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PERFACE.



READY ABOUT " is the sixth and last volume
of the Boat-Builder Series," which was be-
gun six years ago. The only new characters presented
in this story are the members of '' The Nautifelers
Club," who are introduced to exhibit the contrast be-
tween young men of high aims and correct principles,
and those who are inclined to live too fast, and have no
fixed ideas of duty to sustain and advance them in the
battle of life. But, even in this miserable club, there
are two classes of members ; for one-half are reckless
and worse than indifferent in the matter of right living,
while the other half are led to the very verge of the
precipice of crime by their unfortunate associations.
The reform of the latter interests the principal of the
Beech Hill Industrial School, who does his duty, as
always, in the premises, with a very happy result.

More than its predecessors in the series since the
first volume, this book is a story of adventure. In this
portion, its tendency is to inculcate courage without

7



8 PREFACE.

rashness, and to show that a young man of high prin-
ciples is not necessarily a coward and a milksop.

As indicated in the sub-title, " Sailing the Boat " is
one of the principal features of the book. This is an
art that cannot be mastered by simply learning the
theory. Nothing but abundant practice can make a
competent boatman. Fifty years ago, the writer, how-
ever, would have deemed it very fortunate if he could
have obtained from a book, even such instruction as he
has endeavored to impart. He has by no means ex-
hausted the subject, though whatever more is to be
learned will almost come of itself with experience.
The author has learned in fifty years that there is
always something more to learn ; and the handling of
a yacht has come to be almost ''high art" in the
amount of time, study, and enthusiasm bestowed upon
the subject in recent years.

As the writer closes his twelfth series of books for
young people, he cannot help thanking his numerous
constituency in all parts of the country for the abun-
dant and generous favor received from them. Thirty-
three years have elapsed from the date of ' ' The Boat
Club," his first juvenile ; and the kindness of his
friends has never failed him in this period of a gen-
eration of the human race.

Minneapolis, Minn., July 15, 1887.



CO]SrTEB"TS.



CHAPTER I. PAGE

Mr. Spickles feom the Metropolis .... 13

CHAPTER II.
The Nautifelers Club on the Lake ... 24

CHAPTER III.
A Terrific Explosion in the Night. . , . 34

CHAPTER IV.
The Scene of Operations 45

CHAPTER Y.
On the Track of the Burglars .... 55

CHAPTER VI.
A Victim of Strategy 66

CHAPTER VII.
The Effects of the Explosion 76

CHAPTER VIII.
Some Differences of Opinion 87

CHAPTER IX.

Under the Lee of Gardiner's Island ... 97

9



10 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X. PAGE

A Battle with the Elements 108

CHAPTER XL

The Turning of the Tables 118

CHAPTER XII.

DOKY DORNWOOD RESORTS TO STRATEGY . , . 129

CHAPTER XIII.
The Arrival of Michael Angelo Spickles . . 139

CHAPTER XIV.
The Result of Dory's Strategy .... 150

CHAPTER XV.
Under Way, or Under Weigh ..... 160

CHAPTER XVI.
On Board of the La Motte . . . . . 171

CHAPTER XVIL
The Standing-Rigging of a Sloop .... 181

CHAPTER XVIIL
The Running-Rigging of a Sloop .... 193

CHAPTER XIX.
The Plan that was not Successful . . . 204

CHAPTER XX.
More Members of the Nautifelers Club . . 215

CHAPTER XXL
The Goldwing on the Starboard Tack . . . 225



CONTENTS. 11

CHAPTER XXII. PAGE

Something about Steering a Sail-Boat . . . 236

CHAPTER XXIII.
Opeeations in the Hold of the La Motte . . 247

CHAPTER XXIV.
The Defenders of the Pirate-Schooneb . . 257

CHAPTER XXY.
A Selfish View of an Important Question . . 267

CHAPTER XXVI.
"See, the Conquering Hero comes!" . . . 278

CHAPTER XXVII.
The Guests of the Institution 287

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Stations for getting....

Genres for this book