Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors and misprints have been corrected.
Blank pages present in the printed original have been deleted in the e-text version.
CHARLIE CODMAN'S CRUISE
A Story for Boys
BY
HORATIO ALGER, Jr.
AUTHOR OF "FRANK'S CAMPAIGN," "ERIE TRAIN BOY,""ADRIFT IN NEW YORK," ETC., ETC.
NEW YORK
HURST & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
PREFACE.
In deference to the expressed wishes ofsome of his young friends, the author hasessayed a story of the sea, and now presents"Charlie Codman's Cruise," as the third volumeof the Campaign Series. It will befound more adventurous than its predecessors,and the trials which Charlie is calledupon to encounter are of a severer characterthan befell Frank Frost or Paul Prescott.But it will be found that they were met withthe same manly spirit, and a like determinationto be faithful to duty at all hazards.
Though not wholly a stranger to the sea,the author is quite aware of the blunders towhich a landsman is exposed in treating ofmatters and a mode of life which, at the best,he must comprehend but imperfectly, andhas endeavored to avoid, as far as possible,[4]professional technicalities, as not essential tothe interest of the story.
With these few words he submits thepresent volume to his young readers, hopingfor it a welcome even more generous thanhas been accorded to "Frank's Campaign"and "Paul Prescott's Charge."
CHARLIE CODMAN'S CRUISE.
I.
CHARLIE AND THE MISER.
Charlie Codman turned out of Washingtoninto Bedford Street just as the clock inthe Old South steeple struck two. He wasabout fourteen, a handsome, well-made boy,with a bright eye and a manly expression.But he was poor. That was evident enoughfrom his clothes, which, though neat and freefrom dust, were patched in several places.He had a small roll of daily papers under hisarm, the remains of his stock in trade, whichhe had been unable wholly to dispose of.
Some of my readers may know that theLatin School and English High School arekept in the same building. At two o'clock[6]both are dismissed. Charlie had scarcelypassed the school-house when a crowd ofboys issued from the school-yard, and heheard his name called from behind. Lookingback he recognized a boy somewhatsmaller than himself, with whom he hadformed an acquaintance some time before.
"Where are you bound, Charlie?" askedEdwin Banks.
"I'm going home now."
"What luck have you had this morning?"
"Not much. I've got four papers leftover, and that will take away about all myprofits."
"What a pity you are poor, Charlie. Iwish you could come to school with us."
"So do I, Eddie. I'd give a good deal toget an