Outward Bound Or, Young America Afloat: A Story of Travel and Adventure

by Oliver Optic

  Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Norma Elliott and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team. (www.pgdp.net)

  YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD

  ByOLIVER OPTIC

  OUTWARD BOUND

  BOSTONLEE & SHEPARD.]

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  OUTWARD BOUND;

  OR,

  YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT.

  A STORY OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE.

  BY

  WILLIAM T. ADAMS

  (_OLIVER OPTIC_).

  BOSTON:LEE AND SHEPARD.

  1869.

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  Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, byWILLIAM T. ADAMS,In the Clerk's Office of the District Courtof the District of Massachusetts.

  * * * * *

  TO GEORGE WEBSTER TERRILL

  _This Volume_

  IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

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  YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD.

  BY OLIVER OPTIC.

  A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. First and SecondSeries; six volumes in each Series. 16mo. Illustrated.

  _First Series_.

  I. _OUTWARD BOUND,_ OR, YOUNG AMERICA AFLOAT.

  II. _SHAMROCK AND THISTLE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND.

  III _RED CROSS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

  IV. _DIKES AND DITCHES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.

  V. _PALACE AND COTTAGE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND.

  VI. _DOWN THE RHINE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN GERMANY.

  _Second Series_.

  I. _UP THE BALTIC_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN DENMARK AND SWEDEN.

  II. _NORTHERN LANDS_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA.

  III. _VINE AND OLIVE_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

  IV. _SUNNY SHORES_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN ITALY AND AUSTRIA.

  V. _CROSS AND CRESCENT_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN GREECE AND TURKEY.

  VI. _ISLES OF THE SEA_; OR, YOUNG AMERICA HOMEWARD BOUND.

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  PREFACE.

  Outward Bound is the first volume of "A Library of Travel and Adventurein Foreign Lands," and contains the voyage of the Academy Ship "YoungAmerica" across the Atlantic. The origin and progress of this aquaticinstitution are incidentally developed, and the plan is respectfullysubmitted to the consideration of those who are interested in theeducation and moral training of the class of young men who are thecharacters in the scenes described in this work. Besides a fulldescription of the routine and discipline of the ship, as an educationaland reformatory institution, the volume contains a rather free _expose_of the follies and frailties of youth, but their vices are revealed tosuggest the remedy.

  The story includes the experience of the officers and crew of the YoungAmerica, eighty-seven in number, though, of course, only a few of themcan appear as prominent actors. As the ship has a little world, with allthe elements of good and evil, within her wooden walls, the story of theindividual will necessarily be interwoven with that of the mass; and thehistory of "The Chain League," in the present volume, of which Shufflesis the hero, will, it is hoped, convey an instructive lesson to youngmen who are disposed to rebel against reasonable discipline andauthority. In the succeeding volumes of this series, the adventures,travels, and "sight-seeing," as well as the individual and collectiveexperience of the juvenile crew of the Academy Ship, will be narrated.They will visit the principal ports of Europe, as well as penetrate tothe interior; but they will always be American boys, wherever they are.

  The author hopes that the volumes of the series will not only beinstructive as a description of foreign lands, and interesting as arecord of juvenile exploits, but that they will convey correct views ofmoral and social duties, and stimulate the young reader to theirfaithful performance.

  HARRISON SQUARE, MASS.,November 2, 1866.

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