Preface

Cover of book; Two ships on choppy water with a man hanging from a mainsail.

The Cruise of The Dazzler

by

Jack London

1902

FOREWORD

Tempting boys to be what they should be—giving them in wholesome form what they want—that is the purpose and power of Scouting. To help parents and leaders of youth secure books boys like best that are also best for boys, the Boy Scouts of America organized EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY. The books included, formerly sold at prices ranging from $1.50 to $2.00 but, by special arrangement with the several publishers interested, are now sold in the EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY Edition at $1.00 per volume.

The books of EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY were selected by the Library Commission of the Boy Scouts of America, consisting of George F. Bowerman, Librarian, Public Library of the District of Columbia; Harrison W. Craver, Director, Engineering Societies Library, New York City; Claude G. Leland, Superintendent, Bureau of Libraries, Board of Education, New York City; Edward F. Stevens, Librarian, Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Franklin K. Mathiews, Chief Scout Librarian. Only such books were chosen by the Commission as proved to be, by a nation wide canvas, most in demand by the boys themselves. The ir popularity is further attested by the fact that in the EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY Edition, more than a million and a quarter copies of these books have already been sold.

We know so well, are reminded so often of the worth of the good book and great, that too often we fail to observe or understand the influence for good of a boy's recreational reading. Such books may influence him for good or ill as profoundly as his play activities, of which they are a vital part. The needful thing is to find stories in which the heroes have the characteristics boys so much admire—unquenchable courage, immense resourcefulness, absolute fidelity, conspicuous greatness. We believe the books of EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY measurably well meet this challenge.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA,

James E. We st

Chief Scout Executive.

CONTENTS

I — BROTHER AND SISTER

II —"THE DRACONIAN REFORMS"

III —"BRICK,""SORREL-TOP,"AND"REDDY"

IV — THE BITER BITTEN

V — HOME AGAIN

VI — EXAMINATION DAY

VII — FATHER AND SON

VIII —'FRISCO KID AND THE NEW BOY

IX — ABOARD THE DAZZLER

X — WITH THE BAY PIRATES

XI — CAPTAIN AND CREW

XII — JOE TRIES TO TAKE FRENCH LEAVE

XIII — BEFRIENDING EACH OTHER

XIV — AMONG THE OYSTER-BEDS

XV — GOOD SAILORS IN A WILD ANCHORAGE

XVI —'FRISCO KID'S DITTY-BOX

XVII —'FRISCO KID TELLS HIS STORY

XVIII — A NEW RESPONSIBILITY FOR JOE

XIX — THE BOYS PLAN AN ESCAPE

XX — PERILOUS HOURS

XXI — JOE AND HIS FATHER

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Joe eats his first meal on the"Dazzler".

They sat side by side in the shelter of the cockpit.

'Frisco Kid instantly named it as the"Reindeer".

"Does she look like this?"he asked, turning it that the other might see.

Pete luffed straight into it, and the"Dazzler"mounted the steep slope with a rush.

Pete clung on, working inboard every time he emerged, till he dropped into the cockpit.