TO
MY NEPHEW,
Wilioam    var tker   eJrDttt
THIS BOOK
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.








PREFACE.
THE author of the following story pleads
guilty of being more than half a boy himself; and in writing a book to meet the
wants and the tastes of " Young America,"
he has had no difficulty in stepping back
over the weary waste of years that separates youth from maturity, and entering
fully into the spirit of the scenes he describes. He has endeavored to combine
healthy moral lessons with a sufficient
amount of exciting interest to render the
1'~                 (5)




6               PREFACE.
story attractive to the young; and he
hopes he has not mingled these elements
of a good juvenile book in disproportionate quantities.
DORCHESTER, Sept. 20, 1854.




CONTE NTS.
CHAPTER                                   PAGE
I. FRANK SEDLEY,.........   11
II. WIDOW WESTON,........ 22
III. CHARLES HARDY,........  35
IV. FOURTH OF JULY,........  47
V. THE CLUB BOAT........ 62
VI. THE EMBARKATION....... 72
VII. PULL AWAY,..........   84
VIII. THE STOLEN WALLET.                  96
IX. TONY'S CASE........  108
X. THE BOAT HOUSE.... 120
XI. THE FIRST MEETING IN ZEPHYR HALL,.. 132
(7)




8                CONTENTS.
XII. THE THUNDERBOLT...... 144
XIII. THE COLLISION,........ 155
XIV. CENTRE ISLAND,........           167
XV. GEOGRAPHY OF WOOD LAKE,.. 180
XVI. OVERBOARD,..193
XVII. TIB BUNKER,......... 207
XVIII. TONY S TRIAL......... 217
XIX. THE STRANGER,........ 229
XX. CONCLUSION,... 241




THE BOAT CLUB.








THE BOAT CLUB:
OR,
Ett Nuhktrs of Sigipldnn.
CHAPTER I.
FRIANK SEDLEY.
"How  much have you got, Frank?" asked
Charles Hardy of his friend, Frank Sedley.
"Four dollars and seventy-five cents."
"That is more than twice as much as I have.
Won't you have a glorious time?"
It was the evening of the third of July, and the
two boys were counting the money they had saved
for Independence.  Captain Sedley, the father of
Frank, had promised to carry him and his friend to
Boston to attend the celebration, and they had long
(11)




12           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
looked forward to the event with the liveliest anticipations of pleasure.
"I don't know, Charley," replied Frank Sedley,
as he slid the money into the purse; " I was thinking of something else."
"What, Frank? "
"I was thinking how poor the widow Weston is,
and how much good this money I am going to throw
away in fire crackers and gingerbread would do
her."
" Pernaps it would."
" I know it would."' But you are not going to spoil our fun by giving
it to her, are you? "
" There are a great many boys who will have no
money to spend to-morrow —Tony Weston, for instance," continued Frank.
"Tony.is a good fellow."
"That he is; and his mother has a terrible hard
time of it to support him and his sister."
"I suppose she has. Why don't you ask your
father to help her? "
"He does help her. He gives her wood, and




THE BUN1ERES OF RIPPLETON.        13
flour, and a great many other things; and my mother employs her to do sewing. She is willing to
work."
"And Tony works too."
" He is too young to do much; but he loves his
mother, and tries to do all he can to lighten her
burden."
" He makes a dollar a week, sometimes."
" I was thinking just now that I would give Mrs.
Weston the money I had saved for Independence."
"Pooh! Frank."
"It would do her a great deal of good."
"What is the use of going to Boston, if you have
no money? " asked Charles, who was not a little disturbed by this proposed disbursement of the fourth
of July funds.
"I can stay at home, then."
"That wouldn't be fair, Frank."
"Why not?"
"You not only rob yourself of the fun, but me
too."
"I really pity the poor woman so much that
I cannot find it in my heart to spend the money
2




14            THE BOAT CLUB, on
foolishly, when it will buy so many comforts for
her."
"Your father will give you some money for her."
"That isn't the thing,"
"What do you mean?"
"You went to meeting last Sunday?"
"Yes."
"And heard the sermon?"
"Some of it," replied Charles, smiling.
"You remember the minister spoke of the luxury
of doing good; of the benefit one gets by sacrificing
his inclination for the good of others, or something
like that; I can't express it as he did, though I
have the idea."
Frank paused, and looked earnestly into the face
of his friend to ascertain-whether he was likely to
find any sympathy in his heart.
"I do. remember it, Frank. He told a story to
illustrate his meaning."
"That was it. I don't very often mind much
about the sermon but somehow I was very much interested in that one."
"And so you mean to give your money to the




THE BUNKIERS OF RIPPLETON.         15
widow Weston, just to see how you will feel after
it," added Charles, with a laugh.
"No; that isn't it."
"What is it, then? "
"I give it to her because I really feel that she
needs it more than I do. I feel a pleasure in the
thought of sacrificing my inclination for her happiness, which is more satisfactory than all the fun I
anticipate to-morrow."
"You'll be a parson, Frank."
" No, I won't; I will do my duty."
" Have you made up your mind? "
"We can have a good time at home."
"Pooh! "
"I shall give my money to the widow Weston at
any rate."
Charles Hardy could not but admire the generosity
of his friend; though he found it difficult to abandon the thought of the pleasure he anticipated in
spending the fourth in Boston. He stood in silent
thought a few moments, and then spoke.
"; Tell, Frank," said he, " if you have determined
to give your money to the widow, I shall follow your
example."'.




I6           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"But, Charley, I didn't mean to influence you.
I will even go to Boston with you, though I have
no money."
"I will give my money to the widow. I think
you are right."
"Good, Charley! I like you for it."
"I have two dollars and a quarter," continued
Charles, taking the money from his pocket.
"We shall make up just seven dollars. How it
will rejoice the heart of the poor woman!" exclaimed Frank, with enthusiasm.
" So it will. But don't you think your father will
make it up to you, when he finds out how generous
we have been?"
Frank looked into the face of his companion with
an expression of painful surprise on his countenance.
" I don't want him to do so."
"Why not? "
"It would rob the action of all its merit. If you
give your money with the hope of having it restored
to you, I beg you not to give it at all. I have
abandoned all thoughts of having any money to
spend to-morrow."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          17
"And not go to Boston?"
" NO."
"What will your father say, when you tell him
you are not going? He will want to know the
reason."
"I will tell him day after to-morrow."
"He will want to know to-morrow."
"I can persuade him to wait. Shall we go over
to-night, and give the money to Mrs. Weston?"
"Yes, if you like."
"Wait a moment, and I will go into the house,
and ask my father to let me stay out till nine
o'clock."
Frank bounded lightly over the green lawn to his
father's house, near which the conversation took
place.
Rippleton, the scene of my story, is a New England village, situated about ten miles from Boston.
It is one of those thriving places which have sprung
into existence in a moment, as it were, before the
potent stimulus of a railroad and a water privilege.
Twenty years ago, it consisted of only one factory
and about a dozen houses. Now, it is a great, bus2 




18            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
tling village, and probably in a few years will become
a city. Trains of cars arrive and depart every hour,
as the Traveller's Guide says; and a double row of
factories extends along the sides of the river. It has
its banks, its great hotels, its dozen churches, and
its noisy streets - indeed, almost all the pomp and
circumstance of a great city.
About a mile from the village was the beautiful
residence of Captain Sedley - Frank's father. He
was a retired shipmaster, in which capacity he had
acquired a handsome fortune. His house was built
within a few rods of Wood Lake- a beautiful sheet
of water, nearly three miles in length, and a little
more than a. mile in width. On the river which
formed the outlet of this lake, the village of Rippleton was situated, and its clear waters turned the
great wheels of the factories.
Captain Sedley had chosen this place in which to
spend the evening of his days, because it seemed to
him the loveliest spot in all New England. The
glassy, transparent lake, with its wood-crowned
shores, its picturesque rocks, its little green islands,
indeed, every thing about it, was so grand and beau.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          19
tiful that it seemed more like the creation of a pure
and enthusiastic imagination than a substantial reality. The retired shipmaster loved the beautiful in
nature, and his first view of the silver lake and the
surrounding country enabled him to decide that this
spot should be his future habitation. He bought the
land, built him a fine house, and was as happy as a
mortal could desire to be.
But I beg my young reader not to think that
Captain Sedley was happy because he lived in such a
beautiful place, and had such a fine house, and so
much money at his command; for a beautiful prospect, a costly dwelling, and plenty of money, alone,
cannot make-a person contented and happy. The
richest men are often the most miserable; a bed of
down may be a bed of thorns; and a magnificent
mansion will not keep out the fiends of remorse.
Captain Sedley was a good man. He had always
endeavored to be true to his God, and true to himself; to be just and righteous towards his fellowmen. In an active business experience of twenty
years, he had found a great many opportunities of
doing good — opportunities which he had had the




20            TIHE BOAT CLUB, OR
moral courage to improve. He loved his God by
loving his fellow-man. He had made his fortune
by being honest and just. He had lived a good
life; and, as every good man will, whether he get
rich or poor by it, he was receiving his reward in the
serene happiness of his days in this world and in
the cherished hope of everlasting bliss in the world
to come.
Captain Sedley was happy, too, in his family.
Mrs. Sedley was an amiable and devoted woman,
and Frank, his only child, was an affectionate and
obedient son.  Perhaps my young friends cannot
fully appreciate the amount of satisfaction which a
parent derives from the good character of the child
Though the worthy shipmaster had a beautiful estate
and plenty of money, if his son had beer a liar, a
thief, a profane swearer, —in short, if Frank had
been a bad boy, —he could not have been happy.
If a wise and good father could choose between having his son a hopeless drunkard or villain, and laying
his cbld form in tile dark grave, never more to see
him,n earth, he would no doubt choose the latter.
Almos! all parenr.t say so. and their words are so




THIE  BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         21
earnest, their tears so eloquent, that we cannot but
believe it. S-uch was the father of Frank Sedley,
and it was such a father that made so good a son.
Charles Hardy was the son of one of the factory
agents, who was Captain Sedley's nearest neighbor.
and a strong friendship had grown up between the
two boys. Charles's character was essentially different from that of his friend; but as I prefer that my
young reader should judge his disposition for himself, and distinguish between the good and the evil
of his thoughts and actions as the story proceeds, I
shall not now tell him what kind of a boy he was.




22           THE BOAT CLUB. OR
CHAPTER II.
WIDOW WESTON.
NEAR the house of Captain Sedley, a sandy beach
extended from the road, which wound along the
margin of the lake, down to the water's side. It
was here that Charles Hardy waited the return of
his friend. He was thinking of the sacrifice they
had concluded to make for the widow Weston; and
it must be confessed that he felt a little sad at the
thought of resigning all the fine things they had projected in connection with their excursion to the city.
On the water, secured by a pole driven into the
sand, floated a raft which some of the boys in the
neighborhood had built, and with which they amused
themselves in paddling about the lake. It was a
rude structure, made by lashing together four rails
in the form of a square, and placing planks across
the upper side of them. The boys who had conetructed it lived farther down the lake in the direc



TIHE BUNIERS OF RIPPLETON.         23
tion of the village. They did not bear a very good
character in the neighborhood. If an orchard was
robbed, a henroost plundered, or any other mischief
done in the vicinity, it could generally be traced to
them. They always played together, went and came
from school together, planned and executed their
mischief together, so that they came to be regarded
as a unit of roguery, and people never saw one of
them without wondering where the rest were.
The foremost of these unruly fellows was Tim
Bunker. He was the ruling spirit of their party,
and had the reputation of being a notoriously bad
boy. He would lie, swear, cheat, and steal; and
people, judging his followers by their ringleader, at
last got into the way of calling them the Bunkers.
Of course, Captain Sedley was unwilling that his
son should associate with such boys as the Bunkers;
but so much did Frank dislike their company, that
it was scarcely necessary to caution him to avoid
them.
While Charles Hardy was waiting, he walked
down to the water's edge. The sun was just sinking behind the green hills in the west, reflecting the




24            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
shadows of the beautiful gold and purple clouds upon
the bosom of the silver lake. A gentle breeze was
blowing down the valley, and the little waves broke
with a musical ripple upon the pebbly sands. It
was a lovely hour and a lovely scene; and Charles
felt the sweet influence of both. He looked out
upon the lake, and wished he was floating over its
tiny wavelets.
He stepped upon the raft, and thought how pleasant and how exciting it would be to sail over to
Centre Isle, as the little wood-crowned islet, that
o^se from th~ middle of the lake, was called. Pulling up the stake that held the raft, he pushed out a
little way from thc shore. The sensation which the
motion of the raft produced was new and strange to
him, and he felt a longing desire to sail farther.
But, just then, Frank returned.
"My father is not at home," said he.
"Can't you go, then? " asked Charles, as he
pushed the raft to the shore again.
" Yes; I told my mother where I was going."
"Frank, let us go up to Mrs. WVeston's on this
raft. She li-ves close by the shore of the lake."




THEL BINKEirS OF RIPPLETON.       25
"My father told me never to go on the lake without permission from him."
"Pooh! What harm can there be in it?"
"I don't know as any."
"Let us go then."
"My father told me not to go on the lake."
"But he has gone away, you said."
"I cannot disobey him."
" He never will know it."
"You don't mean what you say, Charley. You
would not have me go directly contrary to what my
father has told me, just because he is not here to see
me."
Charles felt a little ashamed, and replacing the
stake that secured the raft, jumped on shore.
" It is such a delightful evening, and it would be
so pleasant to take a little sail!" said he.
"I don't think that raft is very safe. I saw the
Bunkers on it the other day, and they stood knee
deep ip water."
"I am not afraid of it."
"No matter; my father told me not to go on the
3




26            THE BOAT CLUB OR'ake, which is quite reason enough for me not to
do so."
" But the Bunkers seem to have a first-rate time
on it."
" Perhaps they do."
"But we fellows that have to mind what our
fathers and mothers tell us are the losers by our
obedience."
Frank smiled; he could not help doing so at the
thought of one who had just been counselling him
to disobedience making such a remark.
"I am quite sure I am contented."
"But don't you think the Bunkers have more fun
"han we do? Tim Bunker don't care any more
About what his father says than he does about the
fifth wheel of a coach, and he always seems to have
-, first-rate time."
"Appearances are deceitful," replied Frank, with
a sage smile. "Do you think we should enjoy our..
selves sailing on that raft up to our knees in water?"
"The water wouldn't hurt us."
"Not so much as the disobedience, it is true; but
I don't care much about such fun as that."




THE BUNYKERn   OF RIPPLETON.      27
"Tim Bunker asked me to sail with him over to
the island; yesterday, and I had a great mind to go.
If it had been any other fellow, I would."
"Your father told you not to go on the lake."
"He never would have known it."
"Perhaps not; but you would not have felt any
better on that account."
"For my part, I hate to be tied to my mother's
apron string when there is any fun going on. I
don't see why we shouldn't have a good time once
in a while, as well as the Bunkers, who are no better
than we are."
"I don't know how it is with you; but I can enjoy myself enough, and obey my parents at the same
time."
"Right, Frank! " exclaimed Captain Sedley, who
at this moment stepped down from the grove adjoining the beach, where he had overheard a part of
the conversation. " So you think, Charles, that the
boys who disobey their parents enjoy themselves
most."
"No, sir. I don't exactly mean that; but the
Bunkers have some first-irate tirnes with this rafts"




'28          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
replied Charles, very much confused by the sudden
appearance of Frank's father.
"But their lives are continually in danger," added
Captain Sedley.
" 0, sir, they can all swim."' All of them?"
"Like ducks, sir."' Suppose one of them should fall overboard half
x mile from the land, where I saw them yesterday.
Dc you think he could swim ashore?"
"Tim could."
"There are a great many things to be considered
in such an attempt. His clothes might encumber
him; he might have the cramp; he might get frightened."
"The others could save him."
"We do not know what they could do. Boys at
play are very different from boys in the hour of peril.
When I was a sailor before the mast, one of my
shipmates, a very expert swimmer ordinarily, fell
from the mainyard arm into the sea. Two of us
jumped in to assist him, but he sank to the bottom
like a lump of lead, and we never saw him again."








CtlEE~.NG THE ~U~K~RS,




THE BUNKIERS OF RIPPLETON.        26
"That was strange," added Charles.
"He was taken unawares; he lost his self-com.
mand, and it might be so with the Bunkers. This
rafting is dangerous business, and I advise you never
to engage in it;" and Captain Sedley walked off
towards his house.
"Father, I want to go up to the widow Weston's
a little while," said Frank.
" Very well; but you must be back so as to go to
bed and get up in season for your excursion to the
city to-morrow."
" Come, Charley, I guess we won't go up on the
raft," said Frank, with a pleasant laugh.'" I guess not;" and the two boys trotted off towards the poor cottage of the widow Weston.
It was situated near the lake, about half a mile
from Captain Sedley's. Mrs. Weston was the widow
of a poor laboring man who had died about a year
before our story opens.'She was the mother of four
children —three sons and a daughter. Her oldest
son, who was now twenty-two years old, had been
in California nearly two years, having left his home
a year before the death of his father. She had
3*




30           TILE BOAT CLUB, OR
received one letter from him on his arrival at San
Francisco, since which she had heard nothing of
him, and had long since given up all hope of ever
seeing him again. She had not a doubt but that he
had found a grave in the golden soil of that far-off
land. She mourned him as dead; and all the earthly hopes of the poor mother were concentrated in
her remaining children.
Anthony, the next son, whom every body called
Tony, was now thirteen years old. He was an
active, industrious boy, and all the neighbors were
willing to employ him on theirf arms and about their
houses, so that he was able to do a great deal towards supporting the family. He was a good boy,
so honest and truthful, so kind-hearted, and so devoted to his poor mother, that he was a great favorite
in the vicinity, and some of the richer folks, when
they really had no work for him, would find something for him to do; for he was so proud and highspirited that he would not take money that he had
not earned.
Mary WVeston, the daughter, was eleven years of
age. Like her brother, she had a sweet and gentle




THE IBUINKERiS OF RIPPLETON.       3M
disposition, and did all she could to assist her poor
mother in the strait of her poverty.  But Mrs. Weston, though she had a hard struggle to get along,
sent her daughter to school winter and summer, preferring to deprive herself of many of the comforts
of life rather than have her daughter forego the advantages of a tolerable education.  Mary, though
her little hands were too feeble to work much, felt
that she was a burden to her toiling, self-denyiag
parent, and though she could not persuade her to
let her stay at home and help her, used all her time
out of school in talkng care of little Richard, then
only three years old. By constantly striving to be
useful, and by continually watching for opportunities
to be of service to her mother, she very sensibly
diminished the burdens of her cares.
Poor as the widow Weston was, hard as she was
obliged to struggle for a subsistence, she was happy,
and her children were happy. They had no fine
house, no money, no rich carpets, no beds of down,
as their rich neighbor had, yet they were quite as
happy as he was. The God of nature gave them the
same beautiful prospect of lake, and hills, and woods,




32            TM= E BOAT CLUB, OR
and rocks to look out upon, and if these things
helped to gladden their hearts, it was goodness
which lay at the'foundation of all their joys, which
cast a ray of sunshine across the path of poverty and
want. They were contented with their lot, hard and
bitter as many others deemed it, and contentment
made them happy- prepared their hearts to enjoy
the blessings of plenty, if God, in his mercy, should
ever bestow it upon them.
The boys found the family at supper, and Frank
could not but contrast his evening meal with that
of the poor widow's family. He had just had the
choicest fruits, nice cake, hot waffles and muffins, set
before him; they had only brown bread and very
white butter. He had used silver dishes and silver
forks; they ate their coarse fare from a few half
broken plates. His father was rich, and they were
very poor.
"You are welcome, Master Frank; I am glad to)
see you, and Master Charles too," said Mrs. Weston,
rising from the table and handing them chairs. " I
hope your father and mother are well."
"Very well, I thank you, ma'am," replied Frank.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         33
"I have called to see you about something, and I
want to see you alone," added he, in a low tone, for
he did not want Tony, who was a great deal prouder
than his mother, to know the nature of his errand.
Just then Tony finished his supper, and Mrs. Weston sent him out to feed the hens.
"I have brought you a present, Mrs. Weston,"
continued Frank; " I hope you will accept it."
"Indeed, Master Frank, you are always very good
to me; and your father and mother too," replied the
widow.
"Here are seven dollars. Charles and I wish to
give you this sum."
" Seven dollars! " exclaimed the widow; for to a
poor woman like her this was a very large sum.
" Charles and I had saved it for the fourth of July;
but we thought how much good it would do you,
who have to work so hard, and we determined to
make you a present of it."
" May God bless you both! " exclaimed the widow,
wiping a tear of gratitude from her eye; "but I cannot think of taking your money."
"But, Mrs. Ve7ston, you nu,.st f.n.kp;f 




84           THE BOAT CLUB, Oit
"And you give up your pleasure for a poor body
like me?"
" We give the money to you because it will afford
us a greater pleasure than to spend it."
"How noble and generous! but you wrong yourselves."
" O, no, we don't," said Charles; and at that moment he felt happier than if all the gingerbread and
fire crackers in the world had been showered down
upon him.
"Hush! here comes Tony. Not a word to him
about it, if you please."
"Heaven bless you, boys! " said the poor woman
as she put the money in her pocket.
Frank and Charles talked a few moments with
Tony about the "glorious fourth," and then took
leave of the family.




THlE BUNKERS' OPF ITPPLETON      35
CHAPTER III.
CHARLES HARDY.
CAPTAIN SEDLEY was an early riser. Every morn.
ing at sunrise he was abroad in the pleasant grove
that bordered the lake near his house. It was a
favorite spot, and he had spent a great deal of time
and money in bringing Art into communion with
Nature in his lovely retreat. He had cleared out
the underbrush, made gravel walks and avenues
through it, erected a summer house in the valley,
and an observatory on the summit of the hill, which
terminated on the lake side in a steep, rocky precipice, at whose base the waters rippled.
The worthy shipmaster was a devout man, which
was perhaps the reason why he so much enjoyed his
morning walk. It was the pleasantest hour of all
the day to him; a fit time for meditation and for
the contemplation of the gorgeous scenery that surrounded his habitation. The trees looked greener,




r )           T61HEIL  BOAT CtLUB7. O R
and'the lake more limpid then, when his mind was
invigorated by the peaceful slumbers of the preceding night; and there, in his favorite retreat, while
all nature was smiling upon him, went up his morning orison to that beneficent Being who had spared
him yet another day, and crowned his life with loving kindness and tender mercies.
It was the morning of the fourth of July, and the
sounds of the booming cannon and the pealing bells,
which the westerly breeze bore up the lake, reminded himr of the gratitude he owed to God for the
political, social, and religious privileges which had
been bequeathed to the country by the fathers of
the revolution. He prayed for his country, that a
blessing might always rest upon it.
As he walked along, thus engaged in his inaudible
devotions, he heard a footstep behind him.  The
solitude of his morning walk was seldom disturbed
by the intrusion of others. Turning, he recognized
the friend of his son.
"You are abroad early, Charles," said he.
"Yes, sir; this is the fourth of July."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETOKN.'t7
"And you feel like a little patriot on the occasion."
"I feel like having some fun."
"No doubt of it; I am afraid the boys think more
of the smoke and noise of the day than they do of
the momentous event it commemorates."
" We like to have a good time, and the fourth of
July comes but once a year."
" Probably you will be fully satisfied before night
comes."
"I don't know," replied Charles, in a tone and
with an expression of countenance which attracted
the attention of Captain Sedley.
"You don't know! I thought you were depending upon a good time in the city!"
" We did anticipate a great deal of pleasure; but
we have given it up."
" Indeed! I have made preparations to take you
to Boston."
" We have given it up, sir," repeated Charles.' Frank?"
"Yes, sir."
" He has not mentioned the fact to me."
" But he intends to do so."
4




38            THE BOAT CLUB, OHR
"What is the meaning of all this?  I am surprised."
"I knew you would be," said Charles, evasively.
"But why have you given it up?"
"0, that's a secret."
"Is it, indeed? Then you really are not going?"
" No, sir."
" I suppose the secret is not to be divulged to
me."
"No, sir,"
Captain Sedley was not a little perplexed by what
he heard. The proposed excursion had been the
topic of conversation for the last fortnight, and
Charles and Frank had both manifested the liveliest
interest in it. And now, that the whole scheme had
been abandoned, the anticipated pleasure voluntarily
resigned, was strange and incomprehensible. At
first. he was disposed to believe some more agreeable
plan of spending the day had been devised, and it
seemed questionable to him whether the plan which
must be kept secret could meet his approbation.
"It was Frank's notion, Mr. Sedley."
"And you have promised not to tell me?"




