Field and Forest The Fortunes of a Farmer   By: Oliver Optic (1822-1897)

THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES.

FIELD AND FOREST;

OR,

THE FORTUNES OF A FARMER.

By

OLIVER OPTIC,

AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG STORIES," "THE LAKE SHORE STORIES," ETC.

WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.

BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD.

NEW YORK: CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

ELECTROTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.

TO

MY EXCELLENT YOUNG FRIEND

CHARLES H. FOWLE

This Book

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES.

1. Field and Forest ; OR, THE FORTUNES OF A FARMER.

2. Plane and Plank ; OR, THE MISHAPS OF A MECHANIC.

3. Desk and Debit ; OR, THE CATASTROPHES OF A CLERK.

4. Cringle and Cross Tree ; OR, THE SEA SWASHES OF A SAILOR.

5. Bivouac and Battle ; OR, THE STRUGGLES OF A SOLDIER.

6. Sea and Shore ; OR, THE TRAMPS OF A TRAVELLER.

PREFACE.

"FIELD AND FOREST" is the first of THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES, in which the career of a youth from his childhood to manhood is illustrated and described. In following out the plan which the author adopted when he began to write books for the young, and which he has steadily pursued in the fifty volumes now before the public, he has endeavored to make his hero a young man of high aims and lofty purposes, however strange, stirring, or even improbable his adventures might seem. Phil Farringford, the leading character of this series, though he may have some of the conceit which belongs to youth, is always honest, true to principle, and faithful to the light which he seeks in the gospel, and in all the other sources of wisdom. He aims to be a Christian young man, respects and loves all the institutions of religion, and labors to make his life an "Upward and Onward" progress.

The scene of the story is laid upon the waters of the upper Missouri: and while the writer hopes the reader will find the story sufficiently stirring and exciting to engage his attention, he also trusts that Phil's Christian principles, his reverence for the Bible, and his devotion to duty and principle, will receive the earnest consideration of his young friends.

HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON,

June 6, 1870.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I. IN WHICH PHIL COMES HOME WITH PLENTY OF FISH. 11

CHAPTER II. IN WHICH PHIL FINDS THE CAMP OF THE INDIANS. 21

CHAPTER III. IN WHICH PHIL TAKES GOOD CARE OF THE HORSES. 32

CHAPTER IV. IN WHICH PHIL LOSES AN OLD AND VALUED FRIEND. 42

CHAPTER V. IN WHICH PHIL FOLLOWS KIT CRUNCHER. 53

CHAPTER VI. IN WHICH PHIL ASSISTS IN THE BUILDING OF A BLOCK HOUSE. 63

CHAPTER VII. IN WHICH PHIL AND HIS FRIENDS GUARD THE CASTLE. 74

CHAPTER VIII. IN WHICH PHIL SEES THE FIRST YOUNG LADY HE EVER SAW. 85

CHAPTER IX. IN WHICH PHIL HAS A VISITOR AT THE CASTLE. 95

CHAPTER X. IN WHICH PHIL VISITS PARADISE, AND FIRES AT AN INDIAN. 106

CHAPTER XI. IN WHICH PHIL ENGAGES IN THE PURSUIT OF THE INDIANS. 116

CHAPTER XII. IN WHICH PHIL TAKES DELIBERATE AIM AT ONE OF THE CAPTORS OF ELLA. 127

CHAPTER XIII. IN WHICH PHIL AND HIS COMPANION ARRIVE AT THE CABIN OF KIT CRUNCHER. 138

CHAPTER XIV. IN WHICH PHIL ROWS THE BARGE UP THE BIG FISH RIVER. 149

CHAPTER XV. IN WHICH PHIL AND HIS COMPANIONS START FOR THE CASTLE. 160

CHAPTER XVI. IN WHICH PHIL ARRIVES AT THE CASTLE. 171