
Preface.
Chapter One. - My Friends and I.
Chapter Two. - A Successful Disguise.
Chapter Three. - In the Enemy’s Hands.
Chapter Four. - On Board His Majesty’s Frigate.
Chapter Five. - The Engagement.
Chapter Six. - Afloat in the Squadron.
Chapter Seven. - Further Successes.
Chapter Eight. - Close Quarters.
Chapter Nine. - The Corsair beaten off.
Set against the restless seas of 17th‑century Dorset, the story follows a young narrator and his two close friends as they spend their days sailing the waters off Lyme. Their simple fishing trips become a window onto a town bristling with political tension, where the reverberations of the Civil War shape every conversation. The narrator’s father, a retired sea captain, offers a vivid portrait of a community bound by loyalty to Parliament and a deep sense of religious conviction.
Through lively dialogue and richly described coastal scenery, the tale introduces the charismatic figure of Humphrey Blake, a merchant whose principled stand against royal overreach inspires the boys. Their youthful enthusiasm for the Roundhead cause is tempered by the harsh realities of oppression and the sacrifices demanded of ordinary people. Listeners will be drawn into a world where courage is measured not by battlefield glory but by the steadfastness of conscience and community.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (269K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2007-05-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1814–1880
Known for lively sea stories and adventure tales for young readers, this Victorian writer turned his love of travel and the natural world into books packed with action, exploration, and moral courage.
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