Preface [v-vi]
Every year sees the production of a vast crop of stories for young readers. Many of these tales are sensational (in the bad sense of the word); others are sentimental and silly; while few can leave any good impression in the mind. Without admitting that always “truth is stranger than fiction,” the editor of the present volume may express his regret that more attention is not given to true tales of travel and adventure, and the romantic events of real history and life. Some previous attempts to provide such books have proved successful, and the author gratefully acknowledges the favourable notices of the press, which have been generally in the tone of the reviewer in the Times, who said of one of them, that “these are matters such as young people are, or ought to be, interested in, and they never like a story the worse because it is true.” Not with desire of deprecating criticism, but in the way of explanation, a few words may be allowed concerning some of the comments on the work last issued, Stirring Stories of Peace and War, by Sea and Land. One reviewer discovered that the stories were not in correct chronological order, and so might mislead the youthful reader. The retreat of Sir John Moore to Corunna was actually made to precede the famous [vi] “Retreat of the Ten Thousand” in the days of Cyrus! The simple answer is, that the stories do not profess to be in any order, and that each is complete in itself, and has its own separate interest. Another criticism was that some of the stories were familiar and “often-told tales.” This is quite true; but it must be remembered that some of the oldest of the world’s stories are among the best, and that they are new to successive generations of readers. Only one other remark may be referred to; in a brief but friendly notice in Truth, the writer said, that “the contents of the book are evidently the collected contributions of the author to periodicals during the year.” The truth is that not one of the stories had appeared in that form, but all were either written or selected for the volume, as are those which are now provided for the enjoyment of youthful readers, with the hope of approval by older critics.
Contents
The First Voyage round the World 1The Conquest of Peru 10
Wat Tyler’s Insurrection 36
Robert Kett’s Rebellion in 1549 50
Mutiny on Board the “Frank N. Thayer,” of Boston, U.S. 62
The Drifting of the “Columbine” 73
The First Fight of Ironclad Ships 81
The Tapestried Chamber 113
Railway Trains seen in Collision 129
Perils of Presumptive Proof: Remarkable Cases of Condemnation on Circumstantial Evidence 133
Singular Deliverance of Mr. Sturt 154
The Highest Balloon Ascents ever made 160
Shipwreck of the “Cabalva” 179
All but Roasted Alive 205
Escape of English Prisoners from France 216
Captain Back’s Arctic Adventures 226
The Fate of Glenveih 244
Alice McMahon 267
The Trial and Execution of Mary Queen of Scots 280
Ten Days Buried in a Coal-pit 304
The Battles of Cressy and Poitiers 319
The Burning of Moscow, and Disastrous Retreat of the French Army 351
The Sinking of the Confederate Cruise, the “Alabama” 364
The Equestrian Statue of Peter the Great 379
Fifty-Three Days and Nights at Sea 391