CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Three Young Hunters II. The Hermit's Cabin III. A Timely Rescue IV. The Hermit Explains V. Lyman Taylor Makes a New Acquaintance VI. A Tragedy in the Pasture VII. Mark at Home VIII. Deacon Miller Gets a Clue IX. The Deacon's Mission X. Mark Protects a Friend XI. Mark is Discharged XII. Good Luck After Misfortune XIII. The Little Man in Black XIV. An Important Proposal XV. The Hermit's Bank XVI. Lyman Taylor Gains some Information XVII. On the Trail of Gold XVIII. Lyman's Disappointment XIX. The Hermit Receives a Call XX. How Lyman Succeeded XXI. All Aboard for New York XXII. In an Office on Broadway XXIII. Mark's Mission XXIV. What Mark Discovered XXV. The Little Match Boy XXVI. Luck Favors Lyman XXVII. Old Peggy XXVIII. Lyman's Plan XXIX. Mark Receives a Telegram XXX. Mark Makes Arrangements with Jack XXXI. Jack Talks in his Sleep XXXII. Jack is Pursued XXXIII. Mark Eludes his Pursuers XXXIV. Mrs. Manning's House is Sold XXXV. Notice to Quit XXXVI. The Hermit Secures a House XXXVII. Conclusion STRONG AND STEADY OR, PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE By Horatio Alger, Jr. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE ESSEX CLASSICAL INSTITUTE. 9 II. IN THE CARS. 18 III. AT HOME. 28 IV. JACOB DRUMMOND, OF STAPLETON. 33 V. JACOB DRUMMOND—CONTINUED. 38 VI. FUTURE PLANS. 48 VII. MR. DRUMMOND'S HUMBLE ROOF. 58 VIII. WALTER MAKES A REVELATION. 68 IX. HOW MR. DRUMMOND TOOK THE NEWS. 78 X. MR. DRUMMOND'S STORE. 88 XI. JOSHUA STIRS UP THE WRONG CUSTOMER. 98 XII. AFTER THE BATTLE. 108 XIII. THE ARROW AND THE PIONEER. 117 XIV. A BRILLIANT SCHEME. 127 XV. WAYS AND MEANS. 137 XVI. JOSHUA TRIES KEEPING STORE. 146 XVII. JOSHUA'S DISAPPOINTMENT. 155 XVIII. WALTER FINDS HIMSELF IN HOT WATER. 165 XIX. THE TABLES ARE TURNED. 175 XX. IN WHICH JOSHUA COMES TO GRIEF. 185 XXI. A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 195 XXII. MESSRS. FLINT AND PUSHER. 206 XXIII. WALTER LOSES HIS MONEY. 216 XXIV. SLIPPERY DICK. 226 XXV. A HARD CUSTOMER. 236 XXVI. BUSINESS EXPERIENCES. 246 XXVII. A CABIN IN THE WOODS. 256 XXVIII. STRANGE ACQUAINTANCES. 266 XXIX. DANGER THREATENS. 276 XXX. THE ROBBER WALKS INTO A TRAP. 286 XXXI. WALTER'S ESCAPE. 296 XXXII. A STRANGE HIDING-PLACE. 306 XXXIII. WALTER SHOWS STRATEGY. 317 XXXIV. DELIVERANCE. 326 XXXV. THE LAST OF JACK MANGUM. 335 XXXVI. JOSHUA BIDS GOOD-BY TO STAPLETON. 345 XXXVII. CONCLUSION. 355 HE TOOK HIM IN HIS ARMS MAKING HIS MARK By Horatio Alger, Jr. Illustrated By Robert L. Mason