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[Illustration: "HERE GRIT, OLD FELLOW, GIVE IT TO ME! THAT'S A GOOD
DOG!"
_Dick Hamilton's Steam Yacht._ _Frontispiece_--(_Page 201._)]
DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT
OR
A YOUNG MILLIONAIRE AND THE KIDNAPPERS
BY
HOWARD R. GARIS
AUTHOR OF "DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE," "DICK HAMILTON'S
CADET DAYS," "FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER," "LARRY
DEXTER, REPORTER," "LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH," ETC.
_ILLUSTRATED_
NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS
BOOKS FOR BOYS
BY HOWARD R. GARIS
THE DICK HAMILTON SERIES
DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE Or The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's
Son.
DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS Or The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son
DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT Or A Young Millionaire and the
Kidnappers
DICK HAMILTON'S FOOTBALL TEAM Or A Young Millionaire on the
Gridiron
(Other volumes in preparation)
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated._
THE YOUNG REPORTER SERIES
FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER Or The First Step in Journalism
LARRY DEXTER, THE YOUNG REPORTER Or Strange Adventures in a Great
City
LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH Or The Hunt for a Missing Millionaire
LARRY DEXTER AND THE BANK MYSTERY Or A Young Reporter in Wall
Street
LARRY DEXTER AND THE STOLEN BOY Or A Young Reporter on the Lakes
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated._
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
Copyright, 1911, by
GROSSET & DUNLAP
_Dick Hamilton's Steam Yacht_
PREFACE
MY DEAR BOYS:
Perhaps some of you, at one time or another, have had a desire to be
cast away on an island in the middle of the ocean, there to have all
sorts of adventures, to build a boat, and sail away, maybe; or, at any
rate, to have some experience on the great sea.
Something like this fell to the lot of Dick Hamilton, though he was not
exactly looking for it, and it is my privilege to give you in this, the
third volume of the "Dick Hamilton Series," an account of what happened
to the young millionaire when he had purchased a steam yacht, and
started out on a cruise with some of his friends.
Dick was marooned on a small island, but, far from that proving a
delightful experience, he was very glad to leave, even though it was on
a raft, which he and his companions constructed.
How the wealthy youth happened to be marooned there, an account of how
he got his yacht, how he foiled the plans of the kidnappers and his
uncle Ezra Larabee, how the wrong young man was spirited away, how Dick
gave chase, and the surprising rescue at sea--all this you will find set
down in the present book, and I venture to hope that you will like it.
Thanking you for the appreciation you have accorded my previous books, I
remain,
Yours sincerely,
HOWARD R. GARIS.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I DICK'S COMPANY WINS 1
II MR. HAMILTON'S LETTER 8
III DICK'S STEAM YACHT 18
IV UNCLE EZRA'S PLOT 28
V DICK IS SHADOWED 45
VI DICK ENTERS THE TRAP 56
VII THE ESCAPE 65
VIII THE FIGHT IN THE DARK 74
IX OUT TO SEA 78
X UNCLE EZRA'S OFFER 90
XI PLUM DUFF FALLS OVERBOARD 97
XII SAVED FROM THE SEA 105
XIII THE MERMAID'S SONG 112
XIV JUST IN TIME 119
XV TIM MULDOON DISAPPEARS 127
XVI UNCLE EZRA AS A SAILOR 136
XVII WIDDY HEARS A VOICE 143
XVIII THE PRINCESS PASSES 149
XIX AT HAVANA 157
XX OFF TO SANTIAGO 163
XXI THE KIDNAPPERS 171
XXII THE WRONG CAPTIVE 178
XXIII DICK ON THE TRAIL 186
XXIV OFF FOR STONE ISLAND 192
XXV DICK'S YACHT IS GONE 199
XXVI MAROONED 209
XXVII DICK FINDS HIS RELATIVES 216
XXVIII BUILDING A RAFT 225
XXIX THE RESCUE 234
XXX THE PURSUIT 242
XXXI "MAN OVERBOARD!"--CONCLUSION 249
DICK HAMILTON'S STEAM YACHT
CHAPTER I
DICK'S COMPANY WINS
"Halt!"
The command rang out sharply, and hundreds of cadets came to a stop,
standing as stiff as ramrods, with their eyes staring straight ahead
at--absolutely nothing.
"Right dress!"
Captain Dick Hamilton stepped out the regulation number of paces in
front of his company, wheeled on his heel, looked critically over his
command, wheeled about again, and stood at attention. Then he awaited
the approach of Colonel Masterly, superintendent of the Kentfield
Military Academy.
"Say, fellows, I hope we're looking all right," whispered Jim Perkins,
to his next in line, George Ball. "We want to take first prize, for
Dick's sake, and----"
"Silence in the ranks!" exclaimed First Lieutenant Paul Drew. "Here come
Colonel Masterly and Major Rockford."
Dick Hamilton never moved from his rigid position, but with a slight
motion of his hand he cautioned his men to maintain order. For it was
the final inspection, at the close of the academy for the term, and he
wanted his command to have a perfect score.
Farther along the big parade ground were other companies of cadets, in
their dress uniforms, and in front of them were other captains, as eager
as was Dick to win the coveted medal, which was offered each year for
the best appearing command.
"Here come the grand-high-muck-a-mucks!" whispered the irrepressible
Perkins. "Stand up straighter, Ball. You're as crooked as a rail fence."