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          3g
"0, no, sir; I don't know as Frank would like it
if I should do so, though I can't see what harm it
would do."
" Of course, you must do as you think proper,"
replied Captain Sedley. "I don't wish you to betray Frank's confidence, unless you think he is doing
wrong."
"Nothing wrong, sir."
" Then why should it be kept secret?"
"I do not know of any reason why it should.
You won't tell Frank if I let the cat out of the
bag? " said Charles, with a kind of forced laugh.
"Certainly not, if you wish it."
"Well, then, we are not going because we have
no money to spend."
"No money! Why, I gave Frank three dollars
towards it no longer ago than yesterday, and he had
some before that," replied Captaini Sedley, not a little
alarmed at the revelation.
"Frank had four dollars and seventy-five cents,
and I had two dollars and twenty-five cents, which
made seven dollars between us."




40            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"What have you done with it? " asked the kind
father, fearful lest his son had been doing wrong.
"Last night we concluded to give our money to
the widow Weston, instead of spending it for candy
and crackers, and stay at home instead of going to
Boston."
An expression of pleasure lighted up the features
of the devoted father. The confession of Charles
was a great relief to him.
"Well done, boys!" exclaimed he. "That was
noble and generous," and involuntarily he thrust his
hand into his pocket, and drew forth his purse.
"Frank proposed it," said Charles, a gleam of
satisfaction lighting up his eye as he beheld the
purse.
Captain Sedley held it in his hand a moment,
looked searchingly at Charles, and then returned it
to his pocket.
" It was a noble deed, Charles, and I had rather
hear such a thing of my son than to have all the
wealth and honors which the world can give, bestowed upon him."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.           I1
Charles looked disappointed when he saw Captain
Sedley restore his purse to his pocket again.
" And Frank means to keep it a secret, does he?"
continued the delighted father.
"Yes, sir; till to-morrow."
"Very well; I will not mention the fact that you
have told me about it."
"Thank you, sir," replied Charles, doubtfully.
"And I am glad you told me - that is, if you
have not betrayed his confidence;" and Captain
Sedley looked rather sharply at Charles.
"0, no, sir; I have not."
"Because, when he tells me he does not Intend
to go, I should otherwise have insisted on knowing
the reason."
Charles was already sorry he had said a word
about it.
"It was a rnoble sacrifice, Charles," continued
Captain Sedley, with much enthusiasm.  "If'from
a worthy motive we sacrifice our inclinations for the
good of others, we are always sure of finding out
reward - indeed, the act is its own reward."
4'k




42            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
Charles began to feel a little uneasy. It seemed
to him as though Captain SedleS never looked so
sharply at him before. What could he mean? He
had given all his money to the widow WVeston as
well as Frank; but Captain Sedley's looks seemed
to reprove rather than commend him. He did not
feel satisfied with himself, or with Captain Sedley -
why, he could not exactly tell; so he happened to
think that his father might want him, and ran home
as fast as his legs would carry him.
But his father did not want him, and he walked
nervously about the house till breakfast time. He
had no appetite, and every thing seemed to go wrong
with him.
"Come, Charles," said his mother, "eat your
breakfast, or you will get hungry before you get to
Boston."
"Ain't a going," answered he, sulkily.
" Why not? " asked his father and mother, in the
same breath.
"Haven't got any money."
"No money! Where are the two dollars I




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          43
gave you yesterday?" asked Mr. Hardy, rather
sternly.
" Gave them away."'bYou did?"
"Yes, sir."
"' To whom?"
"Frank proposed last night to give our money to
the widow Weston, instead of spending it; and like
a great fool, as I was, I agreed to it."
"Poor fellow!  It was too bad!" added Mrs.
Hardy.
"W Vhat did he do it for, then?" said Mr.
Hardy.
" Of course, he didn't want to be behind Frank
in doing a good action."
"But he is a long way behind him."
"Why, husband! "
"He has given the woman the money and played
the hypocrite," replied Mr. Hardy, with the most
evident expression of disgust in his tones and looks,
"just like a great many folks who put money into
the contribution box for missions and Bible societies,
because they think it looks well."




44           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"[But, husband, you will give him some more
money? You will make up the sum to him which
he has given in charity?"
"Given in charity! Given in hypocrisy, you
mean! I shall do no such thing."
"Deprive the poor boy of all his anticipated
pleasure?" said the indulgent mother.
" The bitter fruit of his own hypocrisy," replied
Mr. Hardy.
"' You are too bad!"
"' No, I am not. If he gave away his money because he thought it was an act of charity, that would
look well; that would make Frank and his father
think better of him; he is rightly served, and I am
disposed to shut him up in this room with a good
book to teach him better, instead of letting him go
to the celebration."
Mr. Hardy was a blunt, honest man; perhaps a
little too much inclined to be harsh with his son
when he had done wrong. Perhaps his views of
parental discipline were not altogether correct; but
in the main he meant right. He was disgusted at




THE BUNKERS OF RTPPLETON.          45
the conduct of Charles, and thought no penalty too
severe to atone for it.
" On the other hand," continued he, "if he had
made up his mind to sacrifice his inclination at the
call of charity, he would not have felt as he does
now. He would have been contented to stay at
home. He would have found a nobler satisfaction
in the consciousness of having done a good deed,
than in all the anticipated pleasures of the celebration. It is very plain to me the whole thing was an
act of gross hypocrisy; " and Mr. Hardy rose from
the table, and left the room.
Charles understood his father's analysis of his conduct. He felt that it was truthful. What would
his father have sail if he had known his motive
in seeking Captain Sedley that morning? He was
ashamed of himself, and was glad that his father
knew nothing about it.
He had not yet lost all hope that Captain Sedley
would reimburse the sums they had given the widow,
and take them to Boston. But Frank's father, apprecinting the noble sacrifice his son had made, was




46            THE BOAT CLVUB, OR
content that he should receive all the moral discipline to be derived from the act. Therefore he said
aothing about it, and went to the city alone.
Charles waited impatiently till ten o'clock; but no
one came for him, and he left the house in search of
such enjoyment as Rippleton could afford him.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPrLETON.        47
CHAPTER IV.
FOURTH OF JULY.
CHARLES HARDY was sadly disappointed.  He
had given his money to the widow WVeston in the
fullest confidence that it would be refunded to him,
and that he should be able to attend the celebration
in Boston. When Frank had proposed the charitable plan, his heart told him how good and pleasant
it would be to assist the poor woman. His feelings
were with him in the benevolent design - it was a
mere impulse, however, which prompted him to join
in the act. He thought of the sacrifice, but the
hope of not being actually compelled to make it, in
the end, involuntarily helped him to a decision.
His father had misjudged his motive in calling
him hypocritical; for he really felt like doing the
noble deed. He felt kindly towards the widow Weston; but his principle was not strong and deep
enough to enable him to bear the deprivation which




48           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
his benevolent act had laid upon him, with pleasure
or even with a good grace.
It was not so with Frank. He had given without
the hope of reward, and in staying at home on the
fourth of July, he was perfectly contented, because
it was the price he paid for the pleasure of doing
good.
Charles, when he found that Captain Sedley did
not come for him, hastened over to find Frank. He
and Tony WVeston were on the beach.
" Hollo, Charley! WVe have been waiting for
you," said Frank, as he approached.
" Hollo, fellows! What's in the wind?" replied
Charles. " What are you going to do to-day?"
"We were just thinking about something."
"Has your father gone to the city, Frank?"
" Yes."
"What did he say?"
"Nothing."
"Didn't he look surprised?"
"Not much. He only asked me the reason, and I
said I would tell him to-morrow. He didn't say any
more about it. Got off slick. didn't I?"




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          [9
" First rate."
" What are you talking about?" asked Tony, to
whom, of course, this conversation was unintelligible.
"Tell you some other time, Tony," replied Charles.
"Now what shall we do to-day?"
" I don't know; here comes Uncle Ben; perhaps
he can give us an idea."
Uncle Ben was an old seaman, who had sailed a
great many years in the employ of Captain Sedley.
He was a rough, blunt old fellow, but so honest,
warm-hearted, and devoted to his employer, that
when the latter retired from the duties of his profession, he had given him a home on his estate.
Uncle Ben was a good sailor; but he had never
risen above the place of second mate.  Without
much ambition to distinguish himself, or to make
money, he was perfectly content to follow the fortunes of Captain Sedley, even in an humble capacity.
Frank was an especial favorite of Uncle Ben, and
as the old sailor's habits were good, and as his ideas
of morality and religion rendered him a safe companion for his son, Captain Sedley had permitted and
5




50           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
encouraged their intimacy. During the long winter
evenings, he listened with the most intense interest
and delight to Uncle Ben's descriptions of sea life,
and of the various countries he had visited.
With the neighbors, and especially the boys in
the vicinity, the old sailor was respected and treated
with a great deal of consideration. He was an old
man, but he had always maintained an unblemished
character. He was full of kindness and sympathy,
always manifesting the liveliest regard for the welfare of his friends; and on this account people had
got into the way of calling him by the familiar sobriquet of Uncle Ben. It is true he was sometimes
rude and rough, but his kind heart atoned for the
blemishes in his deportment.
Though Captain Sedley considered Uncle Ben a
necessary appendage to his estate, he did not impose
upon him the performance of any very arduous duties. He kept a pleasure boat on the lake, and the
old sailor had the entire charge of that. Occasionally he worked a little in the garden, groomed the
horses, and did the " chores " about the house; Iut,
to use his own expression, he was "laid up in
ordinary."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          51
"Here comes Uncle Ben," said Frank, as the vet.
eran approached them.
"I have been lookin' for you, boys. What are
you up to here? "
"Nothing, Uncle Ben."
"What do you stand there for, then? Arn't this
the fourth of July? "
"It is, Uncle Ben; and we were thinking what
we should do with ourselves. Can't you tell
us? "
"That I can, boys; I am goin' over across the
lake in the. boat, and Cap'n Sedley told me I might
take you over with me, if you'd like to go."
"Hurrah!" cried Charles Hardy, throwing up
his cap with delight.
" That we will, Uncle Ben, and right glad we are
of the chance to go," replied Frank.
"Tumble up to the boat house, then," replied
Uncle Ben, as he hobbled after the boys, who, delighted with the prospect of a sail on the lake, bounded off like so many antelopes.
The boat was loosened from her moorings in thy
boat house, and the boys jumped in.




62            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"You will let me steer, won't you, Uncle Ben?
said Frank.
" Sartin, if you want to. Take the helm."
The old sailor hoisted the sails, and the boat stood
out towards the middle of the lake.
"Steady, there," said Uncle Ben; "keep the
sails full."
Frank found it was not so easy a matter even to
steer a sailboat as he had anticipated; for one moment he stopped the boat by " throwing her up into
the wind," and the next ran her almost on shore by
"keeping away."
" Keep her away!" cried Uncle Ben. " That will
do; steady as she is. No, no; you are six p'ints
out of course now. Luff a little! Hard a port! "
"I don't know what you mean, Uncle Ben; I
think you had better steer yourself," said Frank, re
signing the helm.
"I think I had."
Under the old sailor's skilful management, the
boat soon reached Centre Isle, where they decided ta
land.
Now, boys, if you want to celebrate a little




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          53
here are half a dozen bunches of crackers," said
Uncle Ben, as he took a little package from the
iocker in the stern of the boat.
"Bravo, Uncle Ben! We will have a nice time."
"Now, if you are a mind to stay here and have a
good time, while I sail over to the other shore to
see a sick man, I will give you a good sail when I
return."
"Hurrah! we will, Uncle Ben. Have you got
any matches? "
"There are matches and a slowmatch in the bundle," replied Uncle Ben, as he pushed off. "Now,
blaze away, and don't burn your fingers."
" Now for it! " exclaimed Charles, as he lighted the
slowmatch. "Here goes the first shot. Hurrah! "
The boys were in high glee. The crackers snapped
admirably, and the little forest of Centre Isle reverberated with the reports of their mimic guns. Various expedients were devised to vary the entertainment. Crackers were fired in the water, in the
stumps, thrown in the air, or half buried in the wet
sand of the beach.
"By gracius! the Bunkers are coming!" ex



54           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
claimed Tony Weston, as he discerned the raft,
navigated by half a dozen boys, approaching the
island.
"Let them come," said Charles.
"I had rather they would not come," added
Frank.
" What harm will they do?"
"They are quarrelsome and disagreeable."
"Well, they won't be here this half hour yet;
that is one consolation; and we can have a good
time till they do get here," returned Charles, as he
lighted.a whole bunch of the crackers.
" Go it!" cried Tony. "Hurrah! Fourth of
July comes but once a year."
" Don't fire them all at once, Charley," interposed
Frank.' That is all the fun of it."
"But the fun won't last long at that rate."
"We must fire them all before the Bunkers get
here, or they will take them away from us."
And before the half hour which Charles had given
them to reach the island had expired, their stock
was entirely gone, their ammunition exhausted,




THE BUNKEIRS OF RIPPLETON.         55
their noisy patriotism evaporated, and they seated
themselves on the grass, to watch the approaching
raft.
It had been a long and difficult passage, but at
last the Bunkers landed.
"Hollo, Tony," said Tim, as he leaped ashore;
"' what are you doing here?"
"Been firing crackers," replied Tony.
" Got any more?"
" I haven't."
" Who has?"
"None of us," replied Frank.  "We have fired
them all."
"You lie! you haven't! " answered Tim, with an
oath.
" I tell you the truth; don't I, Charley?"
" We had but six bunches, and we have used them
all," added Charles.
"I don't believe it; you long-face fellers will lie
twice as quick as one of us," said Tim, walking up
to Frank.
" I have no more; I would not lie about it," protested Frank.




56            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" Yes, yer would lie about it, too. Now, just hand
over some o' them crackers, or I'll duck you in the
lake."
Frank made no reply to this rude speech. He
heartily wished himself off the island, and out of
the company of the new comers.
i Hit him, Tim! " cried one of the Bunkers.
"Hit him! " repeated the others.
"Want to fight?" said Tim, doubling up his
fists, and assuming a pugilistic attitude.
"No, I don't want to fight; I will not fight,"
replied Frank, retreating backwards from the quarrelsome boy.
" 0, you won't fight, eh? Then you'll git licked,"
replied Tim, following him.
"I have not injured you; I don't see why you
should wish to fight with me."
"You lie! yer have. Didn't yer tell me yer
badn't got no more crackers?"
"I have not."
"Yes, yer have;" and Tim struck Frank a severe
blow, which made his lip bleed.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETOlN.        57
"Don't do that again! " cried Tony Weston, his
face flushed with indignation.
"What are you going to do about it?" said Tim,
turning to Tony.
"I don't want to fight; but I won't see him
abused in that shape."
"Never mind him, Tony," interposed Frank.
"He didn't hurt me much. Let us go over to
the other side of the island."
" No, yer won't! " said Tim Bunker, approaching
Frank again, and giving him another blow in the
face.
Tony Weston could bear no more, and springing
upon the leader of the Bunkers, he struck him several times in rapid succession.
"' Don't, Tony, don't," said Frank, trying to separate the combatants.
" Fair play! " cried the Bunkers.
Tony, though younger and lighter than his antagonist, pressed him so severely that he brought him
to the ground, before Frank and Charles could draw
him off. Tim instantly leaped to his feet again.
" Come on! " said he.




ra 8          THE: BOAT CLUB, OR. Don't, Tony."
"Mind your own business! " said Tim to Frank,
as he renewed the assault upon him.
Frank tried to get away, and when Tony and
Charles came to his assistance the other Bunkers
attacked them, and the fight became general.
"6 Give it to'em," shouted Tim, as he struck his
opponent several times on the head.
Frank saw that he had nothing to hope for unless
he defended himself. He had done his best to prevent the fight, and now he felt justified in resorting
to necessary violence, to save himself from further
injury.
Suddenly springing upon his assailant, he bore him
to the ground, and held him there. In the mean
time, Tony and Charles were getting the worst of it,
when a loud shout arrested the attention of the combatants. They all suspended the strife.
" It is Uncle Ben," said Charles.
The Bunkers seemed to understand the character of the old sailor, and taking to their heels,
they fled precipitately towards the other end of the
island.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         59
"What are you about, boys?" said Uncle Ben,
sternly, as he landed.
"We could not help it, Uncle Ben; indeed we
could not," replied Frank; wiping his bleeding lip,
and proceeding to tell the particulars of the whole
affair.
" It was my fault; I ought not to have left you
here alone. What will your father say? " said Uncle Ben, looking much troubled.
" He will not say any thing; I am sure you are
not to blame, Uncle Ben."
"Jump into the boat, and let us be off. These
boys must be attended to."
Uncle Ben, instead of immediately following the
boys into the boat, pushed off the raft from the
shore, and attaching a line to it, made fast the other
end to the boat.
"What are you going to do, Uncle Ben?" asked
Frank.
" I am going to keep them prisoners for a while,"
replied he, as the boat shot away from the island
with the raft in tow.
" You don't mean to keep them there?"




60            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"I sartinly do, till your father comes home, and
he may do what he pleases with'em. If I had my
way, I'd tie'em up to the grating and give'em a
dozen apiece.'Twould sarve'em right, the meddlesome rascals! I like good boys; but such boys as
them is worse nor marines."
"But, Uncle Ben, we can't sail with this raft
dragging after us."
" We will make the shore with it then."
The raft was towed ashore, and the boys had a
fine sail the entire length of the lake. As they
passed Centre Isle, they could see the Bunkers gathered in a ring, apparently discussing their prospects;
and on their return, Tim hailed them, begging to be
taken ashore.
" What do you say, boys? shall we forgive'em?"
asked Uncle Ben.
"Yes!" exclaimed all three.
Uncle Ben landed at the island and took them in,
and during the passage read them a severe lecture
on the error of their ways. They gave good attention to him, and seemed very penitent. But no
sooner had they got ashore, and out of reach of the




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETONY.        61
old sailor, than they insulted him by hooting his
name, coupled with the most opprobrious epithets.
" No use to be easy with'em. The better you
use'em the worse they sarve you," said Uncle Ben,
as he hauled the boat into its house.
6 




62           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTER V.
THE CLUB BOAT.
FoR a fortnight the Bunkers did not venture to
approach the residence of Captain Sedley. The raft,
which Uncle Ben had been instructed to break up,
was removed some distance down the lake before he
had time to execute his orders. After a few days,
the memorable incident of the " fourth " ceased to be
talked about, and was finally forgotten.
Two weeks passed away. Uncle Ben had been
absent from home three days. He went to Boston
with his employer, who returned without him. To
Frank's earnest inquiries as to where he was, his
father only replied that he would return soon.
It was after nine o'clock in the evening on the
third day when he returned. Frank teased him to
tell where he had been all the time; but Uncle Ben
only looked strange and mysterious, and would not
gratify his curiosity.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          63
Frank got up the next morning quite early, and
walked over to the widow Weston's with Charles.
On their return, a new object on the lake attracted
the attention of the latter.
"Hollo, Frank! what's that?"  exclaimed he.
"By gracious! it is a new boat."
"So it is; and what an odd-looking craft  "
Both boys ran with all their might down to the
little beach by the road to get a nearer view of the
strange boat.
" My eyes! look at it!" ejaculated the wondering Charles.
"What can it mean? It wasn't there last night,"
said Frank.
" No; and it looks like the boats we read about
in the fairy books. I shouldn't wonder if it dropped
down out of the clouds. Isn't she a beauty? "
" That she is! And how long and slender she is! "
"One, two, three — twelve places for the oars,"
cried Charles.
"Uncle Ben knows something  about her, I
know!" exclaimed Frank, as a beam of intelligence penetrated his mind.




64            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" Just twig the bow!'Tis as sharp as a razor."
"And there is her name on each side of it-' Zephyr'! What a pretty name it is!"
"So it is. That boat's a ripper, let me tell you!"
said Charles, enthusiastically.
"A what? " asked Captain Sedley, coming down
from a thicket in the grove close by, where he had
been enjoying the astonishment of the boys.
"0 father!" exclaimed Frank, "whose is she?
Where did she come from? What is it for?"
"One question at a time, Frank.  But before I
answer any of them, let me say a word to you,
Charles. You said she was a' ripper' just now."
" That wasn't any harm, was it? "
" Not a very elegant word though. I will warrant
you cannot find it in the dictionary."
"I merely meant that it was a very fine boat."
"I presume you meant nothing wrong; but such
expressions do not add any thing to the force of laniguage; and using them may induce a bad habit. If
you associated with boys accustomed to use profanity, this desire to use strong words would lead you
into the practice."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          65
" I never thought of that."
"Just now you said,'By gracious!' Such phrases
are apt to induce profanity, and are no addition
whatever to the force of your remark."
"I don't know as they are."
"You were very much surprised at seeing this
boat."
"We were, indeed."
" Frank, it is yoursi" added Captain Sedley, turning with a smile to his son.
"Mine, father! " exclaimed Frank, clapping his
hands.
"It is yours, and of course your friends will derive as much pleasure from its use as' you will yourself."
"But where did it come from, father?"
"Two months ago, when the Bunkers first began
to amuse themselves with the raft, the idea of procuring it occurred to me.  I saw that you and
Charles both had a great desire to join in their sport.
For obvious reasons, I could not permit Frank to do
so; but I immediately resolved' that you should
*         ~~6%




66            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
have the means of enjoying yoiurselves in safety and
colafort, and I ordered this boat to. be built."
" Isn't she a beauty! " exclaimed Charles.
"But, Charles, do you remember what you said a
fortnight ago?"
"A No, sir."
"When you were talking here on the evening
before the fourth of July? "
" I said a great many things, I suppose, and some
of them not quite so bright as they might have
been," replied Charles, wondering what weakness of
his was now to be exposed.
"Your remark was to the effect that boys who
were obliged to' mind their parents were the losers
for their obedience."
"But I did not mean so, sir."
"You meant some of it, Charles. You wanted to
go on the raft, and you felt at that moment as though
it was a severe task to obey your parents. But I
think it was only a momentary feeling."
"I am sure it was, sir."
"Let this beautiful boat, then, convince you that




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.           67
obedience to your parents is your duty, as it ought
to be your pleasure."
"' How came it here, father?" asked Frank.  "I
am completely mystified."
"Uncle Ben has been in Boston the past three
days, procuring its outfit; and yesterday it was
Drought up to the village on the railroad."
"That's why you would not tell me where he
was."
"It is; I thought I would surprise you. Last
night after dark Uncle Ben and I rowed it up from
the village."
" Wasn't we surprised, though?" added Frank.
"I'll bet we were," replied Charles.
"What, Charles, more of your inelegant speech.
es?" said Captain Sedley.
Charles blushed.
"I didn't mean to; I will try and break myself
of that habit."
"Do; it is a foolish practice."
"But, father, what shall we do with her?  Has
she got any sails?" asked Frank.
"Nio, my son. It is what is called a club boat.




68            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
It is pulled with twelve oars. In Boston and a great
many other places, a number of young men form
themselves into a little society for the purpose of
amusing themselves with these boats. You perceive
it is built very long, narrow, and sharp, so as to
attain the greatest speed; and rowing it is a very
pretty exercise, as well as the most exciting amuseztent."
"I should think it would be; but, father, can't
wve get into it, so as to see what it is like? "
" Not now. To-day is Wednesday, and this afternoon Uncle Ben shall give you your first lesson in
rowing."
"Car we row it alone?" asked Frank, looking
perplexed as he saw the twelve rowlocks.
"No, Frank, you must form a society, a club, as
they do in the city. You must have thirteen boys;
twelve to row and one to steer."
"Hurrah! won't that be fine! " exclaimed Charles,
with enthusiasm.
"But, boys, you must be careful whom you invite
to join the club. We do not want any bad boysqspecially none of the Bunkers."




