Taken by the Enemy, the Enemy by Oliver Optic [the beach read TXT] 📗

to rain, where he was greeted as kindly by Florry.

"I am sorry you left me in such an abrupt manner, Horatio," said Homer, very much embarrassed. "I think you took a rather unfair advantage of the circumstances."

"Unfair? What? When you said outright that you intended to take steps for the capture of my steamer, the only means of reaching my family, and conveying my daughter to her home, that were within my reach. I came here on a peaceful mission, and I think the unfairness was all on the other side," replied Horatio.

"I still believe that I had no moral right, before God and my countrymen, to allow you to hand this fine steamer over to the Yankee navy: but I was on board of the Belle for the purpose of seeing that no harm came to you, or any member of your family," said Homer with deep feeling.

"Then I thank you for your good intentions. But I believed, before God and my countrymen North and South, that I had no moral right to let this vessel be taken for the use of the Confederacy, and I would have burned her on the waters of Mobile Bay before I would have given her up," 342 added Horatio, quite as earnestly as the other had spoken.

"Fortune has favored you this time, Horatio; but when you are suffering and in want from the effects of this war, remember that I shall always have a brother's heart in my bosom, and that it will always be open to you and yours."

"I heartily reciprocate this fraternal sentiment, and I am confident that you will need my assistance before I need yours: but all that I have and all that I am shall be at your service, Homer."

"I am glad that we understand each other, and I rejoice that I came on board of your steamer for these parting words. I will not ask you what you are going to do next, for you would not tell me; but I shall expect to hear that the Bellevite has been sunk in attempting to pass the forts."

"Better that than in the service of the enemies of my country, Homer."

They parted with tears in the eyes of both, and never before had they realized how stern and severe was the mandate of duty. Christy conveyed his uncle back to the Dauphine, shook hands with him, and returned to the Bellevite.

The mission of the steamer in Mobile Bay ended, 343 and she had nothing more to do but return to her native waters, though perhaps this would prove to be the most difficult part of the entire enterprise. The steamer stood down the bay in the drenching rain, and was soon buried in a dense fog that was blown in by the wind from the gulf. She lay off and on during the rest of the day, and the commander made his preparations for running the gantlet of the forts.

This was not so difficult and dangerous an enterprise as it became later when the channel was obstructed, though even now the feat could not be accomplished without great difficulty and danger. In the course of the day, Captain Pecklar left his berth and came on deck. Captain Breaker decided to leave the piloting of the steamer to him, after he had conversed for hours with him.

No better night in the whole year could have been selected for the undertaking. It had ceased to rain, but the darkness and the fog were as dense as possible. The pilot manifested entire confidence, as he had plenty of water in the channel, and he knew all about the currents, the tide, and the action of the wind. It was an exciting 344 time, when every light on board was extinguished, and the steamer started down the bay with Captain Pecklar and two quartermasters at the wheel.

After the Bellevite had passed the dangerous part of the channel, firing was heard from Fort Morgan; but the vessel was soon in the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy guns were heard for some time, but all on board of the steamer could afford to laugh at them. The ship continued on her course, and among the islands near Nassau Percy Pierson was put on board of a schooner bound to New Providence.

In eight days from the time she passed the forts, the Bellevite steamed into New York Bay, and then to Bonnydale on the Hudson, where the family were again re-united, and the fond mother wept over her two children, restored to her after all the dangers of the past.

On his arrival, Captain Passford found letters for him from the Government, and the offer of the Bellevite had been promptly accepted. After having been Taken by the Enemy, on the next voyage Christy found himself Within the Enemy's Lines.

OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD SECOND SERIES. A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo.
Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others.
Per volume, $1.25.

1. UP THE BALTIC;

Or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

2. NORTHERN LANDS;

Or, Young America in Russia and Prussia.

3. CROSS AND CRESCENT;

Or, Young America in Turkey and Greece.

4. SUNNY SHORES;

Or, Young America in Italy and Austria.

5. VINE AND OLIVE;

Or, Young America in Spain and Portugal.

6. ISLES OF THE SEA;

Or, Young America Homeward Bound.

"Oliver Optic" is a nom de plume that is known and loved by almost every boy of intelligence in the land. We have seen a highly intellectual and world-weary man, a cynic whose heart was somewhat imbittered by its large experience of human nature, take up one of Oliver Optic's books and read it at a sitting, neglecting his work in yielding to the fascination of the pages. When a mature and exceedingly well-informed mind, long despoiled of all its freshness, can thus find pleasure in a book for boys, no additional words of recommendation are needed.—Sunday Times.

OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. FAMOUS "BOAT-CLUB" SERIES, Library for Young People. Six volumes, handsomely illustrated.
Per volume, $1.25.

