Theotherphaseofthedeath-roadwasthatofthehabitualdrunkards，whohadawayofturninguptheirtoeswithoutapparentprovocation。Whentheytooksick，evenwithtriflingafflictionsthatanyordinarymancouldpullthrough，theyjustpeggedout。
Sometimestheywerefoundunattendedanddeadintheirbeds；onoccasiontheirbodiesweredraggedoutofthewater；andsometimesitwasjustplainaccident，aswhenBillKelley，unloadingcargowhiledrunk，hadafingerjerkedoff，which，underthecircumstances，mightjustaseasilyhavebeenhishead。
SoIconsideredmysituationandknewthatIwasgettingintoabadwayofliving。Itmadetowarddeathtooquicklytosuitmyyouthandvitality。Andtherewasonlyonewayoutofthishazardousmannerofliving，andthatwastogetout。ThesealingfleetwaswinteringinSanFranciscoBay，andinthesaloonsImetskippers，mates，hunters，boat-steerers，andboat-pullers。Imettheseal-hunter，PeteHolt，andagreedtobehisboat-pullerandtosignonanyschoonerhesignedon。AndIhadtohavehalfadozendrinkswithPeteHoltthereandthentosealouragreement。
AndatonceawokeallmyoldunrestthatJohnBarleycornhadputtosleep。IfoundmyselfactuallyboredwiththesaloonlifeoftheOaklandwater-front，andwonderedwhatIhadeverfoundfascinatinginit。Also，withthisdeath-roadconceptinmybrain，Ibegantogrowafraidthatsomethingwouldhappentomebeforesailingday，whichwassetforsometimeinJanuary。I
livedmorecircumspectly，dranklessdeeply，andwenthomemorefrequently。Whendrinkinggrewtoowild，Igotout。WhenNelsonwasinhismaniacalcups，Imanagedtogetseparatedfromhim。