TIE 13BUtNKERS OF RIPPLETON.       69
"' Not one of them," added Charles, promptly.
"Tony shall be one," said Frank.
"Tony is a good boy," replied Captain Sedley.
"Fred and Sam Harper," suggested Charles.
"They are very well; but I shall leave the selec.tion of the club to you, boys," continued Captain
Sedley. " I am going to have a boat house built by
the side of the other for your boat, and in one end
of it will be a room for your meetings."
" That will be slick! " ejaculated Charles. "Won't
we have the fun! "
"You must make a kind of constitution; that
is, some regulations for the government of the
club."
" You will make those for us, won't you, father?"
said Frank.
"No; I prefer that you should make them your.selves."
" We don't know how."
"I can tell you something about it. In the first
place, you will want a clerk and a coxswain."
" A what? " asked both boys together.
" A coxswain. When you sail he steers the boat,




to            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
and has the command; and when you hold a meeting he will be the chairman."
"Who will be coxswain?" said Charles, with a
look of interest at Frank.
"You will choose him by vote, as well as the
clerk."
"But the regulations, father."
"You must have no profanity, no lying, no vulgar
language; and no boy must be permitted to neglect
his school, or his duties at home, on account of the
boat."
"We can fix all that," said Charles.
"I intend that this club shall be a society for the
promotion of your moral welfare, as well as a means
of amusement. In your club room I am going to
place a library for your use, and next winter, when
the lake is frozen over, you can meet there for amusemeint and instruction."' That will be first rate," added Charles.
"What time shall we meet this afternoon, father?"
"Two o'clock, say. Now go to your breakfasts,
and get ready for school. Be careful and not let the




THE ZBINKERS OF RIPPLETON.         71
pleasure you anticipate interfere with your studies,"
said Captain Sedley, as the boys bounded away to
their respective homes.
Frank and Charles, on their way to school, decided upon the boys whom they should invite to join
the club, and in the course of the forenoon they were
asked to assemble on the beach, without being told
the precise object of the meeting.'he boys' heads were so full of the club boat that
it required a great deal of courage to enable them to
study in school that day; but so closely had Captain
Sedley connected the idea of improvement with the
club, that they struggled hard, and succeeded in getting "perfect lessons."




72           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTER VI.
THE EMBARKATION.
AT half past one the members of the embryo boat
dub were on the beach. Those who were not informed before their arrival of the nature of the
"time" in store for them, were in ecstasies when
they beheld the beautiful boat reposing so lightly and
gracefully on the tranquil bosom of the clear lake.
None of them had ever seen such a fairy bark before
and it more than realized their most enthusiastic
idea of the airy and graceful skiffs of which they
had read and thought.
Uncle Ben had not arrived yet; but he had evidently been there during the forenoon, for the boat
had been loosed from her moorings, and was now
secured by a line attached to'a stake driven in the
sand.
The boys, as a matter of course, were very impa-.ient to take their first lesson in rowing, and to skim




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.           73
over the glassy lake in the splendid barge before
them.
"Where is uncle Ben?" asked Charles, hardly
able to control his impatience.
" He will be here soon; it is not two o'clock yet,"
answered Frank.
"Don't be in a hurry, Charley," added Tony, who
had seated himself upon the sand, and considering
the exciting circumstances of the day, demeaned himself like a philosopher.
"I am so anxious to get a peep at the inside
of her," replied Charles, as he took hold of the
line that held the boat, and pulled her towards the
shore. "Don't you think he will be here before two
o'clock?"
"I don't know; I wouldn't touch her, Charley,"
said Frank.
"See how she shoots ahead!  I scarcely pulled at
all on the line."
The light bark, under the impulse of Charles's
gentle pull, darted up to the shore, throwing her
sharp bow entirely out of the water.
"Don't, Charley; you will scrape her keel on the




74            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
sand," interposed Frank. "She is built very lightly, and my father says she cost him four hundred
dollars."
" I won't hurt her. Just twig the cushioned seats
in the stern, and see all the brass work round the
sides! My eyes, how it shines! " exclaimed Charles,
holding up both hands with delight.
"Just see the oars," added Fred Harper.
"And there are the flags rolled up in the stern,"
said another boy.
" Won't we have a glorious time!" continued
Charles, as he placed one foot in the bow of the
boat.
" Don't get in, Charley; that isn't fair," interposed Tony Weston.
"It won't do any harm;" and Charles stepped
into the boat.
Half a dozen other boys, carried away by the excitement of the moment, followed his example, and
jumped in after him. Charles led the way to the
stern of the boat, walking over the seats, or, to speak
technically, the "thwarts."
The light boat, which had been drawn far out of




THE BUN3KERS OF RIPPLETON.         75
the water, and which now rested her keel upon the
bottom, having no support upon the sides, rolled
over on her gunnel, and tumbled the boys into the
lake.
" There! Now see what you have done! " cried
Tony, springing up, and pushing the boat away from
the shore.
"Avast, there! What are you about?" exclaimed Uncle Ben, hobbling down to the beach as
fast as his legs would carry him.
" You are too bad, Charley! " said Frank. "You
will spoil all our fun by your impatience."
" I didn't think she would upset so easy," replied
Charles.
"You ought not to have meddled with her."
"That you hadn't, youngster," said Uncle Ben.
" Don't you know a boat can't stand alone when the
keel is on the sand? "
The old sailor spoke pretty sternly, and Charles
was abashed by his reproof.
"Forgive me, Uncle Ben; I didn't mean any
barm."
" I know you didn't, Charley; but you must be




76            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
careful always. Live and larn," replied Uncle Ben,
mollified by the penitence of the boy.
"She won't tip over again, will she?" asked
Frank.
"Not if you handle her right; run over to that
rock in the grove, where the water is deep, and I
will bring her over."
Uncle Ben unfastened the line, and wading out a
little way into the lake, jumped in, and rowed over
to the rock.
"Now, my lads, you must do every thing in order.
We don't want any hurrying and tumbling about.
When you get into the boat, step easy, and keep
quiet in your places," said Uncle Ben, as he brought
the boat alongside the rock. "Fend  off, there!
Don't let her rub! "
Tony, who was by far the coolest and most reliable boy of the party, took hold of the boat, and prevented her from striking the rock.
"Now, Tony, you shall be stroke oarsman; that
is, you shall pull the foremost oar. You may get in
first, and take that boathook forward.  Stop, no
more of you yet; keep perfectly cool'! "




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          7
Tony obeyed, and took his station in the bow,
with the boathook in his hand.
"Now hook on the rock with it, and keep her
steady. There, that will do," continued Uncle Ben,
taking another boathook and steadying the stern.
Now, one at a time, and each of you take one of the
seats."
The boys were so impatient that they could not
wait to get in as the old sailor directed, and all huddled in together, to the imminent peril of their lives
and the boat.
" Avast! that won't do! Back, all of you!" roared
Uncle Ben, provoked by their awkwardness.  "Now,
Frank, call them by name, one at a time, and let
each get his place before you call another."
This plan worked better. Uncle Ben was a firm
advocate of discipline, and insisted on having every
thing done in " shipshape order," as he styled it.
The boys were all seated, and finding that their
hurry and impatience only retarded their progress,
they learned to keep still and wait till the old sailor
told them what to do.
They had all seated themselves on one side of the
7 




78            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
boat, and the consequence was, it nearly tipped her
over.
"Now, my lads, trim ship. You are all over on
the starboard side," said Uncle Ben, as he pushed
the boat away from the rock.
The boys, in their eagerness to render a prompt
obedience, all passed over to the opposite ends of the
thwarts, and the boat instantly careened upon the
other side.
"Avast there! Now stop a bit," continued the
old sailor. " I am going to number you all. I don't
know your names, all of you; so just mind the
figgers. Tony, you are number one; say it."
" One," shouted Tony, with a pleasant laugh.
"The boy on the next seat."
" Two."i
" Stop a bit; we have got one too many. One of
you must be coxswain. Cap'n Sedley says you
must choose him by vote. Who shall be your coxswain, boys?"
"Frank Sedley," shouted all the boys together.'Good! it is a unanimous vote," said Uncle
Ben.




THE BUNKF.RS OF RIPPLETON.        7i
"You desarve the honor, Frank; take a seat in
the starn. Next boy, number."
"Three."
" Next."
" Four."
The boys all numbered, with the exception of
Frank Sedley, who was not to pull an oar.
"Now, my lads, remember your numbers -don't
touch the oars yet. You have got a good deal to
larn fust," continued Uncle Ben.
" We shall be good scholars," said Charles.
"I hope you will. Now, Tony, take your place
on the starboard side, opposite the rowlock over to
port."
Tony, at a venture, seated himself on the forward
thwart.
" Avast! that's the larboard side."
"But, Uncle Ben, we don't know the meaning of
those words," added Frank.
" No more you don't," answered Uncle Ben, hitching up his trousers, and laughing good naturedly.
"You can larn, though, if you pay'tention."
"We will try."




80             THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"This side, then;" and the old sailor laid his
hand upon the right hand side of the boat, - " this
is the starboard side."
"The right hand side is the starboard side," repeated several of the boys.
"Number five," said Uncle Ben, calling upon
Charles Hardy, " which is the starboard side?"
" This," replied Charles, pointing to his right.
"No,'tain't."
"But you said the right hand side."
" No, I didn't; I said this side," replied the old
sailor, laughing at the boy's perplexity.  " It is the
right hand side lookin' for'ad. Do you understand
it now? "
"We do," shouted the boys together.
"Now, who can tell me which is the larboard
side?"
"The left, looking forward," replied several.
" Good, my hearties; and larboard and port mean
the same thing."
"WAe all understand it," said Charles Hardy.
"You'll forget it, ten to one, before to-morrow."
"No, we won't."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          81
"Now, Tony, the  starboard  side.  That's it.
Number two, take the port side. That's right,
Number three, the starboard."
The boys had grown more tractable, and Uncle
Ben succeeded in getting them all in their proper
places. The boat thus trimmed sat even on the
water, and the boys were delighted with this change
in her position. Most of them were wholly unaccustomed to boats, and the one-sided posture gave
them a sensation of uneasiness. But while they saw
Uncle Ben and some of the others feeling so secure,
they did not like to acknowledge their timidity.
" When you take the oars, - not yet - don't be
in a hurry. Do every thing calmly," said Uncle Ben.
"You'll never larn any thing, if you don't go to
work shipshape."
" But what shall I do?" asked Frank. "There
are only twelve oars."
" Seat yourself square in the starn."
Frank obeyed, and Uncle Ben shipped the rudder.
Instead of a tiller there was a short piece of wood,
elegantly carved and gilded, which extended cross



82            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
ways with the boat. At each end of it was fastened a line, by means of which the rudder was
moved.
"Take the lines, Frank, and keep quiet till we
get ready to pull," said Uncle Ben, as he seated himself by the side of the young coxswain.
"We are all ready," interposed Charles Hardy,
by way.of hurrying the old sailor's movements.
"' Now, take the oars."
All was confusion in an instant, and the boys began to " scrabble " with all their might. They handled their oars so awkwardly that many of them got
rapped on the head, and one had his straw hat
Knocked overboard.
"That won't do, my lads," said Uncle Ben, as he
drew in the lost hat with the boathook. "That was
awful clumsy. Put'em all back again."
The boys reluctantly obeyed. Uncle Ben declared
it was" no sort of use" to try to do any thing, if
they couldn't keep cool. He pointed out to them
how the oars should be laid in the boat when they
were "unshipped," and gave the order again.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          g3
"When I say'Up,' take your oars and stand'em
on end. Now put'em down again."
The oars were again deposited in their places.
"Up!"
Up went the oars.
"Very well; but number two has it wrong. Put
the blade of the oar up."
Number two changed the position of his oar.
" Hold'em up parfectly straight," continued the
instructor, as he glanced at the rows of oars. " Now,
down again, all together."
The oars dropped with admirable precision, and
Uncle Ben was perfectly satisfied with this manceuvre.
" Up!" cried he again, and up came the oars,
man-of-war style.  "Right! Now, when I say' Down,' drop'em into the rowlocks; but don't be
clumsy about it. Down!"
Down came the oars into the water, all together,
it is true, but Charles Hardy lost his overboard by
his awkwardness.




Sa1           THE POAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTER VII.
IULL AWAY.
THE oar was regained, and Charles admonished to
be more careful.  Captain Sedley had vitnessed the
latter part of the drill from the shore, and the blunders of the boys, as well as their earnestness, afforded him a great deal of amusement.
Uncle Ben practised the two exercises he had explained, until his crew were as perfect as could be
expected after one lesson.
" That was very well done, Ben," said Captain
Sedley, when the boys had completed one of the exercises.
" Ay, ay, sir; that will do."
"Let us row now, Uncle Ben? " asked Charles.
"Pretty soon, my boy; don't be impatient. The
third movement is to get the oar ready to drop into
the water before the stroke.  Now, throw the handles




THE BUNKERS OF IIPPLETON.          85
of. the oars aft, and bend your bodies in the same direction."
The boys obeyed, and the instructor regulated the
posture of each by his number, till the oars were all
at the same height from the water.
" That will do; now drop them into the water,
and pull one stroke."
The movement was executed, but several of the
boys, in their eagerness to pull a " strong stroke,"
did not dip deep enough, and were tumbled over
backwards.
Captain Sedley laughed heartily.
"Rowing dry," said Uncle Ben, joining in the
laugh. "Now, boys, when you pull, dip your oar
so as to cover the blade. Try again. Ready!"
The boys took the required position.
"Pull!"
This time it was executed much better, but with a
great deal of splashing and confusion, and the boat
darted ahead under the impetus thus given.
"Hurrah! " said Charles Hardy. "Here we go."
"Ready again," said Uncle Ben. "Pull! "
The crew gained rapidly in skill, and after a great
8




86            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
many trials, they were able to pull the stroke all
together.
" Frank, you must give the word, Unship your
oars, and be ready."
The oars were all deposited in their proper places
without the least confusion, and with admirable precision.
"Now, Frank, give the word."
"Up," said Frank, who could not refrain from
laughing at his novel position.
All the oars came up as one.
" Down," said Frank.
The oars fell into the rowlocks.' Good! " ejaculated Uncle Ben.
" Ready," continued Frank.
The boys took the required position.
"' Pull."
"Bravo!" exclaimed Uncle Ben.  "That was
very well done."
"But can't we pull more than one stroke?"
asked Charles.
"One at a time. Now, boys, the coxswain regulates the stroke of the oars by the motion of his




TIHE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         87
body. When he wants you to pull, he bends forward, in this manner;" and the old sailor swayed
his shoulders forward as he spoke. " You must keep
your eye on him, and pull as he moves. Try them
again, Frank."
" Ready," said the coxswain.  "Pull."
"Now bend forward, Frank, slowly and regular,
like the pend'lum of a clock."
Frank followed this direction, and.the roweA took
half a dozen strokes with tolerable reg1iarity.
"Mind your helm; starboard a little- the other
way - that will do."
The boat was propelled with considerable speed
through the water, and the boys were in ecstasies at
their success. Frank swayed his body to and fro,
with a slow and measured movement, and considering the trifling practice they had had, the rowers
worked with a tolerably good degree of regularity.
The stroke did not suit Uncle Ben, but he permitted
them to pull half way across the lake before he
stopped them to give further instructions.
When they reached the middle of the lake, he took
Frank's place at the helm, and drilled them for near



88            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
ly an hour. They proved to be such apt pupils, that
when the coxswain resumed his place, they could
pull a regular man-of-war stroke with ease and precision.
" Now, my boys, you can pull up the lake; but it
will take a great deal of practice to make you perfect."
" Let us go down to Rippleton Village," suggested
Charles Hardy.
" Rippleton it is! " shouted several.
" Won't their eyes stick out down there! "
" Better wait till you can row better than you do
now, before you show yourselves much," added
Uncle Ben.
" UTp the lake then," said Frank. "Pull."
Uncle Ben's drill in the middle of the lake enabled
them sensibly to increase their speed, and before they
were aware, they had reached the shore a mile and a
half from Captain Sedley's house.
"Now, boys, you may go ashore and rest yourselves."
"We don't want to rest; we are not tired," exclaimed several.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          89
" Ve won't row any more, just yet."
"Uncle Ben, where are the flags? We haven't
put them up yet."
"Here they are. The blue silk one, with silver
stars around the letter' Z,' goes in the bow. Put it
in its place, Tony.
" And this American flag goes in the stern. Put
it up, Frank," continued Uncle Ben.
The gay colors were raised, and the boys could
scarcely contain themselves, so great was their delight at this new addition to their craft. It made
her look so janty and gay, and seemed to give the
finishing glory to the beautiful bark.
"Now, my lads, three cheers for the American
flag. One!"
" Hurrah!"
" Two."
" Hurrah!"
"Three."
"Hurrah!"
"And long may it wave!" added Uncle Ben,
heartily. " Boys, can't you sing? "
"We sing in school," replied several.
8 %4




90             TIHE BOAT CLUB, OR
"Sing me a song, then, while we rest."
"What shall we sing? "
"Any thing you please."
"Canadian Boat Song," suggested Frank.
"Ay, ay, give us that."
Fred Harper was a good singer, and started
the song. The boys all joined in, and Uncle Ben
was so pleased when they had finished it, that he
begged them to sing it again. They cheerfully complied, and the old man listened to the repetition with
the most intense delight.
"Now, boys, I will sing you a sea song, if you
like."
" Hurrah! do, Uncle Ben," exclaimed Charles.
Uncle Ben's voice was somewhat cracked and
harsh, but he rendered with tolerable effect the
song,
"'Twas in the good ship Rover,
I sailed the world around;
For twenty years and over,
I ne'er touched British ground."
"Bravo, Uncle Ben.  Fred Harper, can't you give




THIE IBUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        91
us Ben Bolt and Sweet Alice? I am sure Uncle Ben
will like it."
"I will try," replied Fred.
"We will join the chorus."
The song was sung, and the old sailor shed a teat
over " Sweet Alice, so young and so fair."
" Here comes father in the sailboat," cried Frank,
as he discovered Captain Sedley approaching in his
pleasure yacht.
"Ay, beating up agin the wind."
"Can't we have a race with him  " asked Charles
Hardy.
"Sartin, if you like. There is a fresh breeze
springing up."
" The boys waited patiently until Captain Sedley
reached the spot.
"How do you like your craft, boys? " asked he,
as he threw his boat up into the wind, alongside the
Zephyr.
"First rate!" they exclaimed with one voice.
"Three cheers for Captain Sedley," cried Tony
Weston, taking off his cap and swinging it round
above his head. "One!"




92           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"Hurrah!"
"Two? "
"Hurrah! "
"Three! "
"Hurrah! " and the boys all clapped their hands
for several moments.
Captain Sedley took off his hat, and politely returned his acknowledgments. When boys get to
cheering, they hardly know when to stop; and when
Fred Harper proposed three for Uncle Ben, there
was a prompt and hearty response to the call.
" I'm much obleeged to you, boys, for the compliment," said the veteran, pulling off his tarpaulin.
" Now for the race," cried Charles.
Uncle Ben explained the wishes of the boys to
Captain Sedley, and he readily agreed to a trial of
speed, with the remark that he should expect to be
beaten.
"Let me get my boat under good headway before
you start," continued he, as he hauled aft his gib
sheet and brought the boat before the wind.
The boat's crew waited till he had got nearly the
eighth of a mile from them.




THlE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        93
"Don't get excited, boys; the wind is freshening,"
said Uncle Ben. " Now, Frank."
Frank gave the word which brought the oars to
their perpendicular position, then to drop them -into
the water, and finally to pull.
" Steady, now," added Uncle Ben.
The Zephyr darted like an arrow through the water under the impetus of the twelve oars. Frank, in
his anxiety to win the race, began to sway to and fro
so rapidly, that Uncle Ben was obliged to caution
him several times to keep cool.
" We are overhauling him very rapidly," said he;
"if you pull regular and save your strength, you
will pass him before you get half way to the beach.
Steady, Frank; don't hurry them."
The boys pulled steadily, and as the old sailor had
predicted, they passed Captain Sedley's boat long
before they came to the beach. As the Zephyr
shot passed him, a long, loud cheer burst from her
crew.
"Isn't this fun! " exclaimed Charles Hardy.
"Glorious!" replied Joseph Barton, who was at
the next oar before him.




94           THE  3OAT CLUB, OR
"What do you think the Bunkers would say if
they should see us about this time?"
" Wouldn't they stare! "
"Rest!" said Frank; and the boys ceased rowing, while the boat continued to shoot through the
water with scarcely diminished velocity.
"There are the Bunkers on their raft," said Tony
Weston, pointing down the lake.
All eyes were turned in the direction indicated by
the speaker.
" You can pull down by them, if you like," added
Uncle Ben.
"Pull!" said Frank.
The Zephyr darted down the lake, and in a few
moments was within hail of the raft.
" Not a word to them," said Uncle Ben.
" Can't we cheer them once? " asked Charles.
" Yes, if you can keep good natur'd about it."
"'We can."
The club boat shot by the raft, on which the wondering Bunkers stood like so many statues.
"Rest! " said Frank. " Now for three cheers."
They were given; but the Bunkers were too much




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          95
bewildered by the appearance of the gorgeous boat,
with its silken flags and bright colors, its gilded
sides, and its graceful shape, to heed the cheers of
the club.
" Pull! " said Frank; and under the direction of
Uncle Ben, he managed the helm so as to make the
Zephyr describe a graceful semicircle round the raft.
"Five o'clock," said the old sailor; "we must go
ashore."
Frank steered for the rock where they had emoarked, Tony " fended off" with the boathook when
they reached it, and the club separated for the night.
eaving the boat in charge of Uncle Ben.




96            THE BOAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTER VIII.
THE STOLEN WALLET.
AT school the next day, the club boat was the
principal topic of conversation among the boys.
Those who had been invited to join the club were
regarded as especially fortunate. - F:ank Sedley was
a distinguished personage, and even Tim Bunker
unbent himself in some measure from his ferocious
dignity in his attempts to conciliate him
"I say, Frank, you will give me a sail in your
boat, won't you? " said Tim.
" I should be very glad to accommodate you, but
I don't think my father will let me take any boys
who do not belong to the club."
" Can't I join the club?"
"It is full now."
"You can just make room for one more if vnt
have a mind to."' There are only twelve oars."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          97
The school bell rang then, and Frank was glad to
escape further importunity on the subject.  Tim
Bunker was dissatisfied with himself and every body
else. He had seen the magnificent boat which Frank
owned, and in which he and his companions had had
such a glorious time on the preceding afternoon.
He envied them the possession of the Zephyr, and
he would have given any thing to have been permitted to join the club. Perhaps he would even have
promised to become a better boy, for he keenly felt
the weight of those moral obliquities which excluded
him from the society of Frank and his friends.
But more especially did he envy Tony Weston his
good luck in getting into the club; for Tony's admission was abundant evidence that the social standing of the boys had not been taken into consideration. There was no rich and poor about it; it was
good and evil entirely. And Tim had always cherished a strong feeling of dislike, and even hatred,
towards the poor widow's son, undoubtedly because
he was a good boy, and every body liked him. He had
not forgotten Tony's interference on the island, when
he was about to thresh Frank Sedley, and among' the
9




98            THE BOAT CLUB,' OR
Bunkers he expressed his intention to be fully revenged.
At recess, Frank, Charles, and Tony went up to a
neighbor's house close by to get some water. When
they had drank, and were passing through the woodhouse to return, Charles observed an old wallet lying
on a bench.
" Twig! " said he, in his peculiar style.
" That must be Farmer Whipple's," replied Tony.
"Probably he laid it down when he was paying
somebody some money," added Frank.
"I will carry it to him," said Charles. "He is
out in the garden."
" Don't meddle with it," answered Tony. "We
will see him and tell him it is there.'
" But somebody might steal it in the mean time."
"No they won't; I wouldn't meddle with it."
The boys walked off towards the school house,
but they did not find the farmer in the garden.
"He was here when we came up," said Tony.
"I will find him;." and he walked towards the
barn, while Charles and Frank continued on their
way.




