The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat-Builder

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[Illustration: YACHT CLUB SERIES]

[Illustration: MISS NELLIE PATTERDALE AND DON JOHN. Frontispiece.]




[Illustration: OLIVER OPTIC'S YACHT CLUB SERIES.

        THE YACHT CLUB.
        LEE & SHEPARD,
        BOSTON]




THE YACHT CLUB SERIES.

       *       *       *       *       *

THE YACHT CLUB;

OR,

THE YOUNG BOAT-BUILDER.

BY

OLIVER OPTIC,

        AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES,"
        "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE
        BOAT CLUB STORIES," "THE LAKE SHORE SERIES,"
        "THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES,"
        ETC., ETC.

_WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS._

        BOSTON:
        LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.
        NEW YORK:
        LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

        Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873,
        BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS,
        In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

       *       *       *       *       *

        Brown Type-Setting Machine Company.

        TO

        MY YOUNG FRIEND

        _CHARLES H. HASTINGS_,

        OF NEW YORK,

        This Book is Affectionately Dedicated.



The Yacht Club Series.


        1. LITTLE BOBTAIL; OR, THE WRECK OF THE PENOBSCOT.

        2. THE YACHT CLUB; OR, THE YOUNG BOAT-BUILDER.

        3. MONEY-MAKER; OR, THE VICTORY OF THE BASILISK.

        4. THE COMING WAVE; OR, THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF HIGH ROCK.

        5. THE DORCAS CLUB; OR, OUR GIRLS AFLOAT.

        (The sixth in preparation.)




PREFACE.


"THE YACHT CLUB" is the second volume of the YACHT CLUB SERIES, to which
it gives a name; and like its predecessor, is an independent story. The
hero has not before appeared, though some of the characters of "LITTLE
BOBTAIL" take part in the incidents: but each volume may be read
understandingly without any knowledge of the contents of the other. In
this story, the interest centres in Don John, the Boat-builder, who is
certainly a very enterprising young man, though his achievements have
been more than paralleled in the domain of actual life.

Like the first volume of the series, the incidents of the story
transpire on the waters of the beautiful Penobscot Bay, and on its
shores. They include several yacht races, which must be more interesting
to those who are engaged in the exciting sport of yachting, than to
others. But the principal incidents are distinct from the aquatic
narrative; and those who are not interested in boats and boating will
find that Don John and Nellie Patterdale do not spend all their time on
the water.

The hero is a young man of high aims and noble purposes: and the writer
believes that it is unpardonable to awaken the interest and sympathy of
his readers for any other than high-minded and well-meaning characters.
But he is not faultless; he makes some grave mistakes, even while he has
high aims. The most important lesson in morals to be derived from his
experience is that it is unwise and dangerous for young people to
conceal their actions from their parents and friends; and that men and
women who seek concealment "choose darkness because their deeds are
evil."

 HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON,
              May 22, 1873.




CONTENTS.


                                                     PAGE

        CHAPTER I.
        DON JOHN OF BELFAST, AND FRIENDS               11

        CHAPTER II.
        ABOUT THE TIN BOX                              28

        CHAPTER III.
        THE YACHT CLUB AT TURTLE HEAD                  46

        CHAPTER IV.
        A SAD EVENT IN THE RAMSAY FAMILY               63

        CHAPTER V.
        CAPTAIN SHIVERNOCK                             81

        CHAPTER VI.
        DONALD GETS THE JOB                            99

        CHAPTER VII.
        LAYING DOWN THE KEEL.                         117

        CHAPTER VIII.
        THE FIRST REGATTA.                            135

        CHAPTER IX.
        THE SKYLARK AND THE SEA FOAM.                 153

        CHAPTER X.
        THE LAUNCH OF THE MAUD.                       171

        CHAPTER XI.
        THE WHITE CROSS OF DENMARK.                   189

        CHAPTER XII.
        DONALD ANSWERS QUESTIONS.                     207

        CHAPTER XIII.
        MOONLIGHT ON THE JUNO.                        226

        CHAPTER XIV.
        CAPTAIN SHIVERNOCK'S JOKE.                    244

        CHAPTER XV.
        LAUD CAVENDISH TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF.         264

        CHAPTER XVI.
        SATURDAY COVE.                                283

        CHAPTER XVII.
        THE GREAT RACE.                               302

        CHAPTER XVIII.
        THE HASBROOK OUTRAGE, AND OTHER MATTERS.