but for other people as well. He could do it. He would be one of the eyes
through which the world saw, one of the ears through which the world heard, one of the hearts
through which it felt. He would be a writer. He would write – everything – poetry and prose,
novels and descriptions, and plays like Shakespeare. There was career and the way to win
Ruth.
For the first time he saw the aim of his life, and saw it in the middle of the great sea.
Martin decided to begin writing when he comes back. He would describe the voyage to the
South Sea and sell it to some San Francisco newspaper. He would go on studying, and then,
after some time, when he had learned and prepared himself, he would write great things.