[Gutenberg 55557] • Ready About / or, Sailing the Boat

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

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10 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.