"Silence!" hissed Lieutenant Drew sharply. Dick was almost ready to
squirm, in his eagerness to turn around and administer a rebuke, yet he
was inwardly laughing at the remark of Perkins. Colonel Masterly, the
head of the big school, and the commandant, Major Rockford, were now
inspecting the company, which was standing stiffly at the right of
Dick's command. The two officers, together with several visitors, and a
colonel from the regular army, were critically examining the ranks of
anxious cadets.
"I know I've got a speck of dust on my belt," whispered Perkins. "Can't
one of you fellows brush it off with your bayonet?" and he half turned
his head to look at the lad behind him.
"Si----!" began Lieutenant Drew, but he did not finish, for at that
moment the squad of officers approached, having finished with the other
company.
Dick stiffened the least bit more in his tracks, if such a thing were
possible, and raised his glittering sword in salute. The inspection was
on. There was no further chance to improve the appearance of his cadets.
Slowly and carefully the officers looked over the lads, some of whom
felt an uncontrollable desire to sneeze, or to scratch the middle of
their backs. But they nobly resisted.
Colonel Masterly spoke a few words in a low tone to Major Webster, a
retired army officer, who was the academy instructor in military
tactics. In turn the latter spoke to Major Rockford, and then to Colonel
Whitford, of the regular army. Dick wondered what they were saying, but
as they were behind him now he could not hear.
The officers paused in front of the joking Perkins. They seemed to see
something.
"Great Scott!" mused Captain Dick Hamilton. "Has Perk disgraced us by
putting his belt on wrong side out?" Yet he dared not turn to see. A
moment later the inspectors passed on, and Dick breathed easier. Then,
as Colonel Masterly and the others passed behind the rear rank of Dick's
cadets, finishing their examination, and moved on to the next company,
our hero breathed a sigh of relief, and somewhat relaxed his stiff
position.
"I feel as if I'd just been to the dentist's," whispered Perkins,
though not so quietly but what it carried to every lad in the company.
"Silence, Perk!" commanded Paul Drew, but he shook with inward laughter.
There were two more companies to inspect, and until they had been passed
on it would not be known which command had been awarded the prize.
But the delay was not for long, and presently the group of officers
returned, and stood in front of Dick's company. Colonel Masterly then
announced, in a few, well-chosen words, that the young millionaire's
cadets had won the prize, though, he added, that it had been difficult
to decide, where there was so much general excellence displayed.
"And so allow me, Captain Hamilton, on behalf of the faculty of the
Kentfield Military Academy, to present you and your company this medal,"
went on Colonel Masterly, and stepping forward he handed Dick a small
box, on the white satin lining of which glittered a shield of gold.
"Three cheers for Captain Hamilton and Company B!" called Captain Teddy
Naylor, of Company E.
And, though it might have been against strict military rule and practice
the applause was given with a will. Dick flushed with pleasure as he
saluted, and soon ranks were broken, and the inspection was over.
"Has any one seen Grit?" asked the successful captain, as he and some
chums were strolling over the parade ground, after they had left their
rifles in the armory racks.
"Here he comes now," remarked Paul Drew. "They had to keep him double
chained, I guess, or he'd have nipped the legs of the entire faculty in
case the medal hadn't gone to Company B."
"Hi, Grit, old boy!" cried Dick, and a handsome bulldog--that is,
handsome as bulldogs go--leaped upon the youth, and wagged his stump of
a tail so violently that it was a wonder it was not dislocated, while,
at every word from his master, the animal grew so demonstrative that
finally, in the excess of joy, he finally rolled over and over on the
grass, whoofing out the words he could not speak.
The throng of cadets separated, as the various members of the little
party started for their rooms, to get off the tight dress uniforms, and
don fatigue suits.
"I say, will you fellows come around to-night?" asked Dick.
"Sure! What for?" asked Paul.
"I'm going to have a little spread in honor of our fellows getting the
medal."
"What a thing it is to be a millionaire!" exclaimed Perkins with a mock
sigh.
"Oh, cut it out," advised Dick good-naturedly, for he disliked any
reference to his wealth, which, at times, was a handicap rather than a
help.
"Will Jimmie let you have the grub-fest?" asked Paul, using the cadets'
private title for their superintendent.
"Sure. He can't refuse very well, after we won the prize. You fellows
come around, and we'll have some fun," and, as there came a chorus of
eager assents, Dick Hamilton hurried to his room.
There, even before he rid himself of his uncomfortable uniform, he drew
from his pocket a letter which he began to read for perhaps the fifth
time. As he perused it a puzzled look came over his face.
"I can't understand why dad is so anxious for me to come home and do
some investigating for him," he mused. "I wonder what sort of
investigating it can be? Maybe he wants me to turn detective. Perhaps
some persons have been demanding money from him, and he wants to find
out who they are. Yet it can hardly be that, either. Let's see what he
says about it."
Then the young millionaire, who had been so taken up with trying for the
annual prize offered for the best appearing company, that he had not had
time to properly read a very important letter he had received from his
father that day, set himself to the task of trying to fathom what his
parent wanted him to do.
He had not read more than a dozen lines, when there sounded a knock on
his door, and, opening it he saw one of the janitors, Corporal Bill
Handlee, standing there.
"Well, what is it, Toots?" asked the lad, giving the old soldier the
name bestowed on him from the fact that he was always whistling military
airs.
"Colonel Masterly wishes to see you, Captain Hamilton."
"All right. Tell him I'll be with him at once."
Dick slipped the letter into his pocket, adjusted his uniform, and
hastened out.
"I wonder if I'll ever get time to read my letter without being
interrupted," he mused.