DOWN THE RIVER;

OR,

BUCK BRADFORD AND HIS TYRANTS.

BY

OLIVER OPTIC,

AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES,"
"THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC.

BOSTON
LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

Copyright, 1896, by William T. Adams.
All rights reserved.

DOWN THE RIVER.

THE SETTLEMENT.—Page 52.

TO
My Young Friend
WILLIAM H. LOW
This Book
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

PREFACE.

"Down the River" is the sixth of the continued stories published in "Our Boys and Girls," and the last of "The Starry Flag Series." It is the personal narrative of Buck Bradford, who, with his deformed sister, made an eventful voyage down the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, to New Orleans. The writer's first book—not a juvenile, and long since out of print—was planned during a long and tedious passage up the Father of Waters; and it seems like going back to an old friend to voyage again, even in imagination, upon its turbid tide.

Buck Bradford tells his story to suit himself; and the author hopes it will also suit the young reader. Whatever moral it may contain will be found in the reading; and the writer trusts it will impart a lesson of self-reliance, honesty, and truth, and do something towards convincing the young reader that it is best always to do right, whatever the consequences may be, leaving results, in the choice between good and evil, to take care of themselves.

However often the author may be called upon to thank the juvenile public for the generous favor bestowed upon his books, he feels that the agreeable duty cannot be so frequently repeated as ever to become a mere formality; for with each additional volume he finds his sense of obligation to them for their kindness renewed and deepened.

William T. Adams.

Harrison Square, Mass.,
October 28, 1868.

CONTENTS.