CAPTAIN BOLDHEART

BY

CHARLES DICKENS

ILLUSTRATED BYBEATRICE PEARSE

	"Invited them to Breakfast"

CAPTAIN BOLDHEART
& THE LATIN-GRAMMAR MASTER

A HOLIDAY ROMANCE FROM
THE PEN OF LIEUT-COL. ROBIN REDFORTH
AGED 9.

BYCHARLES DICKENS

LONDON: CONSTABLE AND CO. LTD.

FOREWORD

The story contained herein waswritten by Charles Dickens in1867. It is the third of four storiesentitled "Holiday Romance" and was publishedoriginally in a children's magazinein America. It purports to be written by achild aged nine. It was republished inEngland in "All the Year Round" in1868. For this and four other Christmaspieces Dickens received £1,000.

"Holiday Romance" was published inbook form by Messrs Chapman & Hallin 1874, with "Edwin Drood" and otherstories.

For this reprint the text of the story asit appeared in "All the Year Round" hasbeen followed.[Pg 5]

CAPTAIN BOLDHEART AND
THE LATIN-GRAMMAR MASTER

The subject of our present narrative wouldappear to have devoted himself to the Pirateprofession at a comparatively early age. Wefind him in command of a splendid schooner of onehundred guns, loaded to the muzzle, 'ere yet he hadhad a party in honour of his tenth birthday.

It seems that our hero, considering himself spitedby a Latin-Grammar-Master, demanded the satisfactiondue from one man of honour to another. Notgetting it, he privately withdrew his haughty spiritfrom such low company, bought a second-handpocket-pistol, folded up some sandwiches in a paperbag, made a bottle of Spanish liquorice-water, andentered on a career of valour.

It were tedious to follow Boldheart (for such was hisname) through the commencing stages of his history.Suffice it that we find him bearing the rank of CaptainBoldheart, reclining in full uniform on a crimson[Pg 6]hearth-rug spread out upon the quarter-deck of hisschooner the Beauty, in the China Seas. It was alovely evening, and as his crew lay grouped abouthim, he favoured them with the following melody:

The soothing effect of these animated sounds floatingover the waters, as the common sailors unitedtheir rough voices to take up the rich tones of Boldheart,may be more easily conceived than described.

It was under these circumstances that the lookoutat the masthead gave the word, "Whales!"

All was now activity.

"Where away?" cried Captain Boldheart, starting up.

"On the larboard bow, sir," replied the fellow atthe masthead, touching his hat. For such was theheight of discipline on board of the Beauty, that evenat that height he was obliged to mind it or be shotthrough the head.

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