THIE BIU-NKERS o0  RIPPLETON.     99
Tony looked all about the premises, but he did not
find the farmer. Returning to the wood house, he
found that the wallet was gone.
"Hollo, Tony," said Tim Bunker, at this moment
entering the wood house, and going to the well for a
drink.
"Have you seen Farmer Whipple, Tim?"
" Yes; he just went into the house," replied the
chief of the Bunkers.
"Which way did he go in?"'" Right through this way. He was just ahead of
you when you came from the barn."
" O, was he? " said Tony, much relieved.
The farmer had taken his wallet then as he passed
through, and he was satisfied it was all right.
"I say, Tony, what were you doing out to the
barn?  Hooking eggs, eh?"
"I was not," answered Tony, indignantly.
"Honor Bright?"
"I am not a thief."
"I'll bet you ain't," drawled Tim, placing his
thumb against his nose, and wagging his four fingers
V:ick and forth




100          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
Tony heard the school bell ring, and waiting for
no more, ran off with all his speed. Tim was so
late that Mr. Hyde, the master, gave him a sharp
reproof for loitering by the way.
Tim Bunker's seat was next to Tony's and though
the former persisted in annoying him, whispering in
his ear something about " sucking eggs," he tried to
be patient and good natured. But, at last, when he
could endure it no more, he informed against him.
" What do you mean by'sucking eggs,' Tim?"
asked Mr. Hyde, after he had called him  on the
platform.
c; I saw Tony skulking round Farmer Whipple's
barn at recess."
"Did you see him have an egg  "
"No, sir; but I thought he had been eating something."
Mr. Hyde investigated the case fully, and Tim got
punished for his conduct in annoying his schoolmate.
School was dismissed as usual, and the boys went
home. In the afternoon, Tony had some work to
do, and did not come.
A few minutes after two, when the boys were all




THE  IUNXERS OF RIPPLETON.        101
in, Farmer Whipple entered the room, apparently in
a high state of excitement.
" Where is Tony Weston?' said he.
"He is absent this afternoon," replied Mr. Hyde.
"I lost my pocket book this morning."
"Indeed! "
" I saw Tony Weston and the Bunker boy in the
wood shed a little before."
" It was Tim Bunker, then," added Mr. Hyde, in
a low tone.
" I think's likely," continued Farmer Whipple;
" but Tony was there too."
"I will state the case, and see if the boys know
any thing about it," said the master.
Mr. Hyde called the attention of the boys by
ringing a little bell on his desk, and then mentioned
the loss which Farmer Whipple had met with.
"If any scholar knows any thing about it, let him
signify it."
Frank and Charles raised their hands.
" Frank? "
"I saw a black wallet lying on the bench when we
went up after some water."
q i'



102          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"Who were with you?"
"Tony and Charles."
"Any one else?"
"No, sir."
"Why did you not take charge of it, and give i
to Mr. Whipple? "
"Tony thought we had better not touch it, and
we decided to tell Mr. Whipple it was there as we
went through the garden."
" But you didn't tell me," said the farmer.
" No, sir; we didn't find you in the garden when
we came back, and Tony went to look for you while
we continued on our way."
" Has Tony said any thing to you about it since?"
asked Mr. Hyde.
"Yes, sir; he told us after school that he didn't
find Mr. Whipple, and when he went back to the
wood house, the wallet was gone. He met Tim
Bunker there, who told him the owner had just gone
in that way."
" Now I think on't, I paid a little bill, and I recollect of laying the wallet down on the wash bench,"
said Farmer Whipple.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         1 o
" And Tim Bunker was there?" asked the master.
" Not while we were," replied Charles.
"Tim?"' Sir," answered the chief of the Bunkers, promptly.
"Do you know any thing about this wallet?"
"Don't know nothing about it."
"Were you up there?"
Yes, sir."
" You saw Tony there?"
" Yes, sir; when I was going up, I saw him come
out of the barn and go into the wood house."
" Did you see Mr. Whipple?"
" No, sir."
Frank and Charles looked at each other. Tim's
story differed from Tony's.
"You saw Tony in the wood shed?"
W' Then I went in, he was tucking away something in his pocket."
Tony's friends were utterly confounded by this
bold statement.
" You didn't see what it was, did you?" inquiredc
Mr. Hyde, pained by the turn the affair was taking.
" I didn't. I thought it was an egg at first. He




104           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
was kind of struck up when I entered, and asked me
if I had seen Farmer Whipple. I told him I hadn't.
The bell rang then, and he cut away to school."
Tim's story seemed plausible; but the master
could not harbor a suspicion that Tony was guilty of
theft.
"Which pocket was it, Tim?" asked Farmer
WVhipple.
"The side pocket of his linen sack."
" Which side? "
"The left hand side."
" That will do," said Mr. Hyde; and he and Mr.
Whipple conferred on the subject.
Frank was amazed. Tony steal the wallet! Impossible! He never could do such a thing.
The conference ended, and Farmer Whipple left
the school room. Returning to his house, he harnessed his horse, and drove down to Squire Murdock's, the magistrate, to procure a warrant for the
arrest of Tony. This he obtained, and after getting
a constable to serve it, he drove to the widow
]Weston's.
Tony was in the garden picking some currants to




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        105:l11 the following morning. He was hard at work,
and his coat lay upon a bush near him.
Farmer W~hipple and the constable jumped over
the fence and approached him.
"How do you do, Mr. Whipple? " said Tony,
suspending his occupation. "How do you do, Mr.
Headley?"
" I am sorry to trouble you, Tony; but we've got
some suspicions agin you," began Farmer Whipple.
" Against me! " exclaimed Tony, witn a glance at
the constable.
" Sorry for it, but it looks bad agin you."
"WVhat have I done?" asked the poor boy,
alarmed by the words of the farmer.
"I lost my wallet this morning, and Tim Bunker
says he saw you tucking something into your pocket,"
replied Farmer Whipple, proceeding to detail all the
circumstances.
"I am innocent!" pleaded Tony.
"But you were there? "
"I was there; " and Tony told his story, just as he
had related it to Frank Sedley.




106           THE BOAT CLJTLB, OR
" All, that may be, but you see, Tony, things are
against you.  Tim's story is as straight as can be.
This is your coat, ain't it? "
"Yes; you can examine that, and search the
house if you like."
The constable took the coat. The pockets were
filled with various articles known in the vocabulary
of a schoolboy. Mr. Headley thrust his hand in,
and  Tony confidently waited the result.  Several
things were taken out and returned. It was not in
that pocket.
But the first thing the constable drew out of the
other pocket was Farmer Whipple's wallet!
" No use, Tony," said Mr. Headley.
"I did not know it was there; I did not put it
there! " protested the poor boy, whose face was as
white as a sheet.
"You must come with me, Tony; I never would
have believed it," said the constable.
The widow WVeston was called and a statement of
the case made to her. Poor, loving, devoted mother! her heart was wrung with agony. But there
was a consolation for her.  Tony could not be a




THE ]3UNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        107
thief! He was innocent, she was sure, however
strong appearances might point to his guilt.
The constable took him into the wagon, and
Farmer Whipple drove off to the Rippleton jail,
which was located in the village.




108           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTER IX.
TONY S CASE.
No one of all Tony's numerous friends was more
surprised at the accusation made against him than
Captain Sedley. Like'all who were familiar with
the past life of the brave little fellow, he was incredulous. The very fact that Tim Bunker was near
at the time of the alleged theft seemed to be sufficient to clear him. The finding of the wallet in his
pocket was the most unaccountable piece of testimony that had been adduced against him. It did not
seem probable that it would have remained so long
in his pocket unknown to him, if any one had been
so wicked as to place it there.
As soon as the wagon which bore Tony a prisoner
to the Rippleton jail had gone, Mrs. Weston put on
her bonnet, and hastened over to Captain Sedley's
house. She was sure of finding assistance there.
She was so confident of Tony's innocence, that the




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        109
thought of proving it for the satisfaction of the public seemed superfluous.
" I am sure he never could do such a thing in the
world, Captain Sedley," said she, wiping away her
tears, and gazing with earnestness into the face of her
benevolent patron.
"Tony always was honest," replied Captain Sedley.
"Honest! He would not steal the value of a pin
from any body."
"I think he would not."
"I know he wouldn't!"
"But it seems very strange that the wallet should
have been found in his pocket."
"Tim Bunker put it there, you may depend upon it."
"Very likely; but, Mrs. Weston, you know that
all these things must be proved. As the affair stands
now, I am afraid the testimony against him, notwithstanding his good character, will be quite sufficient
to convict him."
" 0 Captain Sedley, I know he is innocent," exclaimed the poor widow, her eyes filling with tears
again.
10




110           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" But it must be proved, you see. The finding of
the wallet upon him, and the testimony of Tim Bunker that he saw him putting something in his pocket,
in the very place where the lost property was alleged
to have been left, will leave scarcely a doubt in the
minds of judge and jury."
" Tim Bunker did it, I know!"
Captain Sedley shook his head. Though he had
the fullest confidence in Tony's innocence, he desired
to give his mother a perfect understanding of the
difficulties of the case. After all, there was a remote
possibility that poor Tony had been led to take the
wallet, and if such should finally prove to be the
fact, it was better for the widow to be prepared for
the worst.
"I do not think Tony is guilty, Mrs. Weston;
but you must consider that appearances are very
strong against him," said he.
" I know it, sir. Poor Tony! must he spend the
night in jail? Is there no way to get him out?"
sobbed the widow.
"He shall not want for a friend, Mrs. Weston.
Farmer Whipple must have returned by this time,




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         111
and I will go up and see him. But I do not think
we can get him out to-day."
"Thank you, sir; you are'very good. If I could
only see him, and tell him that I feel sure he is innocent, the cold walls would seem less dreary to him.
I know what the poor fellow is thinking about."
Mrs. Weston cried like a child when she thought
of her darling boy, shut up within the narrow walls
of a prison cell.
"He will be thinking of his home," continued
she. " He will think of me."
" He has been a good son, Mrs. Weston."
"That he has, sir. Tony steal? No, sir. He
thinks too much of his mother and his home to do
such a thing. But don't you think I could see
nim?"
"I will see him myself; won't that do as well? "
"I don't know."
"I will tell him just how you feel about it - that
you are confident he is innocent."
"Thank you, sir; he will be so comforted by it."
"And to-morrow he will probably be examined
before the magistrate."




112          THE B3OAT CLUB, OR
"Then he will discharge him, I know!"
"I fear not; if there are reasonable grounds fo.
supposing him guilty, he will be committed to await
the action of the grand jury."
" Then it will be weeks and months before they
prove his innocence," interposed the widow.
" The grand jury is in session now; all they will
do, if they find a bill against him, will be to commit
him for trial."
" That makes three times they will try him," said
Mrs. Weston, perplexed by the complications of the
law. "B Must he stay in prison till all these trials are
finished? "
"He can be bailed out to-morrow, after his examination."
"I must give bonds for him, must I?"
" I will do that, Mrs. Weston. Probably he can
come home before to-morrow noon."
" God bless you, Captain Sedley. You have always been very good to me in my troubles."
" Ben," said Captain Sedley, going to the window,
and calling the old sailor, who was at work in the
garden -" Ben, put the bo y horse into the chaise."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        113
"This is a world of trouble, Captain Sedley," said
the widow, with a deep sigh.
"But from trouble and affliction come forth our
purest aspirations. God is good to us even when he
sends us trials and sorrows."
" I will not complain; I have much to be thankful for."
In a few moments, the horse and chaise were
ready.
" I am going over to see Farmer Whipple, Mrs.
Weston, and then I shall ride down to Rippleton.
Keep your spirits up, and be assured every thing
shall be done to comfort your son, and to prove his
innocence.  I shall engage Squire Benson to defend him."
" Heaven bless you, Captain Sedley," said the
poor widow, wiping away her tears, as her benevolent friend got into his chaise.
Farmer Whipple was fortunately at home when he
arrived at his house, and Captain Sedley immediately
opened his business.
" I don't much think that Tony did it," said the
farmer; " but things were agin him, you see."
10o




114          TIE BOAT CLUB, OR
"How much money was there in the wallet?"
asked Captain Sedley.
"More'n I can afford to lose, cap'n. It was a
careless trick of mine."
"What was the amount?"
"There was forty-six dollars in bills, besides some
odd change."
"Do you remember what banks the bills were
on? "
" Most on'em. There was a twenty dollar bill on
the Rippleton Bank, a ten on the Village Bank, and
some small bills, mostly on Boston Banks."
" Where is the wallet now? "
"I got it; Squire Little said I might take it agin.'
" Was the money all right? "
"Bless you, no! If it had been, I wouldn't say
a word. All the small bills were there, but the big
ones were gone."
"Indeed!"
"That's the wo'st on't."
"Have you any description of the lost bills?"
" Well, yes; I reckon I should know the twenty
agirm if I saw it."




THE LBU:NERS OF  TIPPLETON.        115
" How? "
"Well, it happens rather lucky. Arter we came
from the jail, I went into Doolittle's store to git
some tea. When I went in he was fixin' some kind
of a plate, with his name on't; a pencil plate, I believe he called it."
" A stencil plate," said Captain Sedley.
" Jest so; he was marking his name on the back
of some bank bills with it. I telled him about the
robbery, and that the twenty dollar bill he give me
the day before was gone with the rest. Then he
telled me that that twenty dollar bill was marked
with his' pencil plate,' d'ye see? "
" He might have marked a dozen others with it,"
added Captain Sedley.
" No, he didn't. You see he didn't git the plate
till jest afore he paid me that bill, and he is sartin
that is the only twenty dollar bill he has marked."
" Did you see the mark yourself? "
" I saw sunthin on it, but I couldn't read it without puttin' my glasses on; so I didn't mind what
it was."
Captain Sedley considered this important informa



116          THIE BOAT CLUB, OR
tion. If the twenty dollar bill, thus marked, should
ever appear in the village, it might furnish a clew by
which to trace out the thief.
On his arrival at Rippleton village, he went to
Doolittle's store, and ascertained that he had marked
no more bills; that he was sure he had marked no
other twenty dollar bill than the one he had paid
to Farmer Whipple. Requesting him not to mark
any more, he went over to the jail.
Tony was in much better spirits than he expected
to find him. His only trouble was in relation to his
mother, and he cried bitterly when he spoke of her.
Captain Sedley comforted him, assuring him his
mother and his friends were satisfied that he was
innocent, and that he should have the best lawyer
in the county to defend him.
"I don't want any lawyer, Captain Sedley," said
Tony, stoutly; "' I am as innocent of this crime as
though I had never been born."
"But, Tony, who do you think stole the wallet?"
"I have no idea, unless Tim Bunker did, and has
laid it to me to clear himself."




TIHE BUNIKERS OF RIPPLETON.       117
"Tim is one of the witnesses, and a good lawyer
may be able to get the truth of him."
"I don't believe he could," replied Tony, with a
faint smile.
"I shall engage Squire Benson to defend you,
and to-morrow, before the examination, he will come
in and see you. If you have any thing to say, you
can say it to him."
" I can only say I am innocent."
" He will want to know all the circumstances."
" I will tell him all I know about it."
After some further conversation, Captain Sedley
took his leave, and hastened to the office of Squire
Benson, who was the most distinguished lawyer in
that county.
The legal gentleman readily engaged to defend
Tony, and arrangements were made for the examination. The marked bank bill was an important matter for consideration, though there was no present
hope of finding it. But there was a prospect that it
would eventually come to light.
On his arrival at his house, Captain Sedley found
the widow Weston waiting his return. She was




118          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
much comforted when she heard that Tony was in
good spirits. She listened with attention to all her
kind friend said, and went home with a lighter heart
than when she came. The interest which Captain
Sedley manifested in the case inspired her with
hope. He was an influential man, and his assistance
would enable her to do all that could be done.
On the following morning, the examination of
Tony took place at the office of Squire Little. Mrs.
Weston had an interview with her son, when he was
brought in by the officer. Both wept, but there was
hope in the consciousness that he was innocent.
Frank, Charles, and Tim Bunker were there as witnesse3, as well as Farmer Whipple and Mr. Hyde.
The examination proceeded, but it was only a repetition of the facts we have already given. Squire
Benson, in his cross examination, pressed Tim Bunker severely; but though there were several trifling
inconsistencies in his answers, his testimony was
generally accurate. He. denied having told Tony
that he saw Farmer Whipple pass through the woodhouss.
Captain Sedley had prepared Mrs. Weston for the




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         i I 
result, and when Tcny was bound over to await the
action of the grand jury, she heard the decision with
tolerable calmness. Her benevolent friend became
his bail; he was liberated, and they all went home
together.




1t20         THE BOAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTERt X.
THE BOAT HO-USE.
THE  boat house for the Zephyr had been commenced on Wednesday, the day following her arrival. All the carpenters that could work upon it
were engaged by Captain Sedley, so that by Saturday it was nearly finished.
Its location was at one end of the beach not far
from the sailboat. It was fifty feet long, and extended out over the waters of the lake. It was built
on piles, driven into the sand on the bottom. The
club hall was at the land end of the building, and
was about fifteen feet square. From this apartment
the boys passed into the boat house proper, which
was so arranged that they could all take their places
in the boat, and push out into the lake without confusion or inconvenience.
But as my young friends undoubtedly feel a great
desire to obtain an accurate idea oF the situation and




T'rE BUNKERS O  RIPPLETON.              121
arrangements of the boat                Shore.
house, I have drawn a plan
of it, which is here subjoined.                                 B
If my young readers carefully examine the plan, and                    d
refer to the explanations,         f 
they can understand the
situation  of  every  thing            it,onnected with  the  boat
house.
Around the platform  a
railing   was   constructed f                    f
with a gate at the bow,
and one on each side of
the boat, so that the members of the club could get
into it only at these three
places.                                  Lake.
EXPLANATIONS. - a, the outside door; B, the club hall; c
stove; d, d, cases for the library; e, entrance to the boat }all
f, ff, f, a platform; g, g, the boat; h, h, the water in whici
the boat floats; i, the door through which the boat passes out
upon the lake.
1l




122          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
Frank and Charles protested against this railing
at first, and maintained that there was not the least
danger of their falling into the water; but Captain
Sedley, knowing how prone boys are to scuffle and
be careless, insisted upon having it.
The boys watched the progress the carpenters
made in erecting the boat house with the deepest
interest, and Uncle Ben got almost out of patience
answering the innumerable questions they put to
him in regard to what every thing was for. Morning, noon, and night they visited the building, and
longed for Saturday afternoon, when they were to
make another excursion in the Zephyr.
Poor Tony's misfortunes had excited all their sympathy, and divided their attention with the club.
Some of them ventured to doubt the innocence of
their companion, though a large majority felt quite
sure he would be cleared at the trial.
Early on Saturday afternoon, Frank and Charles
met at the boat house.
"Will Tony come, do you think? " asked the latter.
"I told him this morning to be sure and come.
I hope he will."




THE BUNK'ERS OF RIPPLETON.       123
"Do you think your father will let him continue
to belong to the club? " asked Charles.
"Certainly he will! Why not?"
"Only think of it - taken up for stealing!"
" Do you believe he is guilty? "
"They wouldn't put him in jail if he wasn't, it
isn't likely."
" But he hasn't been tried yet."
"No; but then to think that the wallet was found
in his pocket."
" I don't believe he is guilty, any more than I believe I am," replied Frank, warmly.
"Nor I; but -- "
"But what, Charley?"
"Things look so against him."
"I am afraid Tim Bunker knows more about it
than he chooses to tell."
"Don't you remember Tony didn't want us to
meddle with it, and said we had better tell Farmer
Whipple it was there, rather than touch it ourselves? " added Charles, looking earnestly into the
face of his companion.
" I know Tony wouldn't steal it."




124          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"He might."
"I am surprised to hear you say so, Charley," said
Frank, hurt by the doubts of his friend.
"He might have thought that Farmer Whipple
would never have found him out."
"That wouldn't have made any difference with
Tony."
"He might have thought, too, how much good
the money would do his mother."
" Tony never could have thought that stolen
money would do his mother any good."
"Perhaps'he did not think any thing about the
wickedness of the act."
"Is it possible, Charley, that you have so poor
an opinion of Tony as that? I should not think
you would wish to associate with him now."
" I don't know," said Charles, apparently absorbed
by his own thoughts. "Do you think we ought to
have him in the club till after this thing is settled?"
"Why, Charley! You can't think how it hurts
my feelings to hear you talk so."
"What do you suppose your father will say about
it? "




THE BUATiEXRS OF RIPPLETON.       125
"I know what he will say; he believes Tony is
entirely innocent."
" O, if he does, we ought not to say a word," replied Charlu,~ promptly.  "Only, you know, he said
so much about the club being a means of improveinent as well as amusement."
Frank could not understand the thoughts of his
friend; but his father, who had been instructing the
workmen in regard to the boat house, joined them
soon after, and the question was referred to him,
with a statement of Charles's views.
Captain Sedley looked searchingly into Charles's
eye.
"' You think Tony ought to be excluded from the
club, do you? " asked he.
"No, sir; I don't think so; but I didn't know
but you might think so," replied Charles, confused
by the earnestness of Captain Sedley's glance.
"Charles, I am afraid you have not made your
mind up in regard to the question. You are willing
to believe any thing that will please those whom you
wish to conciliate."
"I want to believe the truth."
11*




126          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" You are not so particular about the truth as you
are about suiting your friends."
Captain Sedley had had a great deal of experience
in reading the characters of men, and he readily perceived that Charles desired to be foremost in condemning evil, for the purpose of getting the good
will of others. It was a dangerous state of mind,
for with the Bunkers he would probably have been
iust as forward in a bad cause. His motive was not
a worthy one. It was the same as that which sometimes induces men and women to go to church, to
give money to the poor, or to assume a virtue they
do not possess — for the reputation it would give
them. It was the same motive which had urged him
to give his money to the widow Weston.
Perhaps he was not fully conscious of his motive
in thus being the foremost to condemn poor Tony;
but Captain Sedley read his character rightly, and
understood the workings of his mind.
"I am sure I feel kindly towards Tony; as kindly
as any other fellow in'the club," said Charles.
"I do not doubt it; but we must watch all our
thoughts and actions."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        127
Captain Sedley returned to the boat house to give
further directions concerning the building. Before
two o'clock, all the boys, with the exception of Tony
Weston, were gathered on the beach.
"I hope he will come," said Frank, much concerned at the absence of his friend.
"I hope so," added Charles.
" Here is Uncle Ben. Hurrah!" shouted several
-.f the boys.
" I arn't goin' with you this afternoon," said the
veteran, as he laid an armful of oars, boatlooks,
and other furniture belonging to the Zephyr, which
had been carried to the house for safe keeping, upon
the beach.
" Not going with us, Uncle Ben? " asked Frank.
"' Your father is going," replied the old sailor, as
Le drew the boat in shore, and put the oars and
otLer articles on board.
"Here he comes," added Frank.
"Where is Tony? " asked Captain Sedley, as he
discovered the absence of the widow's son.
"He has not come."
"I am sorry for that. We will go up and see




128           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
where he is. Ben, take the boat over to the flat
rock."
"Ay, ay, sir."
The boys scampered over to the place of embarkation, followed by Captain Sedley.
"Frank, you may take Tony's place," said his
father, when they reached the rock, "and I will
steer."
Frank leaped into the bow of the boat, and took
the boathook. Steadying her, he called the numbers, and the club all took their places in excellent
order, and sat waiting for further commands.
" Very well, boys; your discipline is most excellent," said Captain Sedley.  "Push  off, Frank.
Ready with the oars."
"4 Up! " said Uncle Ben, who stood on the rock.
The manceuvre was executed with admirable precision.
" Down!"
The oars fell all together into the rowlocks.
" Ready! " and the boys all bent forward, ready
for the stroke.
"Pull! " and away they flew.




THE IUNKER(S OF RIPPLETON.        129
Captain Sedley steered up the lake, in the direction of the widow Weston's-cottage.
The Zephyr darted like an arrow through the water, her sharp bow cutting the tiny waves like a
knife, making a most musical ripple as it dashed a
clear jet of white foam as high as the gunwale.
It was scarcely three minutes before Captain Sedley ordered them to rest. The boat darted into a
cove, by the widow's house, and Frank and his father
landed.
Tony, it seemed, wished to join the club; but his
mother, fearful lest some of the boys should taunt
him with the occurrences of the past few days, desired him  to remain at home.  Captain Sedley's
request, however, was quite sufficient, and Tony
followed Frank down to the boat.
"Three cheers for Tony WVeston! " exclaimed
Charles Hardy, as they came in sight.
The cheers were given; but Captain Sedley could
not but question the motives of him who had proposed them.
"Now, Frank, you are coxswain again," said
Captain Sedley.




130          THE BOAT CLrB, OR
Tony took his place at the bow oar, and Frank in
the stern sheets. The former was received with
sympathy and kindness by the club, and the poor
boy felt how pleasant it was to have the good will
of his companions in the midst of his trials.
"Up!" said Frank, when all was ready for a
start. "Down! Pull! "
"Down the lake, Frank, towards the village,"
added Captain Sedley.
Again the beautiful Zephyr bounded over the
waters; but after pulling a few minutes, Captain
Sedley directed the club to cease rowing.
"Boys, we are going to have a uniform for the
club," said he.
"A uniform! " repeated several of the boys.
"H urrah! " shouted Charles Hardy.
"I have already spoken to Mr. Burlap, the tailor,
and now I am going down to have him take your
measures."
"What will the uniform  be, father?" asked
Frank.
"White sailors' trousers, a blue jacket, and a
white shirt trimmed with blue. The hat will be a




THE BUNKERS 0F PrIPPLETON.        131
tarpaulin, with'Zephyr,' in gilt letters, on the
front."
The boys all clapped their hands, as the only
means in their power to express their gratification.
" Now, pull for Rippleton."
The Zephyr parted the waters before her graceful
bow, and sped like a rocket on her way. The beautiful boat excited a great deal of attention at the
village, and when the boys returned from the tailors,
hundreds had collected on the bank to see them row.
Captain Sedley gratified the curiosity of the people by exercising the club for some time near the
spot where they stood. After a row across the lake,
they returned, and the Zephyr was moored in her
new house, much to the delight of her enthusiastic
crew.




