Down the River; Or, Buck Bradford and His Tyrants Read online

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  STARRY FLAG SERIES

  OLIVER OPTIC

  THE SETTLEMENT.--Page 52.]

  DOWN THE RIVER;

  OR,

  BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.

  BY

  OLIVER OPTIC,

  AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.

  BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS

  Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

  COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS. All rights reserved.

  DOWN THE RIVER.

  TO

  MY YOUNG FRIEND

  _WILLIAM H. LOW_

  This Book

  IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

  PREFACE.

  "DOWN THE RIVER" is the sixth of the continued stories published in "OURBOYS AND GIRLS," and the last of "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES." It is thepersonal narrative of Buck Bradford, who, with his deformed sister, madean eventful voyage down the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, to NewOrleans. The writer's first book--not a juvenile, and long since out ofprint--was planned during a long and tedious passage up the Father ofWaters; and it seems like going back to an old friend to voyage again,even in imagination, upon its turbid tide.

  Buck Bradford tells his story to suit himself; and the author hopes itwill also suit the young reader. Whatever moral it may contain will befound in the reading; and the writer trusts it will impart a lesson ofself-reliance, honesty, and truth, and do something towards convincingthe young reader that it is best always to do right, whatever theconsequences may be, leaving results, in the choice between good andevil, to take care of themselves.

  However often the author may be called upon to thank the juvenile publicfor the generous favor bestowed upon his books, he feels that theagreeable duty cannot be so frequently repeated as ever to become a mereformality; for with each additional volume he finds his sense ofobligation to them for their kindness renewed and deepened.

  WILLIAM T. ADAMS.

  HARRISON SQUARE, MASS., October 28, 1868.

  CONTENTS.

  PAGE CHAPTER I. TWO OF THE TYRANTS. 11

  CHAPTER II. FLORA BRADFORD. 21

  CHAPTER III. ON THE DEFENSIVE. 32

  CHAPTER IV. WHO IS MASTER. 44

  CHAPTER V. A BATTLE AT LONG RANGE. 55

  CHAPTER VI. SQUIRE FISHLEY. 66

  CHAPTER VII. AFTER MIDNIGHT. 77

  CHAPTER VIII. MISS LARRABEE'S LETTER. 88

  CHAPTER IX. THE HUNGRY RUNAWAY. 99

  CHAPTER X. WHAT SIM GWYNN WANTED TO SEE ME FOR. 110

  CHAPTER XI. BUILDING THE RAFT. 121

  CHAPTER XII. SQUIRE FISHLEY MAKES IT RIGHT. 132

  CHAPTER XIII. NEAR UNTO DEATH. 143

  CHAPTER XIV. WHO ROBBED THE MAIL. 154

  CHAPTER XV. THE DEPARTURE. 166

  CHAPTER XVI. DOWN THE RIVER. 178

  CHAPTER XVII. NIGHT ON THE RIVER. 189

  CHAPTER XVIII. AT THE MOUTH OF THE OHIO. 201

  CHAPTER XIX. AFTER THE EXPLOSION. 212

  CHAPTER XX. EMILY GOODRIDGE. 223

  CHAPTER XXI. FLORA AND HER PATIENT. 234

  CHAPTER XXII. THE END OF THE VOYAGE. 245

  CHAPTER XXIII. CLARENCE BRADFORD. 256

  CHAPTER XXIV. UP THE RIVER. 268

  CHAPTER XXV. TWO HOURS IN JAIL. 279

  CHAPTER XXVI. CONCLUSION. 290

  DOWN THE RIVER:

  OR,

  BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.