G.A. Henty was a 19th century British novelist known for historical action and adventure books, many of which were best sellers in his day. Even today, classics like The Dragon & The Raven (1886), For The Temple (1888), Under Drake's Flag (1883) and In Freedom's Cause (1885) are still widely read.

James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction 1919

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author: Percy F. Westerman was a prolific author of children literature, many of his books adventures with military and naval themes.Born in 1876, United KingdomDied: Feburary 22, 1959.Preview of the book:"...recoiling in masses of phosphorescent foam and at the same time sending clouds of spindrift flying across the lofty bridge. The Portchester Castle was forty-eight hours out from England, bound for patrol duties in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was by no means her first trip to that inland sea. In pre-war days, under a different name, she had been making regular pleasure trips under the auspices of a touring agency. It had been said that her skipper could find his way practically blindfold into any of the better-known Mediterranean ports, so long had he been on this particular service.But the outbreak of the Great War had changed all that. Taken over by the Admiralty, the former liner-yacht had been rapidly and efficaciously adapted to her new rôle. Her palatial cabin fittings had been ruthlessly scrapped. The dazzling white enamel had been hidden under a coat of neutral grey. Her bluff funnels were disguised with “wash” of the same dingy hue. Light armour protected her vital parts; quick-firing guns of hard-hitting power were mounted on the decks that previously had been given over to pleasure-seeking tourists. In short, the Portchester Castle was now a swift and formidable unit of the British Navy.Four years had made a marked difference in the appearance of Tom Webb, formerly Tenderfoot of the Sea Scouts’ yacht..."

It is a strong proof of the diffusive tendency of every thing in this country, that America never yet collected a fleet. Nothing is wanting to this display of power but the will. But a fleet requires only one commander, and a feeling is fast spreading in the country that we ought to be all commanders; unless the spirit of unconstitutional innovation, and usurpation, that is now so prevalent, at Washington, be controlled, we may expect to hear of proposals to send a committee of Congress to sea, in command of a squadron. We sincerely hope that their first experiment may be made on the coast of Africa. It has been said of Napoleon that he never could be made to understand why his fleets did not obey his orders with the same accuracy, as to time and place, as his corps d'armée. He made no allowances for the winds and currents, and least of all, did he comprehend that all important circumstance, that the efficiency of a fleet is necessarily confined to the rate of sailing of the dullest of its ships. More may be expected from a squadron of ten sail, all of which shall be average vessels, in this respect, than from the same number of vessels, of which one half are fast and the remainder dull. One brigade can march as fast as another, but it is not so with vessels. The efficiency of a marine, therefore, depends rather on its working qualities, than on its number of ships.

Illustrating that no matter how I try to write prose, poetry keeps peeking through. These were fun to write and I hope you will find them fun to read.Those who have read Life Before Lithium (also published by Smashwords) will find echoes of that journey in some of these stories.

In 1958 a small boy learns a little about England and cures a kerosene fridge....One Small Boy, is a series of very short stories that tell of a relationship that develops between two children in a world that is rapidly changing.

Three daughters are out to get revenge on the man who is responsible for their father's death.Long after a man is killed, his daughters try to get revenge on his killer by making an appearance in court. Later, they discover not only the killer, but who their father really was.

Dava d is a small boy who comes by boat across the ocean to a new country. He has been separated from his parents, and has lost the piece of paper that would have explained everything. On the boat a stranger named Siman takes it upon himself to look after the boy. Simano s goal is to find the boyo s mother; he feels sure he will know her."

Elijah Deville is a crafty lawyer. When an employee is accused of sabotaging a rollercoaster in order to kill his boss, Elijah refuses to believe it. With all of the evidence seemingly against him, Elijah fights on in his quest for the 'Not Guilty' verdict. Who committed this murder? And more importantly how? Can you crack the case before Elijah? Take the challenge, that is if you're up to it.Elijah Deville is a crafty lawyer. When an employee is accused of sabotaging a brand new rollercoaster in order to kill his overly curious boss, Elijah refuses to believe it. Along with his sister Becca, and private investigator Cameron Mills, it is Elijah's job to present the best defense possible, in the hopes that the jury will see things his way. But where to start? After all, all of the evidence points to his client's guilt. The accused was seen near the coaster on the night of the sabotage; his fingerprints were found on the missing pieces of the coaster; and he owned an acetylene torch needed to commit the sabotage. Knowing all this, Elijah needs to find the courage, and evidence for that matter, in order to attain the ultimate prize: a 'Not Guilty' verdict. Who committed this murder? And more importantly how? Can you crack the case before Elijah does? Take the challenge, that is if you're up to it!

Frank Cotton's insatiable appetite for the dark pleasures of pain led him to the puzzle of Lemarchand's box, and from there, to a death only a sick-minded soul could invent. But his brother's love-crazed wife, Julia, has discovered a way to bring Frank back — though the price will be bloody and terrible . . . and there will certainly be hell to pay.