132          THEI BOAT  CLTU,\h iRt
CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST MEETING IN ZEPHYR HALL.
ON another fortnight the boat house was entirely
completed, furnished, and ready for the occupancy of
the club.  School had closed for the season, and
the summer vacation had commenced; but most of
the boys, in anticipation of the pleasure which the
boat club promised them, preferred to stay at home
rather than visit their friends at a distance.
Mr. Burlap, the tailor, had exerted himself to the
utmost, and the new dress of the boat club was ready
for use.  The tarpaulins had been purchased and
lettered, and the uniforms had been hung up in the
boat house. A nail was appropriated to each member, whose number was painted over it.
Uncle Ben had given the boys several lessons in
rowing in the mean time, and the discipline of the
club was pronounced perfect. The first meeting in
the new hall was appointed to take place on 3Monday




THE IBUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        133
morning and punctually to the hour, the members
were all assembled.
The 1,ll had been tastefully furnished and decorated, under the direction of Captain Sedley. On
the floor was a very pretty carpet with bright colors;
on the walls hung several large engravings in frames,
illustrative of various boat scenes; and over the door
leading to the boat house proper was painted, in blue
letters, -
ZEPHYR BOAT CLUB.
On the window curtains the name of the club was
also painted. In the middle of the room was placed
a long table, around which were arranged thirteen
chairs for the members. The library cases were
filled with books, which had been selected with great
care by Mr. and Mrs. Sedley. On the table were
placed various pamphlets and periodicals, and when
the club assembled, Uncle Ben was there, seated in
the coxswain's arm chair, poring over the pages of
the Sailors' Magazine.
The boys all came in and took their chairs, each
of which was numbered, and Uncle Ben cheerfully
resigned his place to the coxswain.
12




134          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" Order! " said Frank, rapping on the table.
Captain Sedley had instructed Frank in some of
the forms of conducting a public meeting, and the
matter had been made the topic of conversation
among the others, so that they had a tolerable idea
of parliamentary usage. They were all enthusiastic
and eager to learn, and some of them had attended
a special town meeting a few days before, for the
purpose, as they expressed it, of "seeing how the
thing was done." And when Captain Sedley came
in to breakfast on the morning of the eventful day,
he found Frank intently perusing the pages of Cushing's Manual.
When, therefore, the coxswain called the meeting
to order, all noise and conversation immediately
ceased, and they seemed determined to conduct
themselves with better propriety than the "legal
voters" of Rippleton had at the town meeting they
had attended.
Frank, in the words of the newspaper reporters,'made a neat and appropriate speech," on the occadion of their taking possession of the new hall.
kfter this important rmtt',r had been disposed of,




THE BUTKERS OF  rPPLETON.       135
the coxswain remarked that the first business of the
club would be to select a name for the hall.
"Mr. Chairman," said Charles Hardy, rising with
the utmost gravity and decorum.
Uncle Ben laughed outright; but immediately
apologized for his unseemly mirth, and fearful lest
he should disturb the dignified body again, he withdrew from the hall, and busied himself in polishing
up the brass works of the boat.
"Charles Hardy," said the chairman, bowing to
the member who had obtained the floor.
"I move that this hall, hereafter, henceforward,
and for the time to come, be called Sedley Hall,"
said Charles, who, in the absence of any work on
parliamentary tactics in his father's library, had carefully studied the Business Man's Assistant, from
which he had stored his memory with a variety of
legal and technical phrases. He had the jingle of
them in his head, and did not mind much about the
substance.
Captain Sedley entered the hall just as he made
his motion.
" Second the motion," said Fred Harper.




136          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"It is moved and seconded that our room be
called Sedley Hall," continued the coxswain. "The
question is open for discussion."
"Mr. Chairman," said Captain Sedley, scarcely
able to control his inclination to indulge in a hearty
laugh at the dignity and formality of the proceedings, "though not, strictly speaking, a member of
the club, perhaps you will indulge me in a few remarks on the question before the house. I am deeply grateful to you for the honor to my name and
family which is contemplated by the excellent member on the other side of the table, but for reasons of
my own, I must beg the gentleman to withdraw his
motion."
" He cannot withdraw without the consent of the
house - of the club, I mean," said Frank, blushing
gt his blunder.
"It is customary when no objection is made," replied Captain Sedley, gravely, " to permit a motion
to be withdrawn."
"Mr. Chairman," said Charles, rising, "for the
obvious reasons mentioned by the honorable and
distinguished gentleman, I withdraw my motion."




THE IBUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.       137
At the risk of disturbing the dignity of the meeting, Captain Sedley remarked that he had stated no
reasons.
"I move that the room be called Zephyr Hall,"
said Tony Weston.
" Second the motion," said Charles.
Frank stated the question, and observed that it
was open for any remarks. But the members, not
feeling disposed to indulge in any flights of eloquence before Captain Sedley, maintained an obstinate silence for full five minutes. The chairman,
impressed with the idea that some speeches must be
made, any how, did not interrupt the dignified quiet
by putting the question.
At last the silence was broken by a hearty laugh
on the part of Captain Sedley.
"Why don't you put the question, Frank?"
asked he.
"The debate has not taken place yet."
"There are some questions which it is not necessary to debate."
" Question! " said Fred Harper, who had been to
town meeting.
129




138          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"Those in favor of calling the room Zephyr Hall
please manifest it."
"All up! " cried Fred Harper.
"It is a unanimous vote."
"Let the clerk record the vote," whispered Captain Sedley to his son.
" We have no clerk yet."
"Doing business without a clerk! " laughed his
father.
"The next business will be to choose a clerk,"
continued Frank, laughing.  "Please to bring in
your ballots for a clerk."
There were paper and pens at the other end of the
table, and Fred Harper, who seemed to have a very
good idea of "the manner in which the public business is transacted," commenced writing votes. In a
few moments they were all supplied, and the ballots
were deposited in the chairman's cap.
" Whole number of votes, thirteen," said Frank;
"necessary for a choice, seven; Frederic Harper has
one; Anthony WVeston has twelve, and is elected."
Captain Sedley clapped his hands at this evidence
of good will on the part of the members, and the




THE BUSNKEr S OF RIPPLETON.       139
club all joined heartily in the demonstration. Three
days before, the grand jury had found a bill against
Tony, but his friends still continued to regard him
as an innocent person.
" I thank you for your kindness," said Tony,
rising; "I am sure, I -      " but the poor fellow
choked up, and could say no more.
His heart was full, and the great tears rolled down
his cheeks.
" Never mind it, Tony; here is the record book,"
said Fred Harper, taking it from the library case.
Tony wiped away his tears, and seated himself at
the foot of the table, where a small desk had been
placed for the use of the clerk.
"' Mr. Chairman," said Charles Hardy.
Frank nodded to him to indicate that he had the
floor.
" I move that a committee of three be appointed
to draft and report a constitution for the club."
"Second the motion," added Sam Harper.
The motion prevailed. Charles Hardy, Tony Weston, and Fred Harper were nominated " at large,"
and chosen to serve on this committee. Leaving the




140          TIlE ]BOAT CLUB, OR
hall, they retired to the boat room for deliberation;
but the constitution had already been prepared by
Frank and Charles, with the assistance of Captain
Sedley. To make the business look more important
and dignified, Charles insisted on remaining out a
few moments, during which time they talked over
the matter with Uncle Ben.
When they returned, the constitution was duly
reported, and adopted, article by article.
Perhaps my young readers would not readily appreciate the moral of my story without reading this
important document; therefore I add, in full, the
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I.
This association shall be called the Zephyr Boat
Club.
ARTICLE II.
The objects of the association shall be the instruction and amusement of the members, and the acquiring of good morals, good manners, and good habits
in general.




THE BUNKERS OF RIrPPLETON.        141
ARTICLE III.
The officers of the club shall consist of a coxswain,
or president, and a clerk.
ARTICLE IV.
It shall be the duty of the coxswain to command
the boat, to preside at the meetings of the club, and
to exercise a general supervision over its affairs. He
shall hold his office for two weeks.
ARTICLE V.
The clerk shall keep a record of the meetings, and
of all business pertaining to the club, and shall hold
his office for four weeks.
ARTICLE VI.
No member of this club shall use profane language
at any time. No member shall neglect his school,
or his duties at home. No member shall use vulgar
or indecent language. No member shall provoke a
quarrel with another person, but shall do all he car
to prevent fighting and unkindly feelings one to.




142           THE 30BOAT CLUB, OR
wards another. No member shall use tobacco, or
ardent spirits as a beverage, in any form. All members shall obey the coxswain while in the boat. Any
member offending against either of the requirements
of this article, shall be liable to suspension, and if
incorrigible, to expulsion from the club.
ARTICLE VII.
In order the more perfectly to carry out the beneficent and reformatory purposes of the founder of
the club, to whose bounty we are indebted for the
opportunities of instruction and amusement the association affords us, we appoint him our director. All
violations of Article VI., and all violations of the
spirit of our organization, set forth in Article II.,
whether in word or in deed, shall be reported to our
director, and the delinquent shall be subject to such
penalty as he shall determine.
ARTICLE VIII.
The hall and library shall be open every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, and every evening till'ine o'clock.




THE BUNKIERS OF RIPPLETON.       143
ARTICLE IX.
This constitution may be altered or amended by a
vote of two thirds of the members.
This constitution was transferred to the record
book, and duly signed. Some other business was
transacted, and the meeting adjourned.
"Put on your uniforms," said Frank, as he rose
from his chair, " and we will make our first appearance."
" At twelve o'clock there will be a collation ready
for you on Centre Island," said Captain Sedley.
" Hurrah! " shouted Charles Hardy, as he rushed
into the boat room.




144          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTER XII.
THE " THUNDERBOLT."
THE appearance of the club in uniform was unique
and pleasing, and each of the members was " every
inch a sailor." Uncle Ben was delighted with the
change, " they looked so much more shipshape than
in their shore togs."
"Come, Uncle Ben, we are all ready," said Frank.
"I arn't goin' with you this time."
"You must go without him to-day, Frank," added
Captain Sedley. " Uncle Ben must take the things
over to the island for the collation."
" Are we to go alone?"
"Certainly."
"Hurrah!" cried Charles, who always used this
word to express his gratification.
"But, boys, you must preserve good discipline.
According to the constitution you must all obey the
coxswain. And, Frank, be very careful; don't get




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         145
aground on the rocks at the north shore, and if you
go down the river, don't go too near the dam."
" I will not, father," replied Frank, who was fully
impressed by the responsibility of his position as
commander of the Zephyr. "Take your places in
the boat. Tony, number them."
The doors which gave egress from the boat house
to the lake were thrown open by Uncle Ben.
"' Now, back her steady," continued Frank, standing up in the stern sheets. " Don't let her rub,
Tony. Steady; one hard push; now she goes;"
and the Zephyr shot out into the lake.
" The flags, Frank," said Charles.
"Ay, ay; Tony, hoist yours;" and at the same
time, Frank raised the American flag at the stern.
"Ready; now for the oars. Up!"
" Down."' Ready."
"Pull."
Frank felt like a prince as the Zephyr darted away.
"Where are you going, Frank?" asked Charles.
"I don't know; any where that the club wish
to go.
13




146           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"Up to Squaw Rock," suggested one.
" Down to Rippleton," said another.
" Over to the sawmill," added a third.
"Rest!" cried Frank.  "Lay on your oars, and
we will decide it."
"WTVhat do you say to circumnavigating the lake?"
said Fred Harper.
"So I say," cried several.
"Those in favor of going round the lake say,' y.',
"Ay," shouted a large majority.
"Round it is," said Frank.  "Pull!"
Taking a course in the direction of Rippleton Village, Frank kept the boat as near the shore as her
safety would permit. The boys rowed with remark.
able precision, but with a very slow and measured
stroke, so as to reserve their strength for the long
pull before them.
"I wonder where the Bunkers are," said Charles.
"They haven't been seen on their raft for several
days."
" I suppose they got sick of it when they saw the
Zephyr."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         147
("Very likely; their old raft didn't look much
like our craft, when we went round them the other
day."
Charles laughed at tne contrast.
"What do you say to landing at Rippleton?"
suggested he, as they approached the outlet of the
lake.
"What for? " asked Frank.
"They haven't seen our new uniform down here."
"I think we had better not."
"Why not, Frank? Let us march through the
streets, and get up a sensation."
"I would rather not. Some accident might happen to the boat while we are gone."' O, nonsense!"
"Suppose the Bunkers should happen to see it? "
" They wouldn't dare to touch it."
"I am afraid they would."
"If I was coxswain, I would let you land," said
Charles, sulkily.
"That isn't fair," said Tony.
"Humph! " sneered Charles.
"Don't get cross, Charley," interposed Frank.




148;         THE ]3OAT CLUB1, OR
"Who's cross?" said Charles, throwing down
his oar., "Mutiny.! " laughed Fred Harper.
"Well, I ain't a-going to be snubbed round in
that way."
" Charley, I haven't said a word that you need
take offence at," said Frank, in a conciliatory tone.
"That he hasn't," interposed several.
"Yes, you have; and you needn't think you are
going to tyrannize over me in that way."
"Pull steady," said Frank, calmly, as he put the
helm hard up.
The boat came round in a graceful circle, and to
the surprise of all, the coxswain headed her directly
for the boat house.
"I thought you were going round the lake," said
Sam Harper.
" Not now," replied Frank, quietly.
The boys pulled in silence for several minutes, and
Charles Hardy leaned over the gunwale, and moodily watched the ripples on the side of the boat. He
was conscious that he was introducing dissension
into the club; but it seemed to him that.Frank was




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        149
ill natured in not gratifying him when he proposed
to land at Rippleton.
The Zephyr was rapidly approaching the boat
house, and Frank was sweeping her round so as to
run her into the slip. The consequences of his behavior occurred to him. The provisions of article
six of the constitution, and the penalty, came to his
mind with appalling force. His conduct would be
immediately reported to the director, and probably
he would be suspended, or expelled from the club.
He could not bear to think of such a thing.
The boat in a minute more would shoot into the
boat house, and it would be too late to apologize.
He could not endure the idea of ",giving up," and
owning that he was in the wrong; but to be suspended or expelled was a more bitter reflection.
" Frank," said he, in a gentle, insinuating tone.
"Rest! " cried the coxswain, promptly; "back
her!"
"Forgive me, Frank," said the rebellious oarsman.
"You are rather late, Charley; but better late
than never. WVe are almost into the boat house."
"I won't give you any more trouble - I solemnly
13 k




150           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
promise it, if you won't say any thing about it this
time."
" According to the constitution, your conduct
must be reported."
"Let him slide, this time," interposed Fred Harper.
"I freely forgive the offence, so far as I am concerned."
"Your father won't say any thing."
" He must know it," said Frank, firmly.
" What is the matter, boys?" called Captain Sedley from the shore.
" Now, we are in for it! " said Fred.
Charles Hardy hung his head with shame. Gladly
would he have, recalled his hasty words of anger;
but it was too late. They had been spoken, and he
must abide the consequences.
" Pull-!" said Frank, sadly, for he would fain
have avoided the explanation which his father demanded.
The oarsmen pulled, and the boat was run into the
house.
"Keep your places," said Frank, as he leaped out
of the boat, and hastened to meet his father.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         151
Captain Sedley was much astonished when he
heard the story of Charles's sulkiness, and insisted
that he should come ashore; but Frank pleaded for
him, and the director finally consented, as it was the
first offence under the new constitution, to pardon it.
Frank, delighted with his success, returned to
the boat. Giving the necessary orders, the Zephyr
shot out from her berth, and he steered, as before,
towards Rippleton.  Charles was deeply mortified
when he reflected upon his quarrelsome behavior, and
mentally resolved never to be guilty of such conduct
again. But he was anxious to know what disposition Captain Sedley had made of his case, and whether he should be held to answer for his disobedience
when they went ashore. He did not like to say any
thing about it, though, at first; but after more reflection, his better nature overcame his pride.
"Frank," said he, with a smile.
"Well, Charley."
"I am sorry for what I did."
"I knew you were, and for that reason I begged
my father to excuse it, and have nothing more said
about it.'




152          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"You are too generous, Frauk; I don't deserve it
of you."
"It was an offence against the club, more than
against me," replied Frank.  "I am glad you think
better of it."
"I never will do it again."
"I hope not, Charley. You know the constitu.
tion provides for a new coxswain every two weeks;
when you are chosen, I shall obey your orders."
" I don't deserve to be coxswain."
" Well, never mind it. It is all right now."
Good feeling was again restored, and the. boys
once more began to enjoy themselves. The Zephyr
worked admirably, and Frank deported himself with
so much dignity and firmness, that the boys rendered
the most unqualified obedience to all his orders.
But he was not tyrannical or overbearing. When
there was a difference of opinion, he was always
ready to yield his own inclination to the wishes of
the majority.
The coat passed round the lower end of the lake,
and was approaching its upper extremity.
" WThat's that? " exclaimed Frank, rising from his




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         153
seat, as he discovered a boat lying near the shore
full of boys.
" Rest!" said he.
"It is the Bunkers," said Tony. "I see Tim in
the stern."
"It is Joe Braman's boat," added Fred Harper.
" Here they come."
"Twig the flags! " cried Charles Hardy.
" In imitation of the Zephyr," said Frank, laughing heartily.
The boat approached near enough for them to examine her. It was, as Fred had declared, Joe Braman's boat; but she had been very much altered.
Apparently she had been sawed in two and lengthened out. She had been painted bright yellow, with
a red streak round her, and on the box4s, after the
manner of the Zephyr, was inscribed, in black letters,
the name " Thunderbolt," which was in accordance
with Tim Bunker's taste. She was pulled by eight
oars, and the redoubtable leader of the gang sat in
the stern sheets as coxswain.  Forward floated a
blue cotton rag, with the letter T daubed upon it in
white paint, and surrounded by half a dozen ill



154           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
shaped stars. At the stern was a ragged piece of
bunting, which had once been the flag of the repub.
lie, but which had been curtailed of nine of its
stripes and a part of its stars.
The Bunkers evidently had not practised rowing
much, for their stroke was irregular, and they splashed
the water about like so many porpoises. Occasionally one of them got hit in the back by his neighbor's
oar, which.produced a great deal of swearing and
wrangling among them. They made but slow progress through the water, and the Zephyrs could scarcely refrain from laughing at the singular spectacle.








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THE BUNKCERS OF RIPPLETON.        155
CHAPTER XIII.
TIIE COLLISION.
JOEt BRAMAN, the alleged proprietor of the Thun.
derbolt, was an idle, dissolute fellow, who employed
his time in gunning, fishing, and loitering about the
dramshops of Rippleton. He lived in a miserable
hut on the north shore of the lake. How he obtained his living, it would have been difficult to
determine.'lm Bunker was an especial favorite with Braman,
and people said it was because there was a natural
sympathy between them. Joe's boat was a long, flatbottomed affair, not very graceful in its form or construction. With the exception of Captain Sedley's
sailboat, and the club boat, it was, perhaps, the only
boat on the lake; and small parties occasionally
engaged Joe to take them out fishing in it.
The history of its present appearance was sufficiently plain to the Zephyrs. It had been length



156           TItE BOA'r CLUB, Olt
ened out, painted, a sharp, false bow attached to it,
and such other improvements made as would fit it
for the purposes of a club boat.
"Isn't she one of the boats? " laughed Charles.
"Silence, forward!." said Frank, shaking his head
as a gesture of warning. to the boys not to provoke
any ill nature.
"Who you lookin' at! " cried Tim Bunker, as the
Thunderbolt came near the Zephyr.
" Good morning, Tim," said Frank, pleasantly.
"Why don't you pull, you lubbers?" shouted
Tim.
"You have a new boat, I see."
"I'll bet we -have," replied Tim, bringing the
Thunderbolt round the stern of the Zephyr.
"Isn't that Joe Braman's boat? " asked Charles.
"No, sir-ee! It's my boat," answered Tim.
Did you buy it of him?"
"Didn't do nothin' else."
"What did you give?"
"Ten dollars, and five for fixin' her up," replied
Tim, with a great deal of importance.
"She looks very well." continued Charles.




TIE, BUNKERS OF RIrPPLETON.        157
"She'll go some, you better believe."
Tony Weston could not help smiling at this con'.
versation, and Tim Bunker unfortunately perceived
the funny expression on his face. It roused his
anger.
"Who stole the wallet?" said he.
This taunt roused a feeling of indignation in the
soul of Fred Harper, and he so far forgot the requirements of the constitution as to reply," Tim Bunker."
"Le's lick'em," said one of the Bunkers.
"Pull! " exclaimed Frank, with energy, when he
saw the storm brewing.
Mindful of the discipline of the club, every member obeyed the order, and the Zephyr darted away
from the belligerent Thunderbolts.
" Pooh! Frank, I wouldn't run away from them,"
said Charles.
"I have no desire to quarrel with such fellows,"
replied Frank; " and I hope none of you will say
any thing to provoke them. That was very thoughtless of you, Fred."
"I know it; but. somehow, I couldn't help it;
1 4




158          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
the taunt was so mean and contemptible. If I had
been on shore, I should have knocked him."
"Article six," said Frank.
" Here they come after us," added Tony.
The boys all laughed involuntarily at the idea of
the old "gundalow," as Fred called it, chasing them.
"They can't catch us,;' continued Frank.
"I guess not," said Charles.
"But I am sorry we provoked them, for I had a
little plan in my head."
"What is it, Frank?"
"' Never mind it now; rest on your oars; we are a
quarter of a mile from them, and we can easily keep
out of their way."
" Steady, Frank, we are running too near the
shore," interposed Tony.  "The water is shoal here,
you know."
"Back her!" exclaimed the coxswain. "I was
watching the Bunkers so closely that I did not mind
where we were going. Back her, quick!"
But it was too late.. The Zephyr darted forward,
and buried her keel in the mud at the bottom of the
l1 ke.




TIHE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.       159
"By gracious " exclaimed Charles Hardy; "we
are in for it now."
" And the Bunkers are upon us," added Frank,
very much perplexed by the difficulties which had so
suddenly surrounded them.
" What shall be done? " asked Tony.
"Let them come on," replied Fred. "We can'+
get rid of them now."
" I don't want to fight with them."
The Thunderbolt was approaching them, not very
rapidly, it was true; but a few minutes would involve
them in a quarrel, which Frank and a large majority
of the club were very anxious to avoid. Tim Bunker
was -standing up in the stern sheets of his boat,
watching them with malignant interest.
" Hurrah! they are aground! " cried Tim, as soon
as he understood the nature of the calamity which
had. befallen the Zephyr. "We have them now;
th'ey can't run away, the cowardly long faces! "
" Come aft, some of you," said Frank, when he
heard these threatening words. "The water is deep
enough under the stern. We have only run into a
nlud bank."




