
A spirited band of teens and young men gathers at Pleasant Cove, each drawn to the sea for his own reasons. Walter, the athletic first mate, has swapped shop work for the rigging of a swift brigantine built by his friend Charlie; Ned, a small‑statured scholar rescued from danger, serves alongside his schoolmate; Jacques, a seasoned French fisherman, knows the coast like the back of his hand; and James, a strong‑hearted former slave now free, teaches the crew knot‑tying and wrestling while dreaming of a steadier future. Together they form a lively crew whose friendship is as sturdy as the ship they sail.
When the vessel readies for its next voyage, the boys learn of a humble companion held captive far from home. Determined to break his chains, they set out, braving the uncertainties of the open water and the tests of their own resolve. Their adventure promises both danger and the chance to prove that youthful courage, tempered by compassion, can change a life.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (315K characters)
Series
Pleasant Cove series
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2015-08-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1813–1901
A 19th-century minister and storyteller, he became widely known for lively boys’ adventure books shaped by the values, humor, and outdoor life of coastal Maine. His work blended moral purpose with energetic tales that kept generations of young readers turning pages.
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