A Dominique Flyndry story.Captain Dominique Flyndry, super Agent of the Terran Empire has met her worst nightstallion. An opposing spy that is a telepath. The bird woman Aycharaya can read her mind and know her every move! Even worse, she likes the woman after she saves Flyndry from a dragon!A Gender Switch Adventure.Alex thinks he has the perfect relationship with boyfriend Gary. When Dexter moves in next door to Alex, things start to get complicated. Everyone Dexter meets seems to develop feelings for him, and even though the new boy is straight, Alex can't help but start to fall for him. These concerns he outlines in his brutally honest diary, while also dealing with his psychotic best friend Andie and his parents' divorce.

Lily lives a life of deceit. She pretends to have a normal life, but in reality she's part of a team of professional thieves, working as a trapper to lure rich men back to their mansions to be robbed. Duke is dissatisfied with his life, despite being the son of the billionaire. By day he works for his father, by night he indulges his dark side. When he meets Lily, both their lives change forever.Lily isn't exactly whiter than white, even if that's what she wants the world to think of her. Under her pretty shop girl exterior, there's a darkness. A side that comes alive when she does her 'real' job – working as a trapper for a group of professional thieves. Her job is to hunt millionaires and billionaires. To lure them back to their mansions and scout the place once they're knocked out. It's something she's good at, something she enjoys. All until her latest job goes wrong, a man gets killed, and her life begins to turn on its head. Duke wears a mask during the day, one he takes off at night. His world isn't the spreadsheets and suits and meetings that he's forced to endure. It's the world after dark he truly inhabits. A world of alcohol and women and fighting. A world he enters in order to rebel. When he meets Lily after his latest scrap outside a nightclub, he thinks nothing of it. When he sees her the next day working in a local shop, he begins to get interested. And when she comes to him for help, he feels obliged to say yes. Soon, however, their lives will intertwine even more than either of them know. DECEIT is a new adult romance series by L.A Shorter, told from the double perspective of Lily and Duke. It will be told through several parts, each the length of a novella. Part 1 is roughly 22,000 words.

Written one-a-day in July 2013, these thirty-one more very short stories feature a wide (and often surprising) cast of characters: a drunken angel, a baby-themed supervillain, a man who spontaneously turns into two mildly annoyed horses. This book is for everyone who's ever wondered: "Just what would happen if Hydrogen quit its day job to become a country music star...?"It's the end of the world as we know it, and the Eclective feels fine.The Shifting Sands by Tara West: When a jealous goddess threatens to destroy all of humanity, a young woman and her family must overcome impossible odds to survive.Light by Emma Jameson: In the zombie apocalypse, the hope for humanity's survival is pinned on Daniel. Unfortunately, Daniel is an android. And humanity may be past all hope...Alien Butt Plugs by PJ Jones: The aliens are coming! And Jeb's first line of defense may be worse than the anal probe he fears.Seeds by M. Edward McNally: For Meats and his fellow Guns, life was simple. Keep your respirator clear, your weapon ready, and an eye on your neighbors. Until one day Meats found some seeds, and everything got complicated.Cleavers by Heather Marie Adkins: Creatures such as the Cleavers should never exist. But in Tora's world, they're real, and death is more likely than survival.The Last Christmas by Alan Nayes: On the verge of the Apocalypse, a young couple wish to spend one last Christmas together.Combustion by RG Porter: Kate wakes to find her world scorched and survivors in short supply. She needs to unravel the cause before time runs out.

Mankind flourishes in a distant future ruled by densely populated Cities. After the biggest arrest of his life, Detective Ben Reiner plays a dangerous game with a psychopathic cult member of the Cullers.Reiner soon discovers the truth of their plot, and faces an unspeakable choice. Aid in the Cullers' grisly work, or allow the world's last renewable resource to run out forever: the human soul.And you thought your boss was cold! At the age of 24, Deidre finds herself unemployed with few job skills and a growing pile of overdue bills. When a perky career counselor suggests an open housekeeping position, Deidre knows this could be her only chance for a decent job.She doesn't bother asking many questions...like what the career counselor meant when she said the employer had certain "peculiarities".Deidre is in for a very unpleasant surprise. Not only is her prospective boss a vampire, but he's also cranky, adamantly prefers the telegraph over the telephone and gets dangerous when his prune juice isn't delivered on time. Oh, and he also has a strong fondness for another kind of liquid refreshment, one that he prefers warm and fresh.In this hilarious and satirical short story (approx. 4,300 words), author J. Bennett takes on the wildly popular vampire mythology and gives it a certain grizzled spin. As Deidre will discover, not all vampires are eternally-young , virile romantics who effortlessly keep up with the times. Some of them delight in wearing bow-ties, continue to enthusiastically vote for Eisenhower in each election, and consider the television to be witch magic.Can Deidre make it as a vampire's housekeeper? To find out, she'll first have to survive the job interview!

