Randy of the River The Adventures of a Young Deckhand   By: Horatio Alger (1832-1899)

RANDY OF THE RIVER

OR

THE ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG DECKHAND

BY

HORATIO ALGER, JR.

AUTHOR OF "NELSON THE NEWSBOY," "OUT FOR BUSINESS," "THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT," "LOST AT SEA," "RAGGED DICK SERIES," ETC.

GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS :: :: NEW YORK

THE RISE IN LIFE SERIES

By Horatio Alger, Jr.

OUT FOR BUSINESS; Or, Robert Frost's Strange Career.

FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE; Or, The Experiences of a Young Secretary

NELSON THE NEWSBOY, Or, Afloat in New York.

JERRY THE BACKWOODS BOY, Or, The Parkhurst Treasure.

FROM FARM TO FORTUNE, Or, Nat Nason's Strange Experience.

YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK, Or, The Son of a Soldier.

THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT, Or, Frank Hardy's Road to Success.

LOST AT SEA, Or, Robert Roscoe's Strange Cruise.

RANDY OF THE RIVER, Or, The Adventures of a Young Deckhand.

Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated Price, 60 cents per volume.

Copyright, 1906 BY STITT PUBLISHING COMPANY

Randy of the River.

PREFACE

The majority of stories for boys have their background laid either in the city or the country, or possibly on the ocean, and we have read much about the doings of lads both rich and poor in such locations.

In the present tale we have a youth of sturdy qualities who elects to follow the calling of a deckhand on a Hudson River steamboat, doing his duty faithfully day by day, and trying to help others as well as himself. Like all other boys he is at times tempted to do wrong, but he has a heart of gold even though it is hidden by a somewhat ragged outer garment, and in the end proves the truth of that old saying that it pays to be honest, not only in regard to others but also regarding one's self.

Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people may imagine. There is hard work and plenty of it, and the remuneration is not of the best. But Randy Thompson wanted work and took what was offered. His success in the end was well deserved, and perhaps the lesson his doings teach will not be lost upon those who peruse these pages. It is better to do what one finds to do than to fold your hands and remain idle, and the idle boy is sure, sooner or later, to get into serious mischief.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. SOMETHING ABOUT RANDY 7

II. AT THE FISHING HOLE 17

III. EXPOSING BOB BANGS 26

IV. RANDY AT HOME 36

V. THE RESULT OF A QUARREL 45

VI. THE IRON WORKS AFFAIR 54

VII. MORE TROUBLES FOR RANDY 62

VIII. RANDY AND HIS UNCLE PETER 70

IX. THE NEW HOME 80

X. SAMMY'S FOURTH OF JULY 88

XI. RANDY TO THE RESCUE 99

XII. A STEAMBOAT MAN 108

XIII. MR. SHALLEY MAKES AN OFFER 118

XIV. BOB BANGS AND HIS HORSE 127

XV. RANDY AS A DECKHAND 135

XVI. IN NEW YORK CITY 145

XVII. THE PURSER HAS HIS SAY 153

XVIII. A MEETING ON THE RIVER 161

XIX. AN UNLOOKED FOR ENCOUNTER 169

XX. WHAT CAME OF A DEMAND 177

XXI. RANDY VISITS HIS HOME 186

XXII. MR. BARTLETT MAKES A MOVE 193