[Illustration: THOMAS SPEERS IS PROMOTED. Page 18.] ISLES OF THE SEA; OR, YOUNG AMERICA HOMEWARD BOUND. A Story of Travel and Adventure. BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS (_OLIVER OPTIC_), AUTHOR OF “OUTWARD BOUND,” “SHAMROCK AND THISTLE,” “RED CROSS,” “DIKES AND DITCHES,” “PALACE AND COTTAGE,” “DOWN THE RHINE,” “UP THE BALTIC,” “NORTHERN LANDS,” “CROSS AND CRESCENT,” “SUNNY SHORES,” “VINE AND OLIVE,” ETC. [Illustration] BOSTON LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. COPYRIGHT, 1877, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY ALICE ADAMS RUSSELL ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ISLES OF THE SEA To My Friend, P. WOODBURY DODGE, ESQ., OF AMHERST, N.H., BENEATH WHOSE HOSPITABLE ROOF IT WAS WRITTEN, This Volume IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE. “Isles of the Sea” is the sixth and last volume of the second series of “Young America Abroad,” and contains the history of the academy squadron during its voyage, “homeward bound,” across the Atlantic. The title of the book, “Isles of the Sea,” indicates the character of the foreign travel in which the students of the institution were engaged; and in the pursuit of knowledge they visit the Madeira Islands, the Canaries, the Azores, the Bermudas, and one vessel of the fleet extends its cruise to the Cape Verd Islands. As in its predecessors, the professor of geography and history has something to say about each of the islands visited, and the surgeon and sanitary officer continues to enlighten the young gentlemen who seek his companionship in their rambles on shore. The field of geography and history is not so extensive as in the preceding volumes of the series; and for this reason the story occupies a larger place in the book. Of the story, Mr. Tom Speers is the central figure, or at least one of the most prominent characters. Possibly he may be deemed a rather eccentric character for one under age; but, as the author has so often expressed himself before, it does not so much matter what else a young man may be, if he only has high aims, and a resolute purpose to carry out his ideal of what is noble, good, and true. Tom is a high-toned young man, as are all the other characters with whom the young reader is at all likely to sympathize, and in whose fortunes he is most certain to be interested. As to the innate probability of a few of the leading incidents, they are suggested by actual occurrences in maritime history, which may be recalled by those who have kept themselves familiar with the subject. In regard to the long search of the Ville d’Angers for the academy squadron, which extended nearly across the Atlantic, the recorded experience of those who have traversed the ocean on similar ventures shows how difficult it is, away from the telegraph and the ship-news, for one vessel to find another.