Outward Bound

Outward Bound

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Outward Bound, by Oliver Optic This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Outward Bound Or, Young America Afloat
Author: Oliver Optic
Release Date: May 27, 2005 [EBook #15920]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD
By OLIVER OPTIC
OUTWARD BOUND

BOSTON LEE & SHEPARD.]
* * * * *
OUTWARD BOUND;
OR,
YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT.
A STORY OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE.
BY
WILLIAM T. ADAMS
(OLIVER OPTIC).
BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD.
1869.
* * * * *
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
* * * * *
TO GEORGE WEBSTER TERRILL
This Volume
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
* * * * *
YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD.
BY OLIVER OPTIC.
A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. First and Second Series; six volumes in each Series. 16mo. Illustrated.
First Series.
I. OUTWARD BOUND, OR, YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT.
II. SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND.
III RED CROSS; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ENGLAND AND WALES.
IV. DIKES AND DITCHES; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.
V. PALACE AND COTTAGE; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND.
VI. DOWN THE RHINE; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN GERMANY.
Second Series.
I. UP THE BALTIC; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN DENMARK AND SWEDEN.
II. NORTHERN LANDS; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA.
III. VINE AND OLIVE; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.
IV. SUNNY SHORES; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ITALY AND AUSTRIA.
V. CROSS AND CRESCENT; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN GREECE AND TURKEY.
VI. ISLES OF THE SEA; OR, YOUNG AMERICA HOMEWARD BOUND.
* * * * *

PREFACE.
Outward Bound is the first volume of "A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands," and contains the voyage of the Academy Ship "Young America" across the Atlantic. The origin and progress of this aquatic institution are incidentally developed, and the plan is respectfully submitted to the consideration of those who are interested in the education and moral training of the class of young men who are the characters in the scenes described in this work. Besides a full description of the routine and discipline of the ship, as an educational and reformatory institution, the volume contains a rather free expos�� of the follies and frailties of youth, but their vices are revealed to suggest the remedy.
The story includes the experience of the officers and crew of the Young America, eighty-seven in number, though, of course, only a few of them can appear as prominent actors. As the ship has a little world, with all the elements of good and evil, within her wooden walls, the story of the individual will necessarily be interwoven with that of the mass; and the history of "The Chain League," in the present volume, of which Shuffles is the hero, will, it is hoped, convey an instructive lesson to young men who are disposed to rebel against reasonable discipline and authority. In the succeeding volumes of this series, the adventures, travels, and "sight-seeing," as well as the individual and collective experience of the juvenile crew of the Academy Ship, will be narrated. They will visit the principal ports of Europe, as well as penetrate to the interior; but they will always be American boys, wherever they are.
The author hopes that the volumes of the series will not only be instructive as a description of foreign lands, and interesting as a record of juvenile exploits, but that they will convey correct views of moral and social duties, and stimulate the young reader to their faithful performance.
HARRISON SQUARE, MASS., November 2, 1866.
* * * * *

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE IDEA SUGGESTED 11
II. THE YOUNG AMERICA 27
III. THE ENSIGN AT THE PEAK. 43
IV. OFFICERS AND SEAMEN. 59
V. OUR FELLOWS. 75
VI. THE FOURTH OF JULY. 91
VII. HEAVING THE LOG. 106
VIII. OUTWARD BOUND. 122
IX. THE WATCH BILL. 138
X. MAKING A CHAIN. 154
XI. THE GAMBLERS IN NO. 8. 170
XII. THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. 186
XIII. PIPING TO MISCHIEF. 202
XIV. ALL HANDS, REEF TOPSAILS! 218
XV. AFTER THE GALE. 233
XVI. THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA 248
XVII. PEAS AND BEANS 263
XVIII. THE RESULT OF THE BALLOT 280
XIX. MAN OVERBOARD! 299
XX. THE END OF THE CHAIN LEAGUE 318
* * * * *
OUTWARD BOUND.

OUTWARD BOUND;
OR,
YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT
* * * * *
CHAPTER I.
THE IDEA SUGGESTED.
"There are no such peaches this side of New Jersey; and you can't get them, for love or money, at the stores. All we have to do is, to fill our pockets, and keep our mouths closed--till the peaches are ripe enough to eat," said Robert Shuffles, the older and the larger of two boys, who had just climbed