Noah Gray stood on the bow of the ship called [i]The Gambler's Deceit[/i]. It was late afternoon and the rest of the crew was resting or taking it easy blew deck. Noah was alone for now.  He looked out towards the sea and raised his voice in a favorite shanty;

[i]I thought I heard the Old Man say
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her"
Tomorrow ye will get your pay
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her

Oh, the wind was foul and the sea ran high
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
She shipped it green and none went by
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her

I hate to sail on this rotten tub
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
No grog allowed and rotten grub
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her

We swear by rote for want of more
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
But now we're through so we'll go on shore
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is long and the winds don't blow
And it's time for us to leave her[/i]

Noah looked back at the quiet ship. Maybe it was time for him to leave the ship. He's been on the ship a year or so. He's seen many ports of call. But things were getting old hat now. Maybe it was time for a new adventure. He looked to the distant shore. Could he make that swim? If he dived off the ship right now, could he swim to the shore? What new adventures would he find/ Who would he meet? He was tempted to dive off the ship. But he has never been a rash man. He thought things out before acting. 

He looked to the nearest life boat. If he lowered it, he could row away... He stood at the bow of the ship deep in thought, thinking of how he could get off of the ship and not drown and not alert the rest of the crew. He watched the ocean as he thought of his plan.