RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES
by
WILLIAM PERRY BROWN
Illustrated By W. H. Fry
[Frontispiece: "Grandpa!" cried Ralph. "You shall not shoot, I say!"]
Akron, Ohio The Saalfield Publishing Co. New York ---- 1902 ---- Chicago Copyright, 1902, by The Saalfield Publishing Company
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. Ending the Feud II. Ralph and his Grandfather III. Ralph Continues his Journey IV. The Moonshiners and the Railroad V. Ralph's First Railroad Ride VI. Ralph in Columbia VII. An Enraged Photographer VIII. Captain Shard's Proposal IX. Ralph Arrives at Savannah X. The Captain Talks with Ralph XI. Aboard the Curlew XII. The Curlew Puts to Sea XIII. A Taste of Ship's Discipline XIV. Bad Weather XV. Boarded by a Cruiser XVI. Nearing the Gold Coast XVII. Up the River XVIII. A Brush in the Wilderness XIX. Left Behind XX. Ralph Stumbles on a Discovery XXI. At Close Quarters XXII. Trouble of Another Kind XXIII. Adrift XXIV. Ralph's Sufferings XXV. The Second Mate's Story XXVI. Hard Times XXVII. Uncle Gideon
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"Grandpa!" cried Ralph. "You shall not shoot, I say!" . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_
"Mr. Duff," said Gary in his most grating tones, "who gave you the authority to interfere with my designs regarding this insolent youngster?"
Ralph's Winchester cracked and the raised arm fell shattered and useless.
"Quick, Ralph, pull me through by the arms."
Ralph Granger's Fortunes.
CHAPTER I.
Ending the Feud.
"Must I do it, grandpa?"
"Of course you must! I'm afraid you ain't a true Granger, Ralph, or you wouldn't ask no such question."
"But why should I do it, grandpa?"
"Listen at the boy."
The sharp-eyed, grizzled old man rose from his seat before the fire, and took down an ancient looking, muzzle loading rifle from over the cabin door.
"I'll tell you why."
He patted the gun, now lying across his knees.
"This here was your father's gun. He carried it for many years. I had it when the feud betwixt the Grangers and the Vaughns first began. He had it with him when he was shot down at the Laurel Branch by John Vaughn, just six years ago today."
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Ralph Granger's Fortunes by William Perry Brown
- 2: Young Granger squinted along the rifle barrel
- 3: He remembered seeing this same Jase Vaughn
- 4: Jase held out a large brown paw
- 5: Then Jase clucked to his mule and rode away
- 6: Pack up your traps and get outn here
- 7: While Clell smiled at Ralph in a most amiable manner
- 8: And Ralph ran lightly up the steps
- 9: Feeling a pressure on his chest
- 10: Don't tell Dopples what I've said
- 11: They say it stretches that way clear to the seacoast
- 12: There ought to be some kind of a shack about
- 13: The whistling stopped suddenly
- 14: Be you a son of old Bras Granger
- 15: As Ralph strove to peer within
- 16: You are a Vaughn a Vaughn a Vaughn
- 17: My name is Quigg Lemuel Quigg
- 18: Quigg threw open one lid of a trunk
- 19: Until the train arrived at Hendersonville
- 20: Quigg superintended operations
- 21: Tildy Dopples a relative of yours
- 22: I never knew until Aunt Dopples told me
- 23: Quigg stared at Ralph a moment
- 24: Ralph listened in astonishment
- 25: Quigg surveyed Ralph with disgust
- 26: Quigg fairly danced with futile anger
- 27: So he invested a nickel in a frugal supply of gingerbread
- 28: Ralph regarded the negro steadily
- 29: In five minutes Emmons was snoring lustily
- 30: And in payment he will buy you a ticket to Savannah
- 31: Emmons will settle board bills
- 32: But the darkies gave loud and voluble explanations
- 33: Emmons took Ralph to a soda fountain
- 34: I want to see Captain Gary and I'm going to see him
- 35: I have a letter for you from Captain Shard
- 36: The captain lighted another cigarette
- 37: Before the boatswain reappeared
- 38: At sight of whom Bludson touched his cap
- 39: The propeller why the propeller is a propeller
- 40: He followed Tom Bludson into the forecastle
- 41: Here they found Neb short for Nebraska
- 42: Duff saluting Captain Gary and Mr
- 43: After which the capstan was manned
- 44: Duff was standing at the binnacle
- 45: He made a dive for the cook's galley
- 46: Said Gary without paying any heed to the second mate
- 47: Gary seemed momentarily paralyzed at such independence
- 48: Remarked Rucker as he prepared to go below
- 49: Exclaimed Duff one day to Rucker
- 50: Said Gary in his most grating tones
- 51: The Curlew fell off more before the wind
- 52: At this juncture Captain Gary reappeared
- 53: Duff was paying the closest attention
- 54: Replied Gary somewhat scornfully
- 55: But in Cuba and Brazil they are not
- 56: Alternate fogs and calms delayed their progress somewhat
- 57: Demanded Duff from the main deck
- 58: For the squall was still at its height
- 59: Duff then directed two pair of oars
- 60: Ralph volunteered to keep watch
- 61: Smaller kinds of spiders about here
- 62: One of us must sleep in the yawl
- 63: Duff and Ralph were intent on the duty before them
- 64: Duff with difficulty made him stop
- 65: In those leafy depths no sun ever shone
- 66: While the Wanderer was almost due west from the inlet
- 67: Renewing his efforts at the oar
- 68: Captain Gary hardly vouchsafed them more than a glance
- 69: Gary gave vent to a subdued oath or two
- 70: Ralph walked straight to Captain Gary and saluted
- 71: Ralph returned to the deck pale
- 72: He hesitated until his fingers burned
- 73: He handed the glass to Rucker and swore impatiently
- 74: Rucker threw down his speaking trumpet in despair
- 75: As the mate returned to the deck Gary called Ease away
- 76: I certainly owe Captain Gary no favors
- 77: One of the storeroom doors was open
- 78: Accompanied by Bludson and others
- 79: Gary placed two men fully armed
- 80: Gary had determined to make for the nearest port
- 81: I might as well search the lockers
- 82: There was a cleat near the tiller and Ralph
- 83: But as long as she was in sight Ralph sailed on
- 84: The pitching of the yawl increased
- 85: Naked forms ran up the rigging
- 86: Duff was struck with a marlin spike
- 87: Cried Duff with an exulting whoop
- 88: He promptly broke the demijohn
- 89: Duff used his efforts to part them
- 90: And having given both lad and yawl up for lost
- 91: That tossed the yawl at pleasure hither and thither
- 92: Duff related his own adventures and yours
- 93: This is Chief Quartermaster Gideon Granger
- 94: Exclaimed Ralph enthusiastically