OLIVER OPTIC,
Reading edition
AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG STORIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE STORIES," ETC.
WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.
BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD.
NEW YORK: CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, By WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
ELECTROTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.
TO
MY EXCELLENT YOUNG FRIEND
CHARLES H. FOWLE
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES.
1. Field and Forest; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer.
2. Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic.
3. Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk.
4. Cringle and Cross-Tree; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor.
5. Bivouac and Battle; or, The Struggles of a Soldier.
6. Sea and Shore; or, the Tramps of a Traveller.
PREFACE.
"Field and Forest" is the first of The Upward And Onward Series, in which the career of a youth from his childhood to manhood is illustrated and described. In following out the plan which the author adopted when he began to write books for the young, and which he has steadily pursued in the fifty volumes now before the public, he has endeavored to make his hero a young man of high aims and lofty purposes, however strange, stirring, or even improbable his adventures might seem. Phil Farringford, the leading character of this series, though he may have some of the conceit which belongs to youth, is always honest, true to principle, and faithful to the light which he seeks in the gospel, and in all the other sources of wisdom. He aims to be a Christian young man, respects and loves all the institutions of religion, and labors to make his life an "Upward and Onward" progress.
The scene of the story is laid upon the waters of the upper Missouri: and while the writer hopes the reader will find the story sufficiently stirring and exciting to engage his attention, he also trusts that Phil's Christian principles, his reverence for the Bible, and his devotion to duty and principle, will receive the earnest consideration of his young friends.
Harrison Square, Boston,
June 6, 1870.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
In which Phil comes home with Plenty of Fish. 11
CHAPTER II.
In which Phil finds the Camp of the Indians. 21
CHAPTER III.
In Which Phil takes good Care of the Horses. 32
CHAPTER IV.
In which Phil loses an old and valued Friend. 42
CHAPTER V.
In which Phil follows Kit Cruncher. 53
CHAPTER VI.
In which Phil assists in the building of a Block House. 63
CHAPTER VII.
In which Phil and his Friends guard the Castle. 74
CHAPTER VIII.
In which Phil sees the first Young Lady he ever saw. 85
CHAPTER IX.
In which Phil has a Visitor at the Castle. 95
CHAPTER X.
In which Phil visits Paradise, and fires at an Indian. 106
CHAPTER XI.
In which Phil Engages in the Pursuit of the Indians. 116
CHAPTER XII.
In which Phil takes deliberate Aim at one of the Captors of Ella. 127
CHAPTER XIII.
In which Phil and his companion arrive at the Cabin of Kit Cruncher. 138
CHAPTER XIV.
In which Phil rows the Barge up the Big Fish River. 149
CHAPTER XV.
In which Phil and his Companions start for the Castle. 160
CHAPTER XVI.
In which Phil arrives at the Castle. 171
CHAPTER XVII.
In which Phil conducts the Soldiers to the Line of Defence. 182
CHAPTER XVIII.
In which Phil fights the Indians on the Island. 193
CHAPTER XIX.
In which Phil conducts the Raft to the Landing, and Morgan fires the Big Gun. 204
CHAPTER XX.
In which Phil witnesses the Opening of the Battle with the Indians. 215
CHAPTER XXI.
In which Phil sees the Conclusion of the War. 226
CHAPTER XXII.
In which Phil undertakes a heavy Job. 236
CHAPTER XXIII.
In which Phil's Reconstruction Plan is fully set forth. 247
CHAPTER XXIV.
In which Phil and His Friends examine the Contents of the Chest. 257
CHAPTER XXV.
In which Phil attends to the Affairs of the Farm. 268
CHAPTER XXVI.
In which Phil, with his Fortune as a Farmer, bids Farewell to Field and Forest. 278