



Produced by Annie R. McGuire








[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE]

Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved.

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PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1896. FIVE CENTS A
COPY.

VOL. XVIII.--NO. 893. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.

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[Illustration]

THE BOY WRECKERS.

BY W. O. STODDARD.


CHAPTER I.

THE THREE-CORNERED BOAT.

"It goes through the water like a wedge," said Pete. "Old Captain Kroom
had it made for himself. That's why it's so wide."

It was "so wide" only at the stern, and it narrowed to a blunt edge at
the prow. All of its lines were pretty nearly straight. Its bottom was
as flat as a floor. At its forward end it was decked over for about two
and a half feet. It was a bit of deck that might serve for a seat, but
in the middle of it was a round hole, and from this there stood up a
straight stick nine feet high.

"There's a pretty long boom for that mast," said Pe