1  eO        THE BOAT CLUB, OR
On the starboard side of the boat there was plenty
of water, and if they could move her back a rod,
they could easily escape.
The boys obeyed the order of the coxswain; but
the Zephyr had been forced so deeply into the mud
that her bow still stuck fast.
"Half a dozen of you, set your oars in the mud,
and push!" continued Frank, highly excited by the
danger that menaced them.
But it was of no use; they could not start her.
"They are upon us," said Tony.
"What shall we do?" asked Frank, sadly perplexed.
"We must fight," said Fred.
"No, I am not willing to do that."
"Shall we sit here and let them pound us as much
as they have a mind to? " replied Fred. " But you
are coxswain, Frank, and I, for one, shall do just
what you say."
" So shall I! " said another.
"And I! "
And so they all said.
Frank was more and more embarrassed as the




THE RTT NIERS OF RIPo  ETON.     l 161
circumstances multiplied the difficulties around him.
He was charged with the direction of the whole club,
and the responsibility of his position rested heavily
upon his mind. He had been taught at the fireside
of his pious home to avoid a quarrel at almost any
sacrifice; and he was painfully conscious that the
indiscreet words of Fred Harper had provoked the
anger of the Bunkers. Poor fellow! What could
he do? He could not order them to fight, not even
in self-defence, under the circumstances, and he
knew that their foes would whip them severely if
thy did not. The Thunderbolt was within a few
rods of them, and five minutes more would decide
the question.
" We are in a bad fix! " said Charles, nervously.
" What are you going to do, Frank? "
"Tony, take your boathook, and see how deep the
water is on the mud bank."
"Only about a foot," replied Tony, as he obeyed
the order.
"Is the mud deep?"
"Not very," replied Tony, pushing the boathook
down.
14*




162          THE B30AT CLUB, OR
"I want two volunteers," said Frank, hurriedly.
"I!" cried Tony.
"I!" repeated half a dozen others.
Tony and Fred; throw off your pants and jump
into the water. You can easily push her off."
"Agreed!" cried the two volunteers, as they
hastened to execute the order.
" Six of you take your oars; back her as they
push; the other four stay in the stern sheets to
settle her down aft."
"Ay, ay!" exclaimed the boys.
"' Now for it! Pull! "
The effect was instantly perceived; the boat was
moved back about a foot.
" Once more, all together! " said Frank.
Another effort backed her about two feet more,
and the case began to look hopeful.
"Again, quick! they are upon us!  Leap in,
Tony and Fred, when she is free."
"Heave again! " said Tony.
Their exertions were now crowned with entire
success, and the Zephyr darted back into deep water; but an unfortunate occurrence rendered all their




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON          1 3
labor futile. As the boat slid off the mud banll,
Tony and Fred, in their attempt to spring on board,
embarrassed each other's movements, so that the
former lost his hold, and remained standing up to
his middle in the mud and water.
At this instant the Thunderbolt reached the spot,
and Tim steered directly for poor Tony; whose situation he discovered the moment the Zephyr was free.
"Hit him! " screamed Tim. "Pound him with
your oars! Drownd him! "
Frank's blood seemed to freeze in his veins, as
he perceived the imminent peril of his friend. He
knew the Bunkers would not spare him, and that
even his life was in danger.
Fortunately the Thunderbolt grounded, or Tony
would inevitably have been borne under her bottom.
Tim seized an oar, and with the ferocity of a madman, sprang forward to execute his vengeance on
the helpless boy.
" Let him alone! " shouted Frank, with frantic
earnestness.  "Man your oars, boys!  Readypull! "
Frank was fully roused, and his orders were deliv



164          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
ered with rapidity! and energy.  Seizing the tiller
ropes, he steered the boat, as she gathered headway,
st that her sharp bow struck the Thunderbolt on
hex broadside, staving in her gunwale and upsetting ner.
The Bunkers thought 2is was rather sharp practice, as they floundered about in the water. They
had not given Frank Sedley credit for half so much
determination. They had never seen any thing in
him  that betokened "spunk" before. He was a
peaceable boy, always avoiding a quarrel; but when
the very life of his friend was in peril, he was
found to be as bold and courageous as the best of
them.
The bow of the Zephyr was swung round so that
Tony could get in. Washing off the mud from his
legs, he resumed his dress.
In the mean time the Bunkers had righted their
boat and resumed their places. The bath they had
had quite cooled their belligerent heat; though, if it
had not, Frank had taken the precaution to back the
Zephyr out of their reach.
"You'll catch it for this!" exclaimed Tim Bunker,




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON         165
as his crew were bailing out the Thunderbolt with
their hats.
"I am sorry for what has happened, Tim," replied
Frank, "but I could not help it."
"Couldn't help it, you    "   I will not soil
the pages of my book by writing the expression that
Tim made use of. " Yes, yer could help it. What
d'yer run inter me for?"
"You threatened to drown Tony, and if your
boat had not got aground you would have run him
down."
" That I would, long face! If ever I catch either
of you, I will lick yer within an inch of yer life -
mind that! "
" I am sorry for it, Tim."
" Yer lie, yer ain't!"
"It was all my fault, Tim," interposed Fred, " and
I will pay for the damage done your boat."
"I guess yer better."
"How much will you take, and call it square?"
"Dollar and a half," growled Tim, glancing at the
fractured gunwale.




166          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
Fred had not so much money with him, but the
sum was immediately raised in the club.
" Now, Tim, we will forget and forgive: what do
you say?"
" I don't want nothin' on yer; give me the money,
and I don't care what yer do."
Frank ordered the crew to pull up to the Thunderbolt, and Fred handed Tim the money.
"I'll pay yer for this; see'f I don't," said the
unforgiving Bunker, as the Zephyr backed away.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        167
CHAPTER XIV.
CENTRE ISLAND.
FRANK SEDLEY was very much disturbed by the
events of the forenoon. His conscience assured him,
however, that he had done nothing wrong. He had
not tried to provoke a quarrel with the Bunkers, and
the unpleasant occurrences of the past hour were
wholly owing to their misfortune in getting aground.
He would not have been justified, he felt, in leaving
Tony at the mercy of his relentless foes.
Fred Harper had done wrong in replying to the
taunt of Tim, and this would make a case for the
decision of their director.
" We must keep away from them, hereafter," taid
be, as the Zephyr came about, and the crew commenced rowing again.
"That will be the best way," added Tony.
" So I think," said Charles; "we shall be all the
time getting into scrapes, if we go near them."




i68          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" We can go nearthem without meddling," interposed Fred Harper.
"But, Fred, you remember what made all the
fuss."
"It was my fault, I know."
"I don't want to be hard with you while I am
coxswain, but if any member says or does any thing,
while we are on the lake, to get us into a scrape, I
shall consider it my duty to land him immediately at
the boat house. What do you say to that?"
No boy spoke for a moment; but at last Tony
said, -
"That would be perfectly fair."
"I want to have it understood," continued Frank.
"  y father will not let us come out alone again, if
we are likely to have such a time as this."
"Why need you tell him  any thing about it,
Frank?" asked Charles.
"Because it is right that he should know it. Suppose we should conceal it, and then he should find
it out?"
"That would only make a bad matter worse," replied Tony.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         169
"For one, I am satisfied to have any fellow that
tries to get us into a scrape put ashore," said Fred
Harper.
"So am I," added Tony.
All the rest of the club expressed themselves willing to comply with this arrangement.
" Now, be careful, all of you," continued Frank,
"and we shall have no more trouble."
" But while the Bunkers are on the lake, we can't
help meeting them once in a while," said one.
" We need not say any thing to them."
" But that would not be civil."
"We can answer them kindly, if they say any
thing to us."
"They won't forget the smash up."
"We can easily keep out of their way."
"Where are you going now, Frank?"
"Isn't it almost twelve? "
"Half past eleven," returned Fred Harper, who
carried a watch.  "You said you had a plan,
Frank."
" I was thinking of asking Mrs. Weston and Mary
to take a sail with us."
15




170          TIlE BOAT CLUB, O1
"Good!" replied half a dozen voices.
"We will take them over to the island."
The proposition was agreed to, and Frank steered
the boat into the little cove near the widow Weston's
cottage.
"Tony and Charles shall be a committee to go
and invite them," said Frank, as the bow of the
Zephyr touched the land.
The two jumoed ashore to discharge the duty assigned them.
" Where's the Thunderbolt? " asked Fred, rising
from his seat.
"There she goes over to the north shore."
"' Putting in to repair damages."
"Where do you suppose Tim got the money to
buy that boat with?" said Fred, looking seriously
at Frank.
"I don't know," replied the latter; but a gleam
of intelligence penetrated his mind.  "I hadn't
thought of it before."
"I don't know, either, but I can guess."
" You might guess wrong."
"Fifteen dollars is a great deal of money for a




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         171
boy like him to have. His father works in one of
the mills at Rippleton."
"Here comes Tony with his sister."
"Where is your mother, Tony? "
"She couldn't go, but she said Mary might."
"Stop a moment, Tony, and we will bring the
stern round by that rock," said Frank. " Ready with
your oars — back her! That will do; now pull on
the larboard and back the starboard oars - steady."
The stern of the Zephyr came up to the rock, and
the gallant coxswain assisted Mary to a seat by his
side. Tony and Charles resumed their places at the
oars.
" How pretty your boat is!" exclaimed Mary,
delighted with the appearance of the Zephyr.
"Very pretty indeed. Ready- pull."
"But won't it tip over? " cried Mary, as the boat
darted out of the cove.
" 0, no; there is not the least danger."
"And you guide it with those strings-?" asked
the wondering girl.'" Yes; they are fastened to that crosspiece, you
see, and when I pull them, it moves the rudder."




172           THE -BOAT CLUB, OR
" What is the rudder, Frank? "
"You can see only the upper end of it; but it is
a flat piece of wood, which acts upon the water and
turns the boat," replied the obliging coxswain, illustrating his explanation by means of his hands.
" O my! how swift it goes!"
"Not very fast now."
"Why, it goes like a race horse."
The boys smiled at Mary's enthusiasm.
"Let her drive a little, Frank," suggested Fred
Harper.
Frank commenced swaying his body back and
forth, increasing in rapidity till the boys put forth
their utmost exertion. Mary held on to the gunwale of the boat, as her speed augmented, and she
seemed almost to fly through the water.
" Isn't it beautiful!" exclaimed Mary.
Frank was so intent upon the movements of the
excited crew, that he scarcely noticed they had nearly reached the north shore.
"There! that will do; rest," said he.
"I should think they would be very tired,' added
Mary.




TI-HE BUNXEiS OF RIPPLETON.       173
"Perhaps they are; we' came over very quick;
1he distance is nearly two miles."
"Twig the Bunkers! " said Charles.
The Zephyr was within a short distance of the
landing in front of Joe Braman's house. The Thunderbolt had just put in there, and as they approached
Joe and Tim were examining the nature of the
damages their boat had sustained.
" What does he say, Tony?" asked Fred.
"He says he can easily fix it."
"Pull," said Frank. " Row very slowly."
Steering the boat round by Joe Braman's landing,
they saw Joe go into the house, and return with a
hammer and some nails, with which he proceeded to
nail a piece of board over the fracture in the side of
the Thunderbolt.
"I can't fix it any better to-day; I'm  going to
Boston in the two o'clock train."
"Will that hold? " asked Tim.
"Yes; she won't leak. Now just row me over to
Rippleton."
" There is the villains of long faces," said Tim,
point'ng at the Zephyr.  "Jump in, fellers, and
15*




174           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
just throw some of them stones into the boat. We'll
give it to'em yet."
"Joe's going to Boston," said Fred.
"So he says."
The Bunkers threw the stones into their boat, and
then got in themselves. In imitation of the discipline of the Zephyr, the oars were first placed in a
perpendicular position, and then dropped into the
water.
"Pull," said Tim, steering directly towards the
Zephyr.
"Most twelve," suggested Fred Harper, with a
significant glance at Frank.
" Pull," replied the latter, smiling.
" Want to race? " shouted Tim.
" With the greatest pleasure."
"Come alongside, then, and we will take a fair
start."
"No, you don't!" said Frank, in a low tone,
apprehending an attack from his quarrelsome rival.
" I will give you twenty rods the start," continued
he, aloud.
"You darsent come," sneered Tim.




THE BUNKERS OP RIPPLETON.         175
Joe Braman was seen to speak to Tim, and instantly the Thunderbolt was headed towards the
Zephyr.
"Pull with all your might!" cried the Bunker.
"Drive'em into that'ere cove, and then you can
fix'em," said Joe.
But Frank gave the cove a " wide berth." A very
little exertion on the part of the club was sufficient
to keep them out of the reach of the Bunkers, and
they continued their course leisurely towards Centre
Island.
Joe Braman saw that the chase was hopeless, and
at his suggestion, the Thunderbolt abandoned the
pursuit, and steered towards Rippleton.
" Those are dreadful bad boys," said Mary Weston, when, to her intense relief, she saw them give
up the chase.
" That they are; but our boat is so much swifter
than theirs that we can easily keep out of their
way.'"
"Do you suppose they really meant to stone
you?",, T 1ave no doubt of it."




176          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" Nearly twelve," said Fred Harper, looking at his
watch.
"Give way, my lads; we will be there in time."
The clock on the distant church was striking
twelve when they touched at the island. The Zephyr
was turned round and backed in shore, so that Mary
could land conveniently.
"How do you do, Mary? I am glad to see you,"
said Captain Sedley, as he helped her on shore.
"And, Frank, your mother is coming over. The
wind was so light, we could not sail. Will you row
her over? "'
"0, yes, father."
" I suppose you are more ready and willing than
the boys who pull the boat."
"We are all ready and willing," shouted the
bcys.
"Hurrah! so we are," added Charles Hardy.
"She is waiting in the boat house."
The Zephyr pushed off again, and in a very few
minutes returned with Mrs. Sedley as passenger.
Frank was delighted to show his mother how skilful




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         177
the club had become, and she was much pleased with
her excursion.
Uncle Ben secured the boat to a tree, and the boys
all landed. Every thing was ready for their reception. The table, which was covered with every description of "nice things," was laid under the shade
of a tall oak in the miniature forest.
Captain Sedley sat at one end and Uncle Ben at
the other. Mrs. Sedley and Mary were on the right.
The director prefaced the entertainment with a few
remarks, and then invited them to do justice to the
feast that was set before them.
"All ready!" exclaimed Captain Sedley, with a
loud voice.
The boys all wondered what made him speak so
very loud; and Frank perceived a mysterious smile
on the lips of his mother, and he was quite sure it
meant something.
Suddenly, and to the intense surprise of all the
boys, a band, which had been stationed in the grove
near them, struck up Hail Columbia.
"H' Hurrah! " cried Charles Hardy, in a burst of
enthusiastic delight.




178          TILE BOAT CTUB, OlR'The music was an unexpected treat, and as the
Rippleton Brass Band poured forth its most inspiring strains, there were no bounds to the delight of
the boys. But the music did not prevent their doing
ample justice to the viands set before them.
After the collation was finished, Frank told his
father all the circumstances of their morning excursion. Captain Sedley did not blame Fred very much
for the taunt he had used, considering the provocation. He was satisfied that the boat club organization would correct such indiscretions in due time.
He decided, however, that Fred should submit to
some penalty, to be affixed at another time, and that
Frank was right in not leaving Tony at the mercy
of the Bunkers.
Frank continued his story, and incidentally remarked that the Bunkers had just rowed Joe Braman to Rippleton, where he intended to take the
cars for Boston.
Captain Sedley mused a moment.
"The cars start at two o'clock," said he, consulting his watch. "Boys, I must go to Boston, and




THE -BUNIKERS OF RIPPLETON.      179
you must row me down to the village as quick as
you can."
" Zephyrs, ahoy! " shouted Frank.
The club were:n their seats in a moment, and the
Zephyr darted away towards Rippleton.




18C          TIIE BOAT CLUB, OR
CHAPTER XV.
GEOGRAPHY OF WOOD LAKE.
CAPTAIN SEDLEY reached the depot just in time
to take the two o'clock train, and the club returned
to Centre Island, where another hour was spent very
pleasantly in listening to the music of the band,
and in such amusements as the ingenuity of boys
can devise.
But at last they grew tired of the land. The
beautiful Zephyr, resting so lightly and gracefully on
the water, seemed to invite them to more congenial
sports.
"Mother, won't you let us row you round the
lake?" asked Frank. "We want to go on an exploring voyage."
"With pleasure; but the band is engaged for all
the afternoon."
" Can't we take them in the boat? "




THI  BINXKEUS OF RIPPLETON.       181
"I'm afraid it is not large enough; there are thirteen musicians."
"That would be first rate- music on the water!" exclaimed Charles Hardy.
"What do you think, Uncle Ben? " asked Mrs.
Sedley.
" I don't think it would be safe, marm."
"I am afraid not."
"0, yes, it would! " cried Charles, disappointed
at the thought of resigning the plan.
"There is not room enough in the Zephyr for
them. But there's a little breeze springing up, and
I'll take them in the sail boat."
"That will do just as well," replied Mrs. Sedley.
"But you can't keep up with us, Uncle Ben,"
said Charles.
"' Then you must go slower."
"Zephyrs, ahoy! " cried Frank.
The club hastened to the boat, and seated themselves. The musicians found ample room in the
large sail boat.
"Stop a minute, mother, till we go about and
16




182           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
bring the stern in shore," said Frank, as he gave the
word to elevate the oars.
Uncle Ben and his party had already got under
way, and the band commenced playing Wood Up,
as the sail boat slowly gathered headway.
The Zephyr backed in, and Mrs. Sedley and Mary
WVeston were assisted to their seats by the gallant
young coxswain.
" Pull steady," said Frank, as the club boat shot
out from the land.
" How fine the music sounds on the water! " said
Mary.
"Beautiful," replied Mrs. Sedley. "I am sorry
your mother is not with us, Mary."
"She could not come before dinner."
"Would she join us now, do you think? "
"I guess she would."
"We can go and see, at any rate," said Frank.
"Uncle Ben is steering that way."
"Do, Frank; I have something I wish to say to.her."
"Bunkers! " exclaimed Fred Harper.
" Where? "




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        183
"Coming up from Rippleton."
"I hope they will keep away from us," added
Frank, whose forenoon experience was still remembered.
"They will want to hear the music."
" You must keep near Uncle Ben, Frank."
The Zephyr was rapidly approaching the Sylph, as
the sail boat was called.
"I wish they would play Old Folks at Home,"
said Charles.
"We can ask them to do so," replied Mrs. Sedley.
Suddenly Frank stood up in his place.
"i Rest," said he, with a smile.
What are you going to do? " asked his mother.
"' I am going to execute a manceuvre; and, boys,
I want you to be prompt in your movements."
"Ay, ay!" shouted the club.
"Now, then, pull! "
Frank swayed his body for a few moments with
great rapidity, and of course, the stroke of the rowers corresponded to his motions. The Zephyr darted
forward with a speed which surprised Mrs. Sedley.




184          TIE BOAT CLUB, OR
" Rest! " cried Frank, when the boat came within
a few rods of the Sylph.
" Be careful, my son; you will run against her,"
interposed Mrs. Sedley, as she involuntarily grasped
the gunwale of the boat.
The dripping oars were all extended at the same
height from the water, at the command of the coxswain.
"Up!" continued he.
"You will certainly run against them, Frank,"
repeated Mrs. Sedley. "' Pray don't be careless."
" There is nothing to fear, mother."
Indeed the Zephyr was approaching fearfully near
the Sylph, and even Uncle Ben began to feel a little
uneasy.
"Port your helm, Frank! " shouted the veteran.
"Keep her steady, Uncle Ben."
Frank, looking through the two rows of perpendicular oars, steered the Zephyr alongside her
companion, and passed within a very few inches
of her.
"Play Old Folks at Home, if you please," said
he, as the boat darted by the sluggish Sylph.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          i85
"4That was a little too close, my son," said, Mrs.
Sedley.' We are perfectly safe, mother, are we not?"
"We are; but, Frank, you should never expose
yourself, and especially not others, to needless peril."
"We were in no danger."' I think you' were."
" The Zephyr is under perfect control; she feels
the slightest turn of the rudder."
" Suppose Uncle Ben's boat had swerved a little
from her course?"
"' There was no fear of that.'
"You do not know. If it had, we might have
been drowned, many of us, at least."
Frank looked serious.
" Ask Uncle Ben what he thinks about it."
"Down!" said Frank.
The boys commenced pulling again, and the coxswain steered so as to bring the Zephyr in a circle
round the Sylph.
"Now we will keep alongside, but at a safe distance," said he, as he laid her course parallel with
that of his companion.
16~




186           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
The band were preparing to play the tune whioh
Frank had requested. The Sylph was making very
good progress through the water, and the rowers
kept pulling with a very slow stroke.
"You were careless, Frank," said Uncle'Ben,
when the band stopped playing.
"Do you think so, Uncle Ben?"
"Very careless; in the navy they would have put
you in irons for it. There arn't no need-of risking
the lives of your crew in that way. If it had been
to save the life of a feller creter, or any thing of that
sort, there would have been some sense in it."
" I didn't think there was any danger," returned
Frank not a little troubled by the veteran's censure.
"I'm  sailin' right afore the wind, you see, and
the boat swings fore and aft, like a French dancing
master. If she had a swayed only a leetle grain, we
might all have gone to the bottom."
"I never will be so careless again."
" You were all-fired careless, Frank," said Charles
Hardy.
Fred Harper could not help turning round and




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        187
looking the speaker full in the face, to reprove him
for his interference.
Frank felt the rebuke of his friend, and was not a
little hurt by the reproach, coming as it did from one
whom he had used with so much lenity - for whom
he had so strenuously interceded with his father.
"Hush up! Charley," said Fred, in a low tone.
" Don't you know any better than that? "
The band now struck up Old Folks at Home.
" Let us sing," said Frank.
" So I say," replied Tony.
" Wait till they come to the chorus," added Fred.
At the right moment the boys commenced the
chorus, and the effect was very pleasing. Mrs. Sedley and Mary's voices were heard with the others,
and all were delighted.
"' Here's the cove," said Frank, when the band
ceased playing. " We were going on a voyage of
discovery this afternoon, to name the bays and points
of land. What shall we call this cove?"
" Weston Bay," suggested Fred.
"Agreed! " answered a dozen members.
"And that mud bank over there, where we got




188          THE BOAT CLUTB, OR
aground this morning, we will call Bunker's Shoal,"
continued Fred.
"I think not," said Mrs. Sedley. "That would
be casting a reflection upon those boys."
" What shall we call it? "
"Black Shoal," replied Tony. "The mud on it,
I know from personal experience, is very black."
"Black Shoal it is," replied Frank, directing the
boat into the little bay. "Pull lively."
The invitation of Mrs. Sedley was quite sufficient
to induce Mrs. Weston to join the "exploring expedition," and the committee that had been deputed to
wait upon her soon returned, escorting her to the
boat.
" Dear me! won't it tip over?" exclaimed the
poor woman, when she had placed one foot in the
boat.
"She is perfectly safe," replied Frank, assisting
her to a seat.
The boat pushed off again, and joined the Sylph.
The band commenced playing a popular march, and
all the party, with the exception of Mrs. Weston,
who had her suspicions as to the stability of the




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         189
beautiful Zephyr, were in the highest state of enjoyment.
Farther up the lake there was a projecting headland, at the end of which, separated from the shore
by a narrow passage of water, not more than ten
feet in width, was a small, rocky island. This island
and its vicinity were the next points of interest deserving the attention of the voyagers, and thither
Frank steered the boat.
"Boys, you all study geography, do you not?"
asked Mrs. Sedley.
"All of us, mother," replied Frank.
"Did it ever occur to you that all the natural
divisions of water, on a small scale, could be seen in
Wood Lake?''"
" Can they? " asked Charles. " I would not have
believed it."
"I never thought of it before," added Frank.
"Years ago, before I was married, I used to teach
school," continued Mrs. Sedley; "and my scholars
always found it difficult to remember the definitions
of the natural divisions of the earth. WVhat do you
think the reason was? "




190          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"I suppose they did not half learn them," replied Fred.
" They did not understand them. When we spoke
of a gulf, for example, they thought of something a
great way off- as far as the Gulf of Mexico, or the
Gulf of St. Lawrence."
" I am sure I never thought of them as any thing
that I had ever seen, or was ever: likely to see," added Charles, who always had something to say, and
who tried to get the good will of others by appearing
to be humble and teachable.
The other boys were equally tractable, but from
another motive. Mrs. Sedley's geography lesson was
full of interest to them, and as they pulled slowly,
they gave all their attention to what she said.
"I took them out one day to a pond near the
school house, where I pointed out almost all the
divisions of water, and then. on a hill, to show them
the divisions of land."
"But you could not find them all."
"All but one or two; there was no volcano."
"Was there a desert?"
"A small one."




THE BUNJKE.tS OF RIPPLETON.       191
"Hurrah! we can find them all," cried Charles.
"I missed just such a question last week in school."
"I made a volcano on the fourth of July," said
Fred Harper.
"Indeed! how?"
"I took a handful of powder, wet it, and then
placed it on a board. Then I covered it over with a
coat of wet clay, leaving a little hole at the top, with
some dry powder on it."
" That was the crater," added Charles.
"Yes; and then I touched it off. It was in the
evening, and it looked just like Mount Vesuvius in
the panorama."
"Now, boys," continued Mrs. Sedley, "who can
tell me what an ocean is? "
"The largest body of water," replied several.
"What shall represent the ocean here?"
"The lake."
"Very well; what is a sea?"
"A portion of water smaller than an ocean, and
nearly surrounded by land."
" We are in one now," said Frank.
He had steered the Zephyr into a corner of the




192          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
lake which was partly enclosed by the projecting
headland and island, and the main shore..
" What sea shall we call it? " said Fred.
The boys looked around them for some object that
would suggest a name.




