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The Last Cruise of the Spitfire: or, Luke Foster's Strange Voyage
The Last Cruise of the Spitfire; or, Luke Foster's Strange Voyage
PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION
"The Last Cruise of the Spitfire" is the opening volume of the "Ship and Shore" Series, and tells of the things which happened to a boy who ran away from his guardian's home because he could no longer stand the cruel treatment received.
In this tale, in order to get close to the heart of the boy, the author has allowed Luke Foster to tell his own story in his own way. Luke has never before been to sea, and when he is carried off on the "Spitfire" his real experiences on the briny ocean, set up in juxtaposition to what he had imagined a life on the "rolling deep" to be, make reading which I trust every lad who has a "hankering" after a sailor's life may digest with profit. Luke concludes that a life on land is good enough for him, and I feel certain that a majority of our readers will agree with him.
Of Luke's overbearing cousin and his dishonest uncle much might be said which Luke leaves untold. The boy does this probably out of his natural good-heartedness. Yet the lives of the pair, and especially that of the father, well illustrate the old saying, that, sooner or later, every wrong-doer is bound to overreach himself and fall into the hands of justice.
Upon first appearing in print, "The Last Cruise of the Spitfire" was as well received as the stories in the "Bound to Succeed Series," which had preceded it; and once again the author begs to thank readers and critics for their continued kindness to him.
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
Newark, N.J.,
May 1, 1899.
CHAPTER I
MYSELF AND MY UNCLE
"Luke!"
"Yes, Mr. Stillwell."
"Why didn't you sweep and dust the office this morning?"
"I did, sir."
"You did!"
"Yes, sir."
"You did!" repeated the gentleman, who, I may as well state, was my esteemed uncle. "I must say, young man, that lately you have falsified to an astonishing degree."
"Excuse me, but I have not falsified – not to my knowledge, sir."
"Stop; don't contradict me – "
"I am telling the truth, sir."