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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THE RIVER ***

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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