Young Captain Jack; Or, The Son of a Soldier Read online

  YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK

  Or

  The Son of a Soldier

  by

  HORATIO ALGER, JR.

  Author of "Out for Business," "Falling in with Fortune," "Adrift in NewYork," "Tattered Tom," "Ragged Dick," Etc.

  Completed by

  ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

  Author of "The Rover Boys Series," Etc.

  "OUT OF MY WAY, BOY!" AND NOW THE GUERRILLA RAISED HIS OWN SWORD.--_Frontispiece._]

  New YorkThe Mershon CompanyPublishersCopyright, 1901,byThe Mershon Company.All rights reserved.

  PREFACE.

  "YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK" relates the adventures of a boy waif, who is castupon the Atlantic shore of one of our Southern States and taken into oneof the leading families of the locality. The youth grows up as a memberof the family, knowing little or nothing of his past. This is at thetime of the Civil War, when the locality is in constant agitation,fearing that a battle will be fought in the immediate vicinity. Duringthis time there appears upon the scene a Confederate surgeon who, forreasons of his own, claims Jack as his son. The youth has had troublewith this man and despises him. He cannot make himself believe that thesurgeon is his parent and he refuses to leave his foster mother, whothinks the world of him. Many complications arise, but in the end thetruth concerning the youth's identity is uncovered, and all ends happilyfor the young son of a soldier.

  In its original shape Mr. Alger intended this tale of a soldier's sonfor a juvenile drama, and it is, therefore, full of dramatic situations.But it was not used as a play, and when the gifted author of so manyboys' books had laid aside his pen forever the manuscript was placed inthe hands of the present writer, to be made over into such a book aswould evidently have met with the noted author's approval. The successof other books by Mr. Alger, and finished by the present writer, hasbeen such that my one wish is that this story may meet with equalcommendation.

  Arthur M. Winfield.

  _February 16, 1901._

  CONTENTS.

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. THE ENCOUNTER ON THE BRIDGE, 1

  II. DARCY GILBERT'S STORY, 9

  III. A MYSTERY OF THE PAST, 16

  IV. ON BOARD THE WRECK, 23

  V. OLD BEN HAS A VISITOR, 30

  VI. MRS. RUTHVEN'S STORY, 38

  VII. A SETBACK FOR ST. JOHN, 47

  VIII. THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE, 54

  IX. DR. MACKEY INVESTIGATES, 63

  X. THE PAPERS ON THE WRECK, 71

  XI. MRS. RUTHVEN SPEAKS HER MIND, 78

  XII. THE BOAT RACE ON THE BAY, 86

  XIII. DR. MACKEY TELLS HIS STORY, 95

  XIV. JACK SPEAKS HIS MIND, 105

  XV. CAPTAIN JACK AT THE FRONT, 114

  XVI. COLONEL STANTON'S VISIT, 125

  XVII. A SCENE IN THE SUMMERHOUSE, 134

  XVIII. MEETING OF THE COUSINS, 143

  XIX. A SUMMONS FROM THE FRONT, 154

  XX. THE STORM OF BATTLE AGAIN, 163

  XXI. A LIVELY FIRE, 172

  XXII. AFTER THE BATTLE, 180

  XXIII. DR. MACKEY'S BOLD MOVE, 188

  XXIV. THE HUNT FOR JACK, 197

  XXV. A REMARKABLE REVELATION, 204

  XXVI. DR. MACKEY SHOWS HIS HAND, 212

  XXVII. COLONEL STANTON'S TALE, 220

  XXVIII. IN THE HANDS OF THE GUERRILLAS, 228

  XXIX. THE ESCAPE FROM THE CAVE, 235

  XXX. BROUGHT TO BAY, 243

  XXXI. FATHER AND SON--CONCLUSION, 252

  YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK.