Chapter I: Preface

"Ready About" is the sixth and last volume of "THE BOAT-BUILDER SERIES," which was begun 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 between 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 rashness, and to show that a young man of high principles 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, however, 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 exhausted 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 abundant 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 generation of the human race.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., July 15, 1887.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

MR. SPICKLES FROM 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 V.

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

CHAPTER X.

A BATTLE WITH THE ELEMENTS 108

CHAPTER XI.

THE TURNING OF THE TABLES 118

CHAPTER XII.

DORY DORNWOOD RESORTS TO STRATEGY 129

CHAPTER XIII.

THE ARRIVAL OF MICHAEL ANGELO SPICKLES 139

CHAPTER XIV.

THE RESULT OF DORY'S STRATEGY 150

CHAPTER XV.

UNDER WAY, OR UNDER WEIGH 160

CHAPTER XVI.

ON BOARD OF THE LA MOTTE 171

CHAPTER XVII.

THE STANDING-RIGGING OF A SLOOP 181

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE RUNNING-RIGGING OF A SLOOP 193

CHAPTER XIX.

THE PLAN THAT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL 204

CHAPTER XX.

MORE MEMBERS OF THE NAUTIFELERS CLUB 215

CHAPTER XXI.

THE GOLDWING ON THE STARBOARD TACK 225

CHAPTER XXII.

SOMETHING ABOUT STEERING A SAIL-BOAT 236

CHAPTER XXIII.

OPERATIONS IN THE HOLD OF THE LA MOTTE 247

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE DEFENDERS OF THE PIRATE-SCHOONER 257

CHAPTER XXV.

A SELFISH VIEW OF AN IMPORTANT QUESTION 267

CHAPTER XXVI.

"SEE, THE CONQUERING HERO COMES!" 278

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE GUESTS OF THE INSTITUTION 287

CHAPTER XXVIII.

STATIONS FOR GETTING UNDER WAY 297

CHAPTER XXIX.

ALL OF DORY'S CLASS BECOME SKIPPERS 308

CHAPTER XXX.

THE GOLDWING'S TRIP TO PLATTSBURG 318

READY ABOUT;

OR,

SAILING THE BOAT.