Little By Little or, The Cruise of the Flyaway   By: Oliver Optic (1822-1897)

LITTLE BY LITTLE

OR

The Cruise of the Flyaway

BY WILLIAM TAYLOR ADAMS

(OLIVER OPTIC)

CHICAGO UNION SCHOOL FURNISHING COMPANY PUBLISHERS

TO

CHARLES LABAN ADAMS

This Book

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

BY HIS UNCLE.

PREFACE

In presenting to his young friends the sixth volume of the "Library for Young People," the author cannot be unconscious of what the readers of his former books require of him. They will turn the leaves of "Little by Little," expecting to find an abundance of stirring incidents; and he hopes they will not be disappointed. Some of the older readers and sterner critics will look for romantic and rather exaggerated events; but he thinks they will look in vain, for as we grow older we become more reasonable, and do not expect showers of gold to fall upon every seedy hero, or to see nice young gentlemen leap over lofty precipices without sometimes being dashed to pieces.

But the author hopes that something more than exciting incidents will be found upon his pages; that, though he has seldom, if ever, gone out of his way to define the moral quality, or measure the moral quantity, of the words and deeds of his characters, the story will not be found wanting in a true Christian spirit.

Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, and most of the events of the story occur upon the water; but the author hopes his young lady friends will not make faces at him on this account. The boys insisted upon having a sea story, and being the "lords of creation," of course they must be indulged; but the writer most solemnly promises to remember the girls next time.

Thanking my young friends again for the continued kindness manifested towards my pets, I give them "Little by Little," hoping that the excellent spirit of Paul Duncan will pervade their minds and hearts, and lead them forward to the material and moral triumphs which crowned his useful life.

WILLIAM T. ADAMS. DORCHESTER, August 28, 1860.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Paul Duncan Disobeys Orders 9

II. Paul is Cool and Self possessed 19

III. Paul Hears Bad News 28

IV. Paul Becomes the Head of the Family 38

V. Paul Cooks His Own Breakfast, and Goes a Fishing 49

VI. Paul Makes a Good Speculation 59

VII. Paul Goes Into Business on His Own Account 69

VIII. Paul Takes a Cold Bath 79

IX. Paul Becomes the Skipper of the Fawn 89

X. Paul and John are Very Much Excited 99

XI. Paul's First Cruise in the Fawn 109

XII. Paul Sleeps on His Watch 118

XIII. Paul Makes a Night Run in the Storm 127

XIV. Paul Scolds the First Officer of the Fawn 137

XV. Paul Goes on a Cruise in the Flyaway 146

XVI. Paul Witnesses a Mutiny 156

XVII. Paul Discovers that Mischief is Brewing 166

XVIII. Paul is Made a Prisoner 176

XIX. Paul Takes Command of the Flyaway 185

XX. Paul Exercises a Strong Moral Influence 194

XXI. Paul Advances Little by Little, and the Story Ends 203

LITTLE BY LITTLE;

OR,

THE CRUISE OF THE FLYAWAY.

CHAPTER I.

PAUL DUNCAN DISOBEYS ORDERS.

"I'll give you a quarter, Paul, if you will take me down to the Point in your boat," said Thomas Nettle, as he came down to the beach where the boy addressed was baling out an old dingy looking boat.