Randy of the River

Randy of the River, by Horatio Alger Jr.

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Title: Randy of the River The Adventures of a Young Deckhand
Author: Horatio Alger Jr.
Release Date: May 11, 2007 [EBook #21416]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: "Mr. Polk," said Randy, "it was not my fault, and I shall not stand for the damage done."--p. 223.]

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
XXIII. THE PAPERS IN THE SAFE 201
XXIV. ANOTHER HIDING PLACE 208
XXV. A VICTORY FOR RANDY 215
XXVI. NEW TROUBLES 222
XXVII. RANDY MAKES A DISCOVERY 229
XXVIII.OUT OF A TIGHT CORNER 237
XXIX. GEORGE GAFFNEY'S STATEMENT 244
XXX. A SWIM FOR LIFE 252
XXXI. NEWS OF IMPORTANCE 259
XXXII. BROUGHT TO TERMS--CONCLUSION 265

RANDY OF THE RIVER
CHAPTER I
SOMETHING ABOUT RANDY
"I am going fishing, Randy. Do you want to go along?"
"With pleasure, Jack," answered Randy Thompson, a bright, manly youth of fourteen. "Are you going on foot or in your boat?"
"I think we might as well take the boat," returned Jack Bartlett, a boy who was but a few months older than Randy. "Have you your lines handy?"
"No, but I can get them in less than ten minutes."
"All right. Meet me at the dock in quarter of an hour. I was thinking of going up the river to Landy's Hole. That's a good spot, isn't it?"
"I think so. Last season I was up there and caught fourteen good-sized fish."
"They tell me you are one of the best fishermen in Riverport, Randy," went on Jack Bartlett, admiringly. "What is the secret of your success?"
"I