Four Afloat Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Water   By: Ralph Henry Barbour (1870-1944)

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[Illustration: "The Vagabond started after the other craft with a rush." (Page 65)]

FOUR AFLOAT

BEING THE ADVENTURES OF THE BIG FOUR ON THE WATER

By RALPH HENRY BARBOUR

Author of "Four in Camp," "Four Afoot," etc.

NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1907

Copyright, 1907, by D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Published, September, 1907

TO J. W. A. SKIPPER OF MANY CRAFT

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I. Introduces a Gasoline Launch, Four Boys and a Dog 1 II. Starts the Vagabond on its Cruise 11 III. Wherein Dan Practices Steering 21 IV. Is Largely Concerned with Salt Water and Salt Fish 34 V. Wherein Tom Buys Lobsters and Dan Disapproves 43 VI. In Which They Follow a Race 57 VII. In Which Nelson Discovers a Stowaway 69 VIII. Tells How They Outwitted the Captain of the Henry Nellis 86 IX. Proves that a Stern Chase is not Always a Long Chase 95 X. Shows The Crew Of the Vagabond Under Fire 108 XI. Records A Mysterious Disappearance 118 XII. Wherein Nelson Solves the Mystery 130 XIII. Wherein Dan Tells a Story and Tom is Incredulous 138 XIV. In Which Tom Disappears from Sight 152 XV. Tells of Adventures in the Fog 163 XVI. Witnesses a Defeat for the Vagabond 172 XVII. In Which Dan Plays a Joke 186 XVIII. In Which Tom Puts Up at the Seamont Inn 200 XIX. Narrates a Midnight Adventure 209 XX. Wherein Tom Appears and the Launch Disappears 225 XXI. Tells of the Search for the Vagabond 235 XXII. Wherein the Vagabond is Recovered and the Thief is Captured 245 XXIII. Tells How The Four Encountered Old Acquaintances 256 XXIV. Wherein Spencer Floyd Leaves the Henry Nellis 265 XXV. Wherein the Vagabond Starts for Home and the Story Ends 273

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"The Vagabond started after the other craft with a rush" Frontispiece "Captain Sander ... raised his revolver and fired" 116 "'I would like to see the manager, if you please'" 208 "At the top of the sandy road he turned and waved them farewell" 274

FOUR AFLOAT

CHAPTER I INTRODUCES A GASOLINE LAUNCH, FOUR BOYS, AND A DOG

"She's a pu pu pu pu !"