THE  BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.       193
CHAPTER XVI.
OVERBOARD!
THERE was no visible object which seemed to
suggest a name for the miniature sea; but just then
the band began to play Washington's March.
" Call it Washinigton Sea, boys," said Mrs. Sedley.
The name was given; but the geography lesson
could not proceed while the music continued, and
Frank ordered the boys to rest. The Bunkers, attracted by the music of the band, followed the Sylph
at a respectful distance. The presence of Uncle Ben
and Mrs. Sedley was a restraint upon them, and they
conducted themselves with tolerable decorum. The
band ceased playing, and Mrs. Sedley continued her
instructions.'What is a gulf or bay?"
"A portion of the sea extending into the land."
"Can you give me an example?"
"Weston Bay," replied Fred, laughing.
17




194          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"And, perhaps, before the expedition concludea
its voyage, we shall find something which may be
called a gulf."
"I know where there is a gulf," said Charles.
"Now, Frank, you may go through the straits."
"Is it safe? I don't know how deep the water is."
"I am glad to see you are careful," said Mrs.
Sedley. " You can ask Uncle Ben."
"Sylph, ahoy! " shouted Frank, rising.
"What boat's that? " roared Uncle Ben, in reply.
"The Zephyr, of and from Rippleton," returned
the coxswain. " Can you tell me what depth of
water there is in this passage  "
"Where's your chart? "
"We must have a chart of the lake," suggested
Fred.
" That we must. Who shall draw it?"
"Fred Harper."
"We have no chart. Will you give me the depth
of water?" continued Frank.
"Short fathom," replied Uncle Ben.
"We are none the wiser," interposed Charles.
" How much is a fathom?"




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.          195
"Six feet," answered Tony.
"But he don't say how much short."
"Can we go through in safety, Uncle Ben?"
"Ay, ay; unship your oars first."
Frank let the crew pull several smart strokes,
and theh ordered the oars up. The Zephyr darted
through the narrow passage.
"Now for the name of the strait," said Frank.
" You seem to be at a loss for names; I think you
had better call these divisions after the members of
the club," suggested lMrs. Sedley.
" So we can; the memory of great travellers and
navigators has been handed down to their posterity by geographical names -  Hudson Bay, Mount
Franklin, Cook's Straits, for example," said Fred
Harper, laughing heartily.
The proposition received a ready assent, and the
strait was called Calrow Strait, after the boy who
pulled the second oar.
"But the island? " said Charles.
"Billy Curtis pulls the third oar; we will call it
Curtis Island."
The position of the boat was a favorable one for




196           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
observing the conformation of the country, and Mrs.
Sedley improved the opportunity to point out the
various divisions of the land.
Half way between -Centre Island and the north
shore was another island; and after coasting along
Dy the banks of the lake, applying names to miniature sounds, bays, gulfs, and seas, the Zephyr arrived
at its southerly side.
" Here is a channel," said Frank; "a passage of
water wider than a strait."
"Fred's turn; we must call it Harper Channel,"
replied Tony.
" And the island? — we are out of names," continued Frank.
"  We will call it Mary's Island, after Mary Weston."
"Agreed!" cried a dozen boys at once.
"I thank you for the compliment," said Mary,
blushing.
The excursion was continued, the boys rowing
leisurely, and pausing frequently to listen to the
music of the band, and discuss the geographical formation of the lake and its shores. They passed




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        197
entirely round the lake, and had given so many
names to the various divisions of land and water,
that it seemed improbable they could ever remember
them.
As they came round to the boat house, Mrs. Sedley was landed, and the club roiated up to Weston
Bay, to leave the widow and her daughter. Both
the passengers were delighted with their excursion,
and were profuse of their thanks to Frank and his
companions for their kindness and consideration.
"What shall we do now? " said Charles, as they
pushed off.
"Hadn't we better give up for to-day?" sug.
gested Frank.
"Let us go down to Rippleton for your father,"
added Fred.
" I will do that," answered Frank; and the Zephyr
dashed away towards the village.
They had scarcely passed the boat house before
they discovered the Thunderbolt, directly ahead of
them. Uncle Ben had landed the band at Rippleton,
and had housed the Sylph, so that the Bunkers
would no longer be restrained by his presence and
17 -




198          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
that of Mrs. Sedley. But there was no way to avoid
them, and Frank continued his course with some
misgivings as to the consequences.
"Bunkers ahead!" said he.
"Never mind them, Frank," added Fred Harper.
"We won't say any thing to them.''
" Tim will get his revenge upon us for this mornng if he can."
" We can keep out of his way, though I don't
like the idea of running away from them."' I like it better than I do the idea of fighting
with them. But the lake is narrow near the village."
"We can row two rods to their one."
"They have improved a great deal by their day's
practice. They are resting on their oars, waiting
for us."
"Let them wait; we will mind nothing about
them."
The Zephyr continued on her course. It was necessary for her to pass within a short distance of the
Thunderbolt, and Frank feared they would retaliate
upon them for their discomfiture in the forenoon.
" Let every member of the club mind his oar,"




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        199
said he, as the boat approached the vicinity of the
Bunkers; " I will watch them; I want you to mind
what I say, and work quick when I speak."
"We will," answered the boys.
" I suspect, if they mean any thing, that they intend to rush upon us when we pass them. Yes,
there is Tim bringing her head round so that she
lies broadside to us, and every one of them has his
oar ready to pull."
" Can't you cut across the lake, and avoid them?"
asked Tony.
"We must pass them somewhere, and they can
cut us off, whatever course we take."
"Smash them, if they come too near," said Fred.
"No, no, Fred; that wouldn't do. When I tell
you to stop and back her, do it promptly, and we
can easily get away from them. Pull steady."
The boys rowed leisurely, and the Zephyr in a
short time reached a position which was exposed to
the assault of the Thunderbolt.
" Pull! " cried Tim Bunker, with energy.
Her course was at right angles with that of the
Zephyr. Tim had apparently made a nice calcula



200          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
tion in regard to his intended movements. He had
started so as to come up with his rival, when she
came to the point in her course directly ahead of
him.
The Bunkers pulled with all their might, and the
two boats were rapidly nearing each other. Tim's
plan had been well conceived, and the collision
seemed inevitable. Frank saw that he had rightly
interpreted the intentions of the Bunkers; but he
still continued his course.
Suddenly, as the Thunderbolt was on the point of
pouncing upon her prey, Frank, with startling energy, gave the command, —
"Stop, and back her!"
Every boy, expecting the order, was ready to execute it. The oars bent under the violent exertion
they made to check the farther progress of the boat.
When the collision seemed unavoidable, Timabandoned the helm, and leaped forward into the
bow of the boat. He had a large stick in his hand,
and it was evidently his intention to use it upon
poor Tony, for his glance was fixed upon him with
savage ferocity.




THE BUITN-KERS OF RIPPLETON.      201
Frank's plan worked well. He had withheld the
order to stop and back her till the last moment, so
that Tim should have no time to change the course
of the Thunderbolt, and thus derange his plan. As
it was, it'was a very narrow escape, and nothing but
the promptness with which the order was executed
averted the impending catastrophe.
The Thunderbolt passed across the course of the
Zephyr, not three feet from her bow. Tim saw that
he was foiled, and enraged at his disappointment, he
aimed a blow at Tony with the long stick, as his
boat shot past.
Tony was beyond his reach; he leaned over the
gunwale of the boat in a vain attempt to accomplish
his malignant purpose. But in doing so, he lost his
foothold, and was precipitated head foremost into the
lake!
He disappeared beneath the dark surface of the
water, and his boat passed over the spot. The
Zephyr, impelled backward by the vigorous strokes
of her crew, was several rods from the place before
the club fully realized the nature of the unfortunate
occurrence.




202          TIHrE BOAT CLUB, o0
The Thunderbolt was much nearer the place where
Tim had disappeared than the Zephyr; but her crew.
seemed to be utterly paralyzed by the event, and
unable to render the slightest assistance. One of
the Bunkers took the helm, and endeavored to rally
nis companions; but in their confusion they were
incapable of handling their oars; some pulled one
way, and some another, and instead of urging the
boat ahead, they only turned it round in a circle.
" Stop her! " shouted Frank, as soon as he discovered the accident.  "Pull!  Tim Bunker has
fallen overboard!"
The crew, though affected to some extent as the
Bunkers were, used their oars with skill and energy.
The presence of mind which Frank displayed inspired
them with courage, and the Zephyr darted forward
towards the spot where Tim had gone down.
"There he is!" exclaimed Frank, with frantic
earnestness; " pull with all your might! "
" Help! Save me! " cried Tim, as he rose to the
surface.
The boats were both several rods distant from
him. He did not swim, but seemed to struggle




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        203
with all his strength, apparently with a spasmodic
effort, as though he had entirely lost his self-control.
"Pull!" shouted Frank, again. "Tony, stand
ready with your boathook."
But Tim struggled only for an instant on the surface, and then went down again.
" Steady," said Frank, as the Zephyr approached
the spot. " That will do; back her! "
The boat, under the skilful management of thE
resolute young coxswain, lost her headway, and laj
motionless on the water near the spot where Tin
had last appeared.
"Do you see him, Tony? "
"No."
"Fred, forward with this boathook," continues
Frank.
Fred took the boathook, and went forward to the
bow of the Zephyr.
"' There he is! " exclaimed Tony, as he caught a
sight of the drowning boy beneath the surface.
Fred dropped his boathook down into the water
with the intention of fastening it into his clothes.




2041          THIE BOAT CLUI,  OR
" He sinks again! " cried Tony, throwing off his
jacket and shoes.
Before any of the crew could fully understand his
purpose, so quick were his movements, he dove from
the bow of the boat deep down into the water.
The boys held their breath ~n the intensity of their
feelings. One or two of them had dropped their
oar, and were leaving their places.
" Keep your places, and hold on to your oars  "
said Frank, sternly. " Henry Calrow, take the other
boathook."
"Back her a little - one stroke," said Fred Harper. "We are passing over the spot."
Frank ordered the boat back, as desired.
"Here they rise! Tony has himi!" exclaimed
Fred, as he hooked into Tim's clothes. "Grasp the
other boathook, Tony."
Tim was drawn into the boat, apparently dead.
Tony was so exhausted that he could not speak,
and sank into the bottom.
" Pull! " said Frank, heading the Zephyr towards
Rippleton.
The sad event had been observed from the shore,




THE B]3NKERS'OF IIPPLETON.       205
and before the arrival of the club boat quite a number of persons had collected. Scarcely a minute
elapsed before the Zephyr touched the bank, and the
lifeless body of Tim Bunker was taken out and conveyed to the nearest house.
"How do you feel, Tony?" asked Frank, lifting
the noble little fellow from his position.
"Badly, Frank; I want to go home," replied he,
faintly.
Among other persons who had gathered on the
shore of the lake was one of the physicians of Rippleton. He followed the party that conveyed Tim
into the house, and applied himself vigorously to the
means of restoring him. It was a long time before
there were any'signs of life, and the people in the
mean time believed him dead.
While Dr. Allen was at work over Tim, Fred
Harper came to request his assistance for Tony
Fortunately Dr. Davis, another physician, arrived at
this moment, and accompanied him to the boat.
"What ails him, Dr. Davis? " asked Frank,
alarmed by the illness of his friend.
"Exhaustion and excitement have affected him."
I18




206          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"Is it any thing serious? "
"I think not. We must get his wet clothes off,
and put him to bed."
" Will you go home with him? We will row you
up and back again."
The physician was very willing to go, and the
boat put off. The club pulled with all their strength,
and the distance to Tony's house was accomplished
in a very few moments. Mrs. Weston was greatly
alarmed when Tony was brought in, but the doctor
assured her it was nothing serious. He was put to
bed, the doctor prescribed for him, and when the
boys were ready to leave, they had the satisfaction
of knowing that the patient was much better.
When they reached Rippleton, they found that
Tim had been restored, and conveyed to his father's
house. Captain Sedley came in the last train, and
the boys rowed him home.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        207
CHAPTER XVII.
TIM BUNKER.
CAPTAIN SEDLEY was much disturbed by the
painful event which had occurred, and though the
club were entirely free from blame, he could not but
question the expediency of continuing the organization. The malicious spirit of Tim Bunker had been
the cause of his misfortune. People thought he was
lucky to escape with his life, and that it would be a
lesson he would remember a great many years.
Tony's praises were upon every body's lips. He
had saved the life of his enemy, had plunged in at
the risk of his own, to rescue one who had been intent
upon his injury. It was a noble and a Christian
deed, so the good men and women said, while others
declared, if they had been in Tony's place, they
would have let him drown.
The noble deed was appreciated, and the day after
the event, a subscription paper was opened at the




208           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
Rippleton Bank for Tony's benefit. Before night
over a hundred dollars were collected, which the
cashier presented to him, as he lay upon his bed,
sick from the effects of his exertions.
The crew of the boat club were very highly commended for their efficient labors on the occasion. If
Frank had displayed less courage and address, or the
discipline of the club had been less efficient, Tim
must certainly have been drowned. This fact was
rendered the more apparent by the contrast between
the conduct of the crew of the Zephyr and that of
the Thunderbolt. With all their exertion, on account of their want of discipline, the latter had been
unable even to reach the spot until the former had
received Tim on board.
All the sympathies of the people were with the
boat club. Nobody pitied Tim; for he was a quarrelsome, disagreeable boy, and had nearly lost his
life in his attempt to gratify his malicious spite
against his noble and generous deliverer.
In a few days, Tony, who had suffered more from
the shock than Tim, was able to go out again. He
was every where received with enthusiasm, and the




THE BUNREKERS OF RIPPLETON.      209
first time the Zephyr visited Rippleton after the
accident, people seemed determined to make a little
lion of him.
Captain Sedley's attention was now directed to the
trial of Tony, which would take place in a few days,
and he was exceedingly desirous of ascertaining how
Tim was affected towards him since the rescue. But
the Thunderbolt had been laid up at Joe Braman's
landing, and the Bunkers appeared to be dispersed
and separated since the accident. Captain Sedley
did not find their leader for several days, but at last
he made a visit to his father's house before Tim
got up.
He was very desirous of avoiding him, and when
his mother went up stairs and told him who had
come, he put on his clothes, and slipped out of the
house by the back door. Captain Sedley happened
to see him, however, as he was' skulking off through
the garden.
" Tim," said he, running after him.
The leader of the Bunkers did not dare to run
away from such an influential person as Captain Sedley, and turning, he doggedly approached him.
18*




210          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"Tim, I want to see you about the trial, which,
you know, takes place in a few days."
" I don't know nothin' about it."
"You don't?" said Captain Sedley.
"No, I don't;" and Tim, fixing his eyes upon the
ground, amused himself by kicking a hole in the soil
with his foot.
" Don't you know any thing about the wallet, or
the money that was in it?"
"No, I don't."
"Just think a moment."
"Don't want to think; I don't know nothin'
about it," replied Tim, sulkily.
"Tony is accused of the crime, and you know
what a terrible thing it would be to have an innocent
person suffer."
"I'spose it would."
"You know Tony saved your life."
"So I needn't be evidence against him," growled
Tim.
Captain Sedley was astonished at his want of even
the commonest feeling of gratitude.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        211
"If that had been his motive, he would have let
you drown."
" I wonder he didn't."
" Tim, you are utterly hardened in iniquity."
"No, I ain't."
"You have no gratitude towards your deliverer."
" Yes, I have; I am much obliged to him for what
he done, and when I see him, I'll tell him so."
" You do not seem in the least obliged to him."
"I am; and besides, the folks gave him over a
hundred dollars for what he done. I should like to
jump in after a dozen on the same terms."
" You have nothing to say about the trial then,
have you, Tim? "
" Don't know nothin' about it. All I can say is,
I saw him stickin' somethin' into his pocket."
" You bought the boat in which you have been
sailing on the lake."
" No, I didn't; it is Joe Braman's," replied Tim,
stoutly.
"Did you tell the boys that you gave him ten
dollars for it?"
"No, I didn't."




212          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"And that you paid five dollars for having it
fitted up?"
"I was only joking - tryin' to sell'em," answered Tim, attempting to smile and look funny.
" That was it, was it? "
"That's all."
" And you have not paid Joe Braman any money?"
" Not a cent."
"Tim," said Captain Sedley, sternly, "people
think that you stole the wallet."
"Me! I hope to die if I did! "
"That you took some of the money out, and then
put it into Tony's pocket, so as to fasten the guilt
on him."
"No such thing! "
"Just consider, Tim. If you did, you had better
confess it."
"I didn't."'Only think that Tony saved your life."
"I've nothin' against him."
"But you ought to be for him. If you have injured him in this matter, people will think a great
deal better of you, if you confess it, and ask his




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        213
forgiveness, whatever the consequences may be to
yourself."
"I hain't injured him."
"If you are the guilty one, it will certainly come
out at the trial."
" I ain't; I don't know nothin' about the wallet.
I'm sure I didn't take it - I hope to die if I did! "
"Very well, Tim; if you have made up your
mind not to confess it, I have nothing more to
say. "
" I ain't a going to confess it when I didn't do it,"
said Tim, stoutly.
"But you did do it, Tim."
"No, I didn't nuther."
"I am surprised at your hardihood. Tony saved
your life at the peril of his own, and yet you are
willing to see him convicted of a crime which you
committed yourself."
" Who says I did?" said Tim, not a little confused by the directness with which Captain Sedley
spoke to him.
"I say it, Tim. Once more, will you free Tony
from the charge by telling the truth? "




214          TRIE BOAT CLUB, OR
" I have told the truth."
"No, you haven't, Tim. Will you confess the
crime, and save Tony?"
"No, I won't; I didn't do it."
"Very well," replied Captain Sedley, as he left
the young reprobate.
Tim did not know what to make of it. Why Captain Sedley should lay it to him, he could not tell,
unless it was on account of what he had said to Fred
Harper about buying the Thunderbolt. He was uneasy, and spent the forenoon in wandering about the
woods back of his father's house. He felt as though
Something was going to happen, though he could not
Sell precisely what.
lez had eaten no breakfast, and at noon he was
driven home by hunger. But he had scarcely seated
himself at the dinner table before a knock was heard
at the door.
"Go to the door, Tim," said his father.
"I don't want to go," answered Tim, with a
whine.
A kind of dread had taken possession of him since
his interview with Captain Sedley in the morning,




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        215
and every noise he heard seemed to foretell "that
something " he was persuaded was about to occur.
" Go, this minute!" said his father, sternly.
"Don't want to."
"But you shall."
Tim, finding there was no escape, rose, and went to
the door. To his consternation he beheld Mr. Headley, the constable! He felt as though he should
drop through the floor. His heart beat so violently
that he could hardly stand up.
" I want you, Tim," said Mr. Headley.
"Me!" gasped Tim.
"Get your cap, and come along."
"What for? "
"I'll tell you when you get to the jail."
Tim drew a long breath, and went back for his cap.
" Who is it, Tim? " asked his father.
But Tim made no reply, and instead of returning
to the front door, he took his cap and sneaked out
through the back room. The woods were close by,
and the hope of escaping inspired him with new
courage. Throwing open the back door, he rushed
out.




216           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"So, so! my fine fellow! " exclaimed the constable, who stood before the door, and into whose
arms he had thrown himself as he leaped down the
doorsteps. " This is your plan, is it?  WVe'll give
you the ruffles, then."
So saying, Mr. Headley took a pair of handcuffs
from his pocket, and fastened them upon Tim's
wrists.
"I didn't steal the wallet," cried Tim, lustily, as
he struggled to get away.
" You must come with me," replied the constable,
holding him fast.
Tim's father and mother came to the door, as Mr
Headley marched him off.




THIE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.       217
CHAPTER  XVIII.
TONY'S TRIAL.
JOE BRAMAN was arrested on the same day, and
committed to the Rippleton jail. It was understood
that suspicions were fastened upon him, though the
precise nature of the testimony against him had not
yet been made public. His examination, as well as
that of Tim Bunker, was postponed until after the
trial of Tony, which had been appointed, in'consideration of the circumstances, for the following
day.
Captain Sedley had been very active in obtaining
evidence, but he was so cautious that the people of
Rippleton could not ascertain what he was doing.
The morning of the trial came. The members of
the boat club were all anxious to attend, and Captain Sedley had consented that they should go to the
village in the Zephyr, taking Uncle Ben with them
as ooat keeper.
19




218           THE BOAT CLUIB, OR
At nine o'clock the club had all assembled in the
boat house, and had put on their uniform.
"Keep your spirits up, Tony," said Fred. "It
will all come out right."
"I hope so," replied Tony, rather sadly. "I am
innocent, and all I ask is justice."
", My father is very sure you will be cleared," added Frank; " but whether you are or not, we are all
very certain of your innocence."
"Thank you; you have been very kind to me
and my mother," answered Tony, the tears gathering in his eyes as he spoke. "I heard last
evening what you did the night before the fourth
of July."
"Never mind that, Tony; we all like you. You
are a noble fellow;" and Frank grasped the hand
of his friend.
"I don't know as I ought to wear this uniform
to-day," continued Tony, trying to smile through
his tears.
"Why not, Tony."
" I don't want to disgrace the club."
" Disrace us, Tony! T am sure there is not a




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         21 
fellow in the club that does not feel honored by hav
ing you belong."
" Think of your uniform on the back of a felon.
If found guilty, I shall be sent to the house of correction."
" But you won't be, Tony. Tim and Joe Braman
have been arrested, and you may be sure there has
been some evidence found to fasten it upon them."
" Perhaps so; at least, I am innocent, and I shall
be just as innocent in the house of correction as in
the open air. But I don't want to disgrace the club."
"I talked with father about the uniform  last
night. He thought we had better not wear it, because it would look so odd in the court house; but I
told him we wanted to wear it, so as to show that
you were one of us."
" You are very kind, Frank," replied Tony, grasping his hand.
"Time you were off, boys," said Uncle Ben.
"Take your places," continued Frank.
The members of the club seemed to feel that they
were not going on a pleasure excursion, and there
was hardly a smile to be seen on their faces. They




220          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
were quiet, and very orderly, and moved slowly and
with a good deal of dignity into the boat.
The Zephyr backed out of her berth, and the oars
fell into the water.
"Pull," said Frank, as he laid the course of the
boat towards Rippleton. "We will not hoist our
flags going down."
The crew pulled steadily, and not a word was
spoken on the way. Every member was thinking of
poor Tony, and every one was hoping and believing
that he would be triumphantly acquitted.
On their arrival at Rippleton, Frank formed them
in procession, two by two, and marched up to the
court house. More than once, as they passed through
the streets, the people, recognizing Tony, lustily
cheered him. Since the rescue of Tim Bunker, he
had been a hero in the village. His misfortunes,
added to his noble, generous character, excited all
the sympathies of the people.
When they reached the court house, the sheriff, as
a special mark of consideration, conducted them to
seats where they could see and hear all that was
lone and said.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         221
Squire Benson was at the table, and the jury were
in their seats, but the court had not yet come in.
Captain Sedley and Mrs. Weston had chairs by the
side of Tony's counsel, and were engaged in an
earnest conversation with him.
"Where shall I stay? " asked Tony of the sheriff.
"I suppose you must take your place in the dock,"
replied the official.
" I am ready."
There was a sudden silence in the room, as the
sheriff conducted the little prisoner to the box appropriated to the criminals. The audience felt deeply for him, and his poor mother burst into tears.
The judge took his seat on the bench, and the
crier opened the court. The indictment was read,
and Tony, ini a firm, and even cheerful tone, pleaded
"not guilty."
The county attorney made his opening address,
and the witnesses for the prosecution were sworn.
These consisted of Farmer Whipple, Mr. Headley,
Charles Hardy, Frank Sedley, and Tim Bunker, the
latter of whom was brought into court by the constable.
19 




222           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
The testimony was substantially the same as at
the examination. It was proved that Tony was in
the woodhouse, had seen the wallet, and left his
companions to find Farmer Whipple; that he had
been seen to put something into his pocket, and finally that the lost property had been found upon him.
It was a clear case, and when they came to the
end of the evidence, Mrs. Weston sobbed bitterly.
"Be comforted, madam, your son shall be proved
innocent in a few moments," said Squire Benson.
The cross examination of Tim Bunker was very
long and very severe, and though he still adhered to
the story he had told at the examination, he was
confused, stammered a great deal, and tried to be
saucy to the lawyer. His statements were so contradictory at times, that a general disposition to
laugh pervaded the minds of the audience. At these
times, when he so grossly crossed himself, Squire
Benson looked significantly at the jury, as though
to invite their special attention to the discrepancies.
Tony's counsel then opened the case for the lde
fence. His address was very short, but very pointed
and forcible.




