Action Ballantyne, R. M: Gascoyne, the Sandal-Wood Trader. V1. 28 Sep 2010

[crutledge]

R. M. Ballantyne (24 April 1825 – 8 February 1894) was a Scottish juvenile fiction writer.
Born Robert Michael Ballantyne in Edinburgh, he was part of a famous family of printers and publishers. At the age of 16 he went to Canada and was six years in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. He returned to Scotland in 1847, and published his first book the following year, Hudson's Bay: or, Life in the Wilds of North America. For some time he was employed by Messrs Constable, the publishers, but in 1856 he gave up business for the profession of literature, and began the series of adventure stories for the young with which his name is popularly associated.

Excerpt
As soon as the anchor touched the ground, the captain ordered a small boat to be lowered, and, leaping into it with two men, rowed toward the shore.

The captain of the schooner was one of those men who seem to have been formed for the special purpose of leading and commanding their fellows. He was not only unusually tall and powerful but he possessed voice whose softest tones riveted attention, and when it thundered forth commands in the fiercest storms, it inspired confidence heard it. His eyes were of that indescribable blue color which can exhibit either passion or tenderness intensely.

"Have you brought your kit with you, John?" inquired the captain, as the little boat shot over the smooth waters of the bay. "I do not mean to take you aboard again."

This work is assumed to be in the Life+70 public domain OR the copyright holder has given specific permission for distribution. Copyright laws differ throughout the world, and it may still be under copyright in some countries. Before downloading, please check your country's copyright laws. If the book is under copyright in your country, do not download or redistribute this work.

To report a copyright violation you can contact us here.