1. THE BOAT CLUB;

Or, The Bonkers of Rippleton.

2. ALL ABOARD;

Or, Life on the Lake.

3. NOW OR NEVER;

Or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright.

4. TRY AGAIN;

Or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West.

5. POOR AND PROUD;

Or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn.

6. LITTLE BY LITTLE;

Or, The Cruise of the Flyaway.

This is the first series of books written for the young by "Oliver Optic." It laid the foundation for his fame as the first of authors in which the young delight, and gained for him the title of the Prince of Story-Tellers. The six books are varied in incident and plot, but all are entertaining and original.

OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. ARMY AND NAVY STORIES. Six Volumes. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.25.

1. THE SOLDIER BOY;

Or, Tom Somers In the Army.

2. THE SAILOR BOY;

Or, Jack Somers in the Navy.

3. THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT;

Or, Adventures of an Army Officer.

4. THE YANKEE MIDDY;

Or, Adventures of a Navy Officer.

5. FIGHTING JOE;

Or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.

6. BRAVE OLD SALT;

Or, Life on the Quarter-Deck.

This series of six volumes recounts the adventures of two brothers, Tom and Jack Somers, one in the army, the other in the navy, in the great civil war. The romantic narratives of the fortunes and exploits of the brothers are thrilling in the extreme. Historical accuracy in the recital of the great events of that period is strictly followed, and the result is not only a library of entertaining volumes, but also the best history of the civil war for young people ever written.

OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. FIRST SERIES. A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo.
Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others.
Per volume, $1.25.

1. OUTWARD BOUND;

Or, Young America Afloat.

2. SHAMROCK AND THISTLE;

Or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland.

3. RED CROSS;

Or, Young America in England and Wales.

4. DIKES AND DITCHES;

Or, Young America in Holland and Belgium.

5. PALACE AND COTTAGE;

Or, Young America in France and Switzerland.

6. DOWN THE RHINE;

Or, Young America in Germany.

The story from its inception and through the twelve volumes (see Second Series), is a bewitching one, while the information imparted, concerning the countries of Europe and the isles of the sea, is not only correct in every particular, but is told in a captivating style. "Oliver Optic" will continue to be the boy's friend, and his pleasant books will continue to be read by thousands of American boys. What a fine holiday present either or both series of "Young America Abroad" would be for a young friend! It would make a little library highly prized by the recipient, and would not be an expensive one.—Providence Press.

OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. All-Over-The-World Library Illustrated Per Volume $1.25 FIRST SERIES

A MISSING MILLION or The Adventures of Louis Belgrave
 A MILLIONAIRE AT SIXTEEN or The Cruise of the Guardian mother
  A YOUNG KNIGHT ERRANT or Cruising in the West Indies
   STRANGE SIGHTS ABROAD or A Voyage In European Waters

SECOND SERIES

THE AMERICAN BOYS AFLOAT or Cruising In the Orient
 THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS or The Foreign Cruise of the Maud
  UP AND DOWN THE NILE or Young Adventurers in Africa
   ASIATIC BREEZES or Students on the Wing (in press)

The bare announcement of a new series of books by Oliver Optic will delight boys all over the country. When they farther learn that their favorite author proposes to 'personally conduct' his army of readers on a grand tour of the world, there will be a terrible scramble for excursion tickets—that is, the opening volume of the 'Globe Trotting Series.' Of one thing the boys may be dead sure, it will be no tame, humdrum journey, for Oliver Optic does not believe that fun and excitement are injurious to boys, but, on the contrary, if of the right kind he thinks it does them good. Louis Belgrave is a fortunate lad, because, at the age of sixteen, he was the possessor of a cool million of dollars. No one, not even a young boy, can travel without money, as our author well knows, therefore he at once provided a liberal supply. Louis is a fine young fellow with good principles and honor, so he can be trusted to spend his million wisely. But he does not have entirely smooth sailing. In the first place he has a rascally step-father whom he had to subjugate, a dear mother to protect and care for, and the missing million to find before he could commence his delightful travels. They are all accomplished at last, and there was plenty of excitement and brave exploits in the doing of them, as the boy readers will find. The cover design shows many things—a globe, the Eiffel tower, mountains, seas, rivers, castles and other things Louis will see on his travels.—Current Review.

LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers Boston OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. THE BLUE and THE GRAY Illustrated.   With Emblematic Dies.   Each volume bound in Blue and Gray. Per volume, $1.50. AFLOAT TAKEN BY THE ENEMY
 WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES
  A VICTORIOUS UNION ON THE BLOCKADE
 STAND BY THE UNION
  FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT ON LAND BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER
  IN THE SADDLE
    A LIEUTENANT AT EIGHTEEN Other