Cadets of the Dolphin - ebook

Contents

I. KENDALL STARTS TO JOIN THE DOLPHIN

II. ON THE JOURNEY TO WINCOMBE

III. A STARTLING ADVENTURE

IV. THE MYSTERIOUS LAUNCH

V. FRIENDS—AND FOES

VI. CAPTAIN PROBYN

VII. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING

VIII. THE RIVAL DORMITORIES

IX. A COWARDLY ATTACK

X. IN DIRE PERIL

XI. A SECRET ENEMY

XII. THE MAN HUNT

XIII. A DISAPPOINTMENT

XIV. UNEXPECTED HELP

XV. A MIDNIGHT FISHING EXPEDITION

XVI. TROUBLES AHEAD

XVII. THE SECOND OFFICER'S CONFIDENCES

XVIII. JACK'S PERIL

XIX. A NARROW ESCAPE

XX. IN THE GIRLS' SCHOOL-ROOM

XXI. DRUMMOND'S SUSPICIONS

XXII. TWO LETTERS

XXIII. THE THREAT

XXIV. IN THE TOILS

XXV. HOW MISS CARYLL MET JACK

XXVI. JACK AGAIN DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF

XXVII. A COWARDLY TRIO

XXVIII. JACK'S BIGGEST CONTEST

XXIX. GOOD INTENTIONS

XXX. MR. KENDALL'S GIFT

XXXI. TOO-GENEROUS JACK

XXXII. THE POND IN THE WOOD

XXXIII. KENDALL AND TROTT

XXXIV. UNDER SUSPICION

XXXV. SPREADING THE NET

XXXVI. A FRIEND IN NEED

XXXVII. IN THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION

XXXVIII. THE TRIAL

XXXIX. CONCLUSIONI. KENDALL STARTS TO JOIN THE DOLPHIN

“HULLO, Branson! Who’d have thought of seeing you up here! Thought you were away yachting with your dad! Did you get too seasick in that last gale, and decide to turn a landsman?”

The scene was Paddington Station. At the bookstall a young lad had been buying a paper, when he had heard himself addressed as above, and had felt a light touch on his arm.

He was a good-looking youngster, neither very dark nor very fair, and rather stout-built; somewhat, it may be said, of the sturdy, John Bull type of figure. His dark-blue suit, with its bright metal buttons, betokened the young, seafaring cadet. His keen, grey eyes, as he turned them towards the one who had addressed him, were frank and honest-looking.

He saw, standing looking at him, another lad about his own age, and dressed in a suit almost identical with his own. A fair, curly-headed, rather slim youngster, with, he thought, the merriest, most roguish-looking blue eyes he had ever seen.

“I–er–beg your pardon,” he said, “but were you speaking to me? Did you say Branson? That’s not my name–”

“Eh? Not your name? Oh, I’m sorry! I can see you’re not Branson now I’ve got a better look at you. But you’re uncommonly like–like, well, like one of our crowd!”

“That’s all right. No harm done,” was the answer given with a good-humored nod. “Are you one of the Dolphin chaps?”

“Hit it first time, sonny,” returned the other, with an air of easy-going nonchalance. “I’m a Dolphin boy, right enough; name, Wilfrid Caryll, commonly known as Will Caryll for short; sometimes–about December in each year–called Christmas Caryll, by cheeky kids who think they’ve hit upon something new. But you, sonny? If you’re not Branson–and I can see now you’re not–you’re a bit darker–who are you? Where d’ye hail from, and where are ye bound for?”

The first lad smiled at the stranger’s jaunty, free-and-easy manner.

“My name’s Jack Kendall,” he said, “and I’m on my way to join the Dolphin too. Perhaps if I tell you that I have a cousin–Clement Branson–already there, it may explain what’s puzzling you.”

Caryll whistled.

“Oh, that’s the explanation! Of course I know Clem Branson; but, I say”–here the speaker paused–”if you’re a new boy, and Branson your cousin, I s’pose he knew you were coming; so why didn’t he tell us? Never a word has he said about it, so far as I’ve heard.”

Kendall flushed, and looked embarrassed; but ere he could reply another voice–a man’s voice this time–broke in:

“What, Branson? I did not know you were up here!”

Kendall swung round, and found himself face to face with a tall, fine-looking, elderly gentleman, who was standing regarding him with a perplexed frown.

Young Caryll stepped towards him and explained:

This is a free sample. Please purchase full version of the book to continue.