All Taut; or, Rigging the boat

When Tom Topover heard the cheers, he had made his way into the standing-room. He had evidently expected to find his turbulent subordinate, Bent Fillwing, there; and he had open...

Before night the two masts of the Lily were in their places, and wedged up so that they would stand alone. After supper there was another lesson in rowing given to the new schol...

On the first day of the new term, Captain Gildrock made his usual speech of welcome and explanation. Just one-half of the school were new scholars, and it took a week to get the...

It was within two weeks of the time for the opening of the Beech-Hill Industrial School. Only one-half of the students for the coming year had been engaged, and this was the cir...

Since the Topovers and the other hard boys had behaved themselves so well, all precautions were relaxed; for the principal knew that barred windows were a standing temptation fo...

Bent Fillwing took the roll of bills from his pocket as he halted on the forecastle. He had possessed himself of the principal secret of Tom Topover, and he felt that he was in...

Lying on the floor near the fireplace was a kerosene-lamp, the glass shade of which was broken. The fire had started at this part of the room; and it was evident that the little...

"You did not tell us what studding-sails are," said Ash Burton, who had been deeply interested in the explanations given. "You said the halyard of the studding-sail passed throu...

The Thunderer had foundered; but not being provided with ballast she did not go to the bottom, as it is set down in poetry and prose that she should do when she fills with water...

Ash Burton did not believe that Tom Topover could handle the Goldwing; and he was anxious to have him appeal to him for assistance, which, however, he had decided not to render...

The Lily was to make another excursion on the following Saturday; and Marian Dornwood and Lily Bristol were to be passengers, as well as their mothers. The principal had predict...

When the Sylph had secured a position between the Goldwing and the shore, so that the party on board of the latter could not escape, she stopped her screw, and backed until she...

The penitents had never been on board of the Sylph before; and, even in the midst of the examination which was to decide what was to be done with them for the misdemeanor of the...

Dory Dornwood had been sent to the wheel; and, as the sails of the schooner filled, he met her with the helm. She heeled over a little, and but a little, for the wind was very l...

The wind was from the west, and there was but little of it. Tom knew a great deal more about sailing a boat than when he tried to handle the Goldwing; and he trimmed the sails o...

Captain Gildrock had business in Burlington; and it was more convenient for him to go by the Sylph than by rail, as then he could return when he pleased. Besides, the cool air o...

As soon as the fathers of the last two recruits to the school had been landed, the Sylph went out to the lake again, and started on a long cruise, from which she did not return...

The trial trip of the Lily was certainly a success so far, but her captain was not quite satisfied. She had made ten knots an hour; and he wanted to know if she was not equal to...

Captain Gildrock drew from his pocket a paper he had drawn up for the widow to sign. He read it to her, explaining its meaning as he proceeded. It was a contract by which, in co...

"I am, of course," replied Tom, opening his mouth from ear to ear in a grin which was intended to express his astonishment that any one should put such a question to him.

"We don't want to sail her; we can't sail her in this creek," replied Ash Burton, who seemed to be inclined to dispute the authority and reject the leadership of the Topover.

The last speaker became less earnest when he saw that his friend was inclined to favor the proposition. Doubtless the promise of the dinner was quite as tempting as the money th...

"I don't care who is captain of the boat," said Tom Topover, after his companions had talked him into something. "Come on board again, Ash Burton, and you shall be captain."

Captain Gildrock had already directed Dory and Paul to prepare the four rooms indicated for the reception of the new pupils. They were furnished with good beds, and were far mor...

For the next week, Bates was the principal instructor of the students on board the Lily while they were employed in putting on the rigging. The short lines which had been on the...

Captain Gildrock turned his horse, and started on his return by the way he had come. As Ash Burton and the others saw, he was engaged in deep thought, and had his eyes fixed on...

"I have not heard of any one who has lost any money. Perhaps you had better explain where you got it, as you seem to be anxious to get rid of it," suggested the captain.

There was no difficulty in sailing the Goldwing up the lake, any more than there had been down the lake. Though Ash Burton had never steered with a wheel before, he had observed...

"And I hope it will not get there as you pronounce it, and as the newspapers usually spell it," added the principal. "The word 'brigantine' is spelled with an a; and there is no...

The first two weeks of the term were devoted to giving the new students a proper start in their studies, and in the work of the shop. At the same time they learned to pull an oa...