PREFACE

"American Boys Afloat" is the fifth volume of the "All-Over-the-World" series; and it is a continuation of the travels and adventures of Louis Belgrave and his faithful and life-long friend and constant associate, Felix McGavonty, who are still inseparably united wherever they are and whatever they do. But they have been reinforced by two other American boys, and "The Big Four," as they have been named by some of the humorously inclined passengers in the Guardian-Mother, become the heroes of the adventures recounted in the volume.

These additions to the force of the young millionaire are not wholly strangers to the readers of this series, for Morris Woolridge filled a prominent place as an actor in some of the events already related, though he had not then become one of the party whose moving home was on board of the steam-yacht. From the beginning the Belgraves and the Woolridges have been intimate friends; and at the close of the preceding volume the manner in which they became members of the expedition around the world in the same steamer was narrated.

The wild and reckless Scott, reformed by the excellent discipline of the commander of the steamer, and his association with such high-minded young men as Louis, Felix, and Morris, becomes more of a character than even his companions. The little steam-yacht, the Salihé, is discovered at Gibraltar, and the events which caused her owner to dispose of her to the combined millionaires of the Guardian-Mother are detailed. This little steamer, with her Mohammedan name changed to one more Christian, becomes the tender of the ship, and very naturally falls into the possession of the big four. They organize a regular ship's company, and the reformed member of the quartet, who is more of a sailor and navigator than the others, becomes Captain Scott. Under his command, the little craft, though not so small as to be uncomfortable, makes the voyage from Gibraltar to Constantinople, keeping on the African side, and thus "cruising in the Orient" all the way.

The steamer and her little consort visit Algiers and Constantinople, where the party devote themselves to sight-seeing, and listen to historical and descriptive lectures of the countries in whose waters they float, for the commander insists upon the instructive element of the cruise.

While the author was wondering how he could crowd the story of the voyage of the Guardian-Mother, including the adventures of the big four, into six volumes, his publishers very graciously permitted him to extend the series to twice that number. The voyage will therefore be continued on the same plan, the little steamer, with the young navigators on board of her most of the time accompanying the ship.

WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
Dorchester, Mass., Aug. 15, 1893.

CONTENTS

AMERICAN BOYS AFLOAT