The Boat Club, by Oliver Optic; Followed by the Lords of Wyven, by M. Howitt

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. THE THUNDERBOLT. The appearance of the club in uniform was unique and pleasing, and each of the members was every inch a sailor. Uncle Ben was delighted with the change, they looked so much more shipshape than in their shore togs. In the meantime, the Bunkers had not been idle, as Frank Sedley and his companions perceived in their next cruise. It is the Bunkers, said Tony. I see Tim in the stern' when a boat full of boys approached near enough for them to examine her. Apparently the boat had been sawed in two and lengthened out. She had been painted bright yellow, with a red streak round her, and on the bows, after the manner of the Zephyr, was inscribed in black letters the name Thunderbolt, which was in accordance with Tim Bunker's taste. She was pulled by eight oars, and the redoubtable leader of the gang sat in the stern sheets as coxswain. Forward floated a blue cotton rag, with the letter T painted upon it in white paint, and surrounded by half a dozen ill-shaped stars. At the stern was a ragged piece of bunting, which had once been the flag of the republic, but which had been curtailed of nine of its stripes and a part of its stars. The Bunkers evidently had not practised rowing much, for their stroke was irregular, and they splashed the water about like so many porpoises. Occasionally one of them got hit in the back by his neighbour's oar, which produced a great deal of swearing and wrangling among them. They made but slow progress through the water, and the Zephyrs could scarcely refrain from laughing at the singular spectacle. Joe Braman, the alleged proprietor of the Thunderbolt, was an idle, dissolute fellow, who employed his time in gunning, fishing, and loitering about the dramshops of Kippleton. He lived in a miserable...