When young Merlin falls into the company of traveling performers, they rename him Hobby, after a small falcon. Nightmarish trouble lies ahead on the path that will lead him to greatness.

Lucky Dawson knew that he should have just kept on riding. How could a little conversation, a meal and a card game lead to a hanging. His hanging to be exact. In 1875, Montanans didn't like card cheats but he wasn't one. He was just, well, lucky. The other players didn't think so and that started the ordeal.‘Lost Lucy’ is a story for the 4 to 7 year old child that tells about a careless girl who is very forgetful. She forgets to do things which are dangerous. She forgets to do things which are unhygienic. She forgets to do things which are inconsiderate. She forgets to do things which are rude and impolite.One day when Lucy arrives home from school, she takes her dog Patch for a walk. While walking, she starts daydreaming and finishes up lost. Then she finds a police station goes in and discovers that she has also forgotten her address and her name.Read about how Lucy finds her name and where she lives again with the help of a gentle policeman. Also read about some of the important things that one should do and not do, if ever one gets lost. The story raises some of the issues concerning ‘Stranger Danger,’ along with other helpful tips.This story was transmitted by the Bradford Radio for Schools on four or five occasions during 2000 and 2005.William Forde

Jorunhaal leads an expedition to the new island. In search of power, he and the wizard, Wilheim, discover only death.King Eidon of Ilteriel learns of a new island, far to the south. He sends an expedition in search of new resources, allies, and power. Jorunhaal, Ilteriel's greatest warrior, is to lead the expedition. Upon setting foot on the island, one disaster after another occurs. The men battle small were-wolves, fall prey to a foul sickness in the air, and uncover demons once sealed away.

John and Kim, a married couple that has learned that it is nearly impossible for them to conceive a child together, devise a strange way to remedy the situation, only to find that they may have gone too far.Libby the Loser. That's what everyone used to call me behind my back. I wasn't popular, I wasn't strong, I wasn't brave.All that changed after a chance encounter in a Canberra nightclub. Afterward, I began to dream; dream I was something else. A powerful creature of muscles and claws, something powerful and confident and everything I wasn't.I dreamed I was in love with a man I'd barely met.The dream world is a beautiful, wondrous place, but there's a shadow in my dreams. An eclipse, broken with a gunshot. Then I wake up.Now my dreams are coming true. My body is changing for real. I'm shedding Libby the Loser like an old skin. I'm growing into something else.But there are others. Others like me, and they don't get along. People are disappearing. People are dying.The shadow is falling over the real world, too, and everything has changed.Part I of the Rakshasa serial.-----"Rakshasa" is a Paranormal Romance serial with a hint of spice! Each episode is approximately 10,000 words. The episode schedule is as follows:Book OneRakshasa - 31st of October, 2012 (Now available!)Rakshasa: Aurora - 7th of November, 2012 (Now available!)Rakshasa: Tigerheart - 21st of November, 2012 (Now available!)Rakshasa: Shadowfall - 28th of December, 2012 (Now available!)Rakshasa: Eternity - 20th of January, 2013 (Now available!)Book TwoRakshasa: Moonlight - 20th of February, 2013 (Now available!)Rakshasa: Conflagration - 30th of May, 2013 (Now available!)Rakshasa: Divergence - 20th of June, 2013 (Coming soon!)

Glen holes up in his attic to hide from the world. Then salvation knocks on his door one day. Or is it something else altogether? Glen's life takes a turn and both love and death seem distinct possibilities. Will Glen finally be happy?The case became a homicide investigation. Detectives now took over. Doris Kepplar was their primary suspect and Glen Hoggarth either another victim or an accomplice. In an effort to track Glen down, the detectives called long-distance to his mother in Regina. Nobody answered any of the calls, however, prompting Regina RCMP to dispatch officers to her home, but no one was there—so now there were three empty houses and three missing people, in addition to one murder victim. According to an older brother, Martha Hoggarth was supposed to be out on the coast visiting Glen, her one and only child.Flight records indicated that Martha Hoggarth had arrived in Vancouver a day and a half after Glen’s phone call to Doris Kepplar. But she didn't check into her hotel downtown. The detectives judged it unlikely that the elderly mother had had a hand in a murder, so for the time being they treated her as a victim. Standard procedure dictated an examination of her bank records, and the detectives were startled to learn about the eight million dollars in four different accounts. That was a lot of motive, they observed: the dynamics of the case were starting to tell a familiar story. But, and this was also surprising, not a penny of Martha’s money had been touched.In concluding the report, the chief detective on the case proposed a working theory about what had happened. It was a story resonating with avarice and lust, those timeless drivers. Doris’s original romantic interest, Russell Clooney, had been murdered to make way for Glen Hoggarth, who was wealthy through his mother and indirectly owned several valuable properties in the Fraser Valley. Glen and Doris subsequently murdered Martha in an attempt to access the money right away, only for some unknown reason they hadn’t got around to making off with any of it yet. Of course, now they never would