THE BIUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.       223
The first witness was Mr. Doolittle, the store.
keeper, who testified to the facts concerning the
twenty dollar bill.
"Is that the bill you marked? " asked the lawyer,
handing him a bank note.
" It is," replied the witness, after examining it.
" You are willing to swear that is the bill?"
"I am."
" Please state to the court and jury the means by
which you identify it."
The witness exhibited his shop card upon the back
of it, and pointed out several other peculiarities,
which he had observed while stamping it.
" Mr. Stevens," said the lawyer. "That will do,
Mr. Doolittle."
The person called took the stand. He was a
stranger in Rippleton, and the audience wondered
what he could possibly know about it.
"Your business, Mr. Stevens?" continued the
lawyer, scratching furiously with his pen.
" I keep a hardware store in Boston."
" Did you ever see this bill? " and Squire Benson
handed him the bank note.




224          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"I have."
"State, if you please, what you know about it."
"It was given to me in payment for a fowling
piece."
"When?"
The witness gave the date.
" Can you swear to the bill?"
"I can; I wrote my name and the day of the
month on it at the time; here they are."
" Indeed! how happened you to do that?"
" I did it at the request of the gentleman who sits
by your side; " and the witness pointed to Captain
Sedley.
"Who was the person that gave you the bill?"
"I do not know his name."
"Could you identify him?"
"I could."
Squire Benson requested the court to have Joe
Braman summoned as a witness in the case, and
after a short delay, he was brought in by an of.
ficer.
" Was that the person?"
" It was."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        225
" You are sure?"
"I noticed the scar on his cheek," replied the witness, " and I should not be likely to mistake such a
person as that for another."
The audience smiled at this sally. Joe Braman
was in truth an oddity in his personal appearance,
and the remark of the witness seemed to have a
peculiar force.
"That is all, Mr. Stevens; the witness is yours,
Mr. Prescott," said Squire Benson, turning to the
county attorney.
But Mr. Prescott asked him no questions.
" Joseph Braman, take the stand," continued Tony's lawyer.
Joe seemed bewildered by the circumstances that
surrounded him, and gazed vacantly at the judge
and jury. He was a dull, stupid fellow, and did not
readily comprehend his position.
He was sworn, and after the judge had reminded
him that he need not criminate himself, Squire Benson proceeded with the examination.
"You bought a gun of the last witness, did you
not?" asked he.




226           THIE BOAT CLUB, OR
" Yes, sir," replied Joe, scarcely knowing whether
he was on trial himself or not.
"You gave him  a twenty dollar bill, did you
not? "
"You are suggesting his answers," interposed the
county attorney.
"What did you give him in payment?"
"I gin him  a twenty dollar bill," replied Joe,
promptly.
" This was the bill, wasn't it? "
" I pray your honor's judgment," said the county
attorney, with a smile. "My learned brother answers the question, and then puts it."
" Put the question fairly, Mr. Benson," added the
judge.
"Was this the bill?" said the lawyer, handing
the witness the twenty dollar note.
"I rather guess it was."
"You guess! Don't you know? " said Mr. Benson, with severity in his tone and manner.
"Yes, sir, it was," answered Joe, startled by the
questioner's sharp words.
* How do you know? "




THlE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        227
"I see'd this'ere mark on't," replied the witness,
pointing to Mr. Doolittle's shop card.
"Now, Mr. Braman," continued Squire Benson,
suddenly softening his tone, and assuming a pleasant
smile, " WVhere did you get this bill?"
" Tim Bunker gin it to me."
The reply of Joe produced a great sensation in the
court room.
"I told you so!" whispered Charles Hardy to
Frank.
There was a smile of triumph on the face of
Tony, when, at this point, all eyes were turned to
h-'m.
" It's a lie! " groaned Tim, his face as white as a
sheet.
" Did he tell you where he got it?" continued
Mr. Benson, in an apparently indifferent tone.
" You need not criminate yourself," interposed the
iudge.
" He told me all about it," replied Joe, suddenly
brushing up his wits.
"You needn't wink at me, Tim; I'm goin' to
blow the whole thing," continued he, shaking his




228           THE BOAT CLTUB, OR
head at the crestfallen Bunker.  "You was fool
enough to tell on't yourself."
"He told you that he stole it?" asked Squire
Benson.
" No; he said he found it," and the witness proceeded to relate all the particulars of the affair.
It appeared from his story that Tim had taken the
wallet, abstracted thirty dollars of the money, and
then, when school was about to be dismissed, had
thrust the wallet into the prisoner's pocket.
Tony had not discovered the wallet. He had
eaten his dinner and gone immediately into the
garden, where he had pulled off his coat, and commenced picking the currants. Tim's plan had worked
better than he expected it would, for he supposed
that Tony would find it in his pocket, and be accused of abstracting the thirty dollars.
The jury gave in their verdict of not guilty, without leaving their seats. As they did so, a gentleman, with a very long beard and mustache, rose and
clapped his hands with great violence. His example
was followed by a large portion of the audience, and
he sheriff had much trouble in restoring order.




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        229
CHAPTER XIX.
THE STRANGER.
THE officer immediately released the prisoner from
his confinement, and Tony sprang into the waiting
arms of his mother.
" Bless you, my boy! " she exclaimed, as the tears
rolled down her cheeks. "I knew you were innocent! "
" My carriage waits for you, Mrs. Weston," said
Captain Sedley, after he had cordially shaken the
hand of Squire Benson.
The widow thanked the lawyer for his good service, and the party withdrew from the court room.
In the street, amid the cheers of the multitude, the
boat club formed their lines, and marched down to
the lake.
When they reached the Zephyr, they found her in
charge of one of the men who worked on the farm
of Captain Sedley.
20




230           THE ]3OAT CLUB, OR
" WVhere is Uncle Ben? " asked Frank.
"Gone home," replied the man.
"XWhat for? "
"I don't know."
"Take your places," said Frank.
Just as the oars were dipping, they were hailed
from the shore.
"' Boat, ahoy," said a stranger on the bank.
Frank looked, and discovered the gentleman who
had commenced the applause in the court room. He
was well dressed, wore a massive gold chain, and appeared to be in affluent circumstances, if one might
judge from appearances. His face -that portion of
it which was not covered by his long black beard -
was very dark, and apparently he had just returned
from a tropical climate.
The coxswain ordered the crew to cease rowing.
" Can you tell me how I shall get to the house of
John Weston, up the lake? " inquired the stranger.
"John Weston is not living," replied Frank.
"Not living! " replied the stranger, with a sudden start; " Is Mrs. Weston living?"
"c She is."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.         231
"She is my mother," added Tony.
" W~e are going up there now, and if you choose
we will row you up."
" Thank you," replied the stranger, as he seated
himself by Frank's side.
Tony gazed at him with intense earnestness. The
face looked natural to him, but he could not think
where he had seen it before.
" Pull," said Frank.
"You have a beautiful boat."
" She is a very fine boat. I saw you at the trial,
did I not? " asked Frank, looking with interest at
his companion.
" I was there; it ended very happily."
"Just as we knew it would end," added Charles
Hardy.
" It was a villanous conspiracy; and I should like
the pleasure of thrashing that Tim Bunker," continued the stranger, with a great deal of feeling.
"You seemed to be much interested in the trial."
" More deeply than any other could be."
"Except his mother," said Frank.
"You are right, except his mother;" and the




232           THE BOAT CLUB, OR
gentleman looked very sad, and wiped a tear from
his eye.
The boat was now approaching the vicinity of
Centre Island.
"This is Captain Sedley's place," said the stranger
"Yes, sir."
"There comes the Sylph, Frank," shouted Fred
Harper.
" Uncle Ben is up to something, I suspect."
"What do you suppose it is? "
Before Frank could venture an opinion, a mass of
smoke rose from the bows of the Sylph, and the
mimic roar of a little cannon was heard.
" Hurrah! Tony, he is firing a salute in honor of
the verdict," cried Charles.
"Three cheers for Tony Weston," shouted Frank.
" One!"
" Hurrah! "
"Two!"
"Hurrah! "
"Three!"
"Hurrah! "
The stranger joined lustily in the cheers, and when




THE 3BUNXTKERS OF RIPPLETON.     233
they had finished, Uncle Ben fired again. When
the Zephyr came alongside the Sylph, the veteran
congratulated the little hero of the day on his escape from the snares of his foes.
" You are a good boy, and I wish I had a bigger
gun. You desarve a salute from a forty-two pounder," said Uncle Ben, as he rammed down the charge
for another gun.
" Thank you, Uncle Ben, that gun is big enough
for so small a boy as I am."
The Zephyr continued on her course to the widow
Weston's, followed by the Sylph, the old sailor
saluting all the way.
The party landed, and marched up to the house,
followed by the stranger. Tony embraced his sister
and his little brother, and with tears of joy told
them that he was acquitted. Mrs. Weston and
Captain Sedley had not yet arrived.
In half an hour they came. Mrs. Weston welcomed her guests, and among them the stranger.
" I don't know you, sir, but you are welcome to
my poor cottage," said she, with a courtesy.
"Thank you, ma'am.. I have just come from
20O




234          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
California. I believe you had a son who went out
there."
"I did. Poor George! I suppose he is dead,"
answered the widow, wiping a tear from her eye.
" I come to tell you about him, ma'am."
" Then he is dead! "
"No; he is alive and well."
"Heaven bless you for the news! " ejaculated the
poor woman.
It was indeed a day of gladness to her.
"He is coming home soon."
" I am glad to hear it. Where has he been?"
" He has been at the mines."
" I haven't heard a word from him since he first
reached San Francisco."
" He has written several times; but the means of
communication with San Francisco and the diggings
were very uncertain. I suppose his letters miscarried."
" But te i me about him.  Has his health been
good? "
" Very good; and he has been remarkably lucky.




TIE BtUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.       235
Folks say he has made over a hundred thousand
dollars digging and trading."
" Indeed! I am so glad! "
"I suppose you don't remember me, do you?"
asked the stranger.
The widow looked at him sharply.
" You have got such a sight of hair on your face,
that I declare I do not," said the widow, laughing.
", You don't? "
The gentleman spoke these words in a different
tone of voice- so different that the widow started
back in astonishment.
" Have I altered so much, mother? "
" George! O George!" exclaimed the widow,
as she folded her lost son in her arms.
They both wept in each other's embrace.
" Heaven be praised, you have returned! " cried
the widow.
" And my father is dead? " said George Weston
sadly.
" Yes, George, you have no father now."
The young man trembled with emotion.




236          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
" I had hoped to smooth the last years of his life;
but God's will be done."
"Amen!" said the widow, solemnly, as she wiped
her eyes.
"Tony, my brother, come here," said George, as
he shook the hand of the little hero. " You cannot
think how badly I felt this morning, when, on my
arrival at Rippleton, I heard that you were to be
tried for stealing. If it had not been for our mother,
I think I should have fled from the place without
making myself known."
"But, George, I was innocent."
" I know it, Tony, and I was the happiest man in
the court house, when I heard that Joe Braman confess the truth."
"And, George," interrupted Mrs. Weston, " you
must join with me in. thanking Captain Sedley here
for all he has done for poor Tony. I am sure, if it
had not been for him, he would have been found
guilty."
George Weston took the hand of Captain Sedley,
and in fit terms expressed his gratitude.
"And we have to thank him for a thousand other




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        237
favors since ybur poor father's death. I don't know
what would have become of us without him."
George renewed his thanks, and called down the
blessing of Heaven on the benefactor of his mother.
" Come, boys, we had better go," said Captain
Sedley.
The boat club withdrew, with the exception of
Tony.
" Mrs. Westan, I shall be happy to see you and
all your family at my house at tea this evening,"
continued Captain Sedley.
"Thank you, sir; we shall certainly come," replied the widow.
" And, Captain Sedley, my mother shall soon have
a house to which she can invite her friends," said
George Weston, with a smile.
The little front room of the widow Weston's cottage was the scene of a joyful reunion on that eventful day. George related his adventures to his mother, and shed many a tear when he heard her tell of
the trials through which she had passed during his
absence. The future was still open to him, and he
determined to fill it with joys for her, which should,




238          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
in some measure, compensate her for the sorrow and
suffering of the past; for George regarded poverty
and want as misery, and did not see how his mother
could have been contented, as she professed to have
been.
After dinner the site for a new house was selected,
plans were matured for sending Mary to the Rippleton Academy, and Tony was to be kept at the grammar school till he was qualified for the high school.
About four o'clock, when all these things had been
fully discussed, George and Tony walked down to
the banks of the lake.
" There comes the Zephyr," said the latter. "We
have fine times in her, George, I can tell you."
"Whose boat is she? "
"Frank Sedley's; his father gave it to him."
"You must have one, Tony."
"Me!"
"Yes; I am able to give you one, and when I go
to the city I will order one built."
"How liberal you are, George! "
"You are a good boy, Tony;' and a good boy de.
serves every thing it is proper for him to have."




THE BUNIKERS OF RIPPLETON.       239
"But we don't need another. We have just as
good times in the Zephyr as though each owned a
share in her. There is nothing mean about Frank
Sedley, I can tell you!" said Tony, with enthusiasm.
" He seems to be a very fine little fellow," added
George.
" That he is; why, only last fourth of July he
gave mother all the money he had saved for the
occasion, instead of spending it. What do you say
to that? "
"That was noble. My poor mother! Was she
indeed reduced to such extremity as that! "
" She didn't want it; but he would give it to her,
and she bought new dresses for herself and Mary
with it."
" It was very generous, and he shall lose nothing
by it."
" Charley Hardy did the same, and both of them
staid at home on the fourth."
"They shall be rewarded.  But the new boat,
Tony?"
" I don't think we need another."




240          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"If you had another you could race a little, and
manceuvre together."
"That would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"I will speak with Captain Sedley about it. Here
comes the boat."
"W Ve have come to row you up to my father's,"
said the coxswain.
"Thank you, Frank," replied George.  "We
shall be very happy to accompany you."
Mrs. Weston and Mary were all ready, and the
party seated themselves in the stern sheets of the
Zephyr. On their way down the lake, the scheme
of having another club boat was discussed and fully
matured.
"What will you call her, Tony? " asked Charles.
"I don't know," said Tony, musing. "What do
you think of the Butterfly?"
" Capital! " exclaimed George.
The matter was all arranged, and the party soon
reached the boat house, and spent a pleasant evening
in the hospitable mansion of Captain Sedley.




THE B UN~KERS OF XIPPLLETON.     241
CHAPTER XX.
CONCLUSION.
THE first two weeks of the organization of the
boat club passed away, and the members were assembled in Zephyr Hall to elect a coxswain. According to the constitution, Frank's term of office
had expired.
" Whom do you intend to vote for, Fred? " asked
Charles Hardy, who appeared to be very anxious
about the election.
"I don't know; I haven't decided yet," replied
Fred Harper. "You know what Captain Sedley
said the other day about it."
" Yes, but if I have got to vote, I want to get my
mind made up. I don't see what harm there can be
in talking about it a little."
"He said he did not want any electioneering
about the officers -'l6g rolling,' my father calls it."
" Of course not," replied Charles, demurely.
21




242           TH:E BOAT CLUB, OR
"The best fellow ought to get the office," said
Fred, slyly.
" Of course, but who is the best fellow?  That's
the question. We ought to talk it over among ourselves a little."
"What good would that do?"
"Each fellow would know whom the others were
going to vote for."
"That would not help him to ascertain who would
make the best coxswain."
" But it would help towards making a choice."
" There will be a choice fast enough."
"I don't believe it. If there is no nomination
and no understanding about the matter beforehand,
every fellow will vote for a different person. You
see if there are not a dozen different ones voted for."
"We can try it over again, then," said Fred, with
laugh.
"I shall vote for you, and perhaps you will vote
for me."
" Perhaps I shall."
"And that is the way it 0ill be all through tha
elub."




THE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        24d
"Charley, what do you say to giving Frallk a reelection? " said Fred, with sudden energy, while the
mischief seemed to beam from his eyes.
"Well, I don't know," replied Charles, looking
intently at the floor.
"Frank has made a good coxswain; there is no
rubbing that out."
"Very good," said Charles, feebly.
" If it hadn't been for him, Tim Bunker would
have been drowned that time."
" Couldn't another fellow have done the same that
he did? "
"Yes, if he had had the presence of mind and
the energy of character which Frank has."
" You could have done it, Fred."
" I don't know about that."
" You hauled him in with the boathook."
" Yes, but I only did what Frank told me to do.
Look at the Bunkers; they didn't even reach the
spot till we had got him on board the Zephyr."
" I should not have been afraid but that I could
have managed the boat as well as Frank did."
"I don't know but you could, Charley."




244           THlE BOAT CLUB, OR
"I am pretty sure I could."
"Perhaps you will be elected the next coxswain,
Charley," continued Fred; and there was a slight
twinkle in his mischievous eye.
" No! O, no! I'm sure I don't want to be coxswain."
" You don't!"
"No; I never thought of such a thing."
"Didn't? "
" I'm sure I never did."' Then I will tell the fellows, so that they needn't
throw their votes away upon you," said Fred, roguishly.
"Well, as to that, of course I should serve if
chosen. I want to do just what the fellows want to
have me."
" They don't want you to be coxswain if you don't
wish to be, because there are enough of them who
do desire the office."
" Well, I don't exactly want it, but -
Charles suddenly paused.
"But what, Charley? "



TIlE BUNKERS OF RIPPLETON.        245
"I want the club should have the best officer we
can get."
Fred laughed heartily.
" I want the office, Charley; I should like it first
rate," continued he; "but I don't much expect to
get it, and am perfectly willing to abide the decision of the club. Majority rules."
"Order," said Frank Sedley, rapping on the table.
The boys all took their chairs, and Frank stated
the business of the meeting, which was to elect a
coxswain for the next two weeks.
" Our director will be with us in a moment," continued he, "and has something to say before we
proceed with the election."
"Here he comes," said Fred.
"Mr. Chairman, and members of the Zephyr Boat
Club," began Captain Sedley, with a smile on his
benevolent features, " you remember I cautioned you
a week ago not to talk about this election. I presume you have observed my request. I had strong
reasons for doing so. In the first place, I do not
wish to have any unpleasant feelings excited by these
elections; and in the second place, I wish you to
21'




246           THE BOAT CLUB, Ol
learn the first duty of a republican citizen - to cast
an independent vote. Among boys, as among men,
there is often one or more who wield an influence
over others - an influence which is not always directed by truth and justice. One, by his mental
power or social position, controls others. They follow his example without always inquiring whether it
is good or bad. I want you to think for yourselves;
to make up your minds, without any assistance from
others, in regard to the fitness of the person for
whom you vote.  I desire each of you to deposit
his ballot in the box, without communication with
others - without telling them, or letting them know
by any means, for whom you vote. Now the box is
ready, and you may separate to prepare your votes.
The poll shall be kept open ten minutes."
Some of the boys went out into the boat room,
and others out of doors. They were all very particular to comply to the letter with Captain Sedley's
request. The ballot box was kept closed, so that no
one could read the names on the votes, and only
opened enough to admit the slip of paper.
Before the ten minutes had expired the members




THE BUNIKERS OF RIPPLETON.        247
were all in their seats. There was a great deal of
interest manifested in the result, and not a little
anxiety was visible in the expression of several faces
- that of Charles Hardy in particular.
" Have you all voted?" said Frank.  "I declare
the poll closed."
" I will count the votes," interposed Captain Sedley, " so as to give you all the benefit of the excitement."
Taking the box in his hand, he went out in the
boat room.
"Who do you think has got it?" whispered
Charles to Fred Harper.
"I have no idea; I only know whom i vote for."
"Whom?"
" What would you give to know?"' Yourself? "
"Indeed, I did not! " replied Fred, indignantly.
"There would be no harm in it if you did, would
there?"
"No harm? It would only amount to saying,' I
am the best fellow in the club.' "




248          THE BOAT CLUB, OR
"No, not that; it would only be saying that you
wanted the office."
"Rather more than that."
"But you said you did want it."
"I didn't vote for myself, any how. But here
comes Captain Sedley. Hush! "
" Here is the result, Frank," said the director,
handing him the ballots and a little slip of paper on
which he had written the names and number of
votes. "Read it."
There was a breathless silence when Frank rose,
and every member exhibited the deepest interest in
the proceedings.
"Whole number of votes, thirteen," the coxswain
read from the paper. " Necessary for a choice, seven.
Charles Hardy has one; Frederic Harper has one;
and Anthony Weston has eleven, and is elected coxswain of the club for the ensuing two weeks."
"Three cheers for Tony Weston!" shouted Fred
Harper, rising. "One."
The cheers were given with hearty good will and
emphasis.




THE EUNKERS OF RIPPILETON.       249
"Mr. Chairman," said Charles, " I move we make
the vote unanimous."
Charles had been reading the proceedings of a
political nominating convention, where they make
the nomination unanimous so as to show the unity
of the party; and his ideas were rather confused.
" Those in favor of Anthony Weston for coxswain
the next two weeks, say'Ay,'. continued Frank.
"Ay!"
"It is a unanimous vote. Tony, I am happy to
resign my office to you, and I feel that it could not
have been conferred upon a more worthy member,"
said Frank, leaving his arm chair.
"But, Mr. Chairman, I am  clerk. I am very
much obliged to the club for the honor," said Tony,
blushing up to the eyes.
"You are coxswain, Tony, and the clerkship is
vacant," added Captain Sedley. " The members of
the club, without consultation with each other, have
elected you — the most convincing evidence they
could possibly give of the high esteem in which they
hold you."
After some persuasion, Tony took the chair, and




250           TIHE BOAT CLUB, OR
Fred Harper was elected clerk. Frank took Tony's
rumber, and the stroke oar was appropriated to
nlm.
The business was finished, and the club proceeded
to the boat room, to prepare for their first excursion
under the new coxswain.  After the meeting had
broken up, there was considerable inquiry for the
member who had voted for Charles Hardy; but he
could not be found. Tony had voted for Fred Harper, and the conclusion that Charles had voted for
himself was irresistible.
But Charles, in spite of his hypocritical character,
was a well meaning boy. His desire to appear well,
and to be "first and foremqst," sometimes led him
astray, and the discipline of the club finally worked
a "great improvement in him." He was not elected
coxswain that year, for on the first of November, the
Zephyr was laid up for the winter.  Fred Harper
was elected after Tony, who served his term with
credit to himself, and to the discipline of the club.
Thle Butterfly was not completed in season to
be launched that year; but the following spring a
second club was formed, and Tony was the first cox



THE BUITNKERS OF RII'PLETON.       251
swain. During the winter the Zephyrs met regularly at their hall, for mutual improvement. At the
suggestion of Fred Harper, a debating society was
formed, and the members derived a great deal of
pleasure, and obtained an excellent mental discipline,
-from their discussions.
To add to the interest of their meetings, George
Weston gave them a number of familiar lectures on
"California;"  Captain Sedley on "Life on the
Ocean;" and 3Mr. Hyde, the schoolmaster, on "Natural Philosophy and Chemistry." The boys declared
they never enjoyed a winter so much; and certainly
they derived a great deal of useful information from
these pleasant meetings.
Tim Bunker and Joe Braman were tried at the
next session of the court, - the former for stealing
and the latter for receiving stolen property, - and
sentenced to the house of correction.
George Weston's new house was completed before
winter, and the family were nicely settled before the
first snow came. The widow WYeston was happy all
day long in the presence of her children, and never
ceased to thank God for all the blessings with which




252            THE BOAT CLUB.
her life had been crowned - the blessings of adver.
sity as well as those of prosperity.
The following spring the Butterfly was launched,
the new club organized, and the sports of the season
opened with a grand May day picnic and dance on
Centre Island. But I have not space to tell my
young readers how Mary Weston was made Queen
of May, how the Zephyr and the Butterfly raced up
and down the lake, and how the latter got beaten on
account of the inexperience of her crew. I have
told my story, and I leave the boat club, and all the
characters contented and happy in the enjoyment of
the many blessings that were showered upon them.