Little By Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22365

Title

Little By Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A spirited maritime adventure for young readers, "Little By Little" follows Paul Duncan, a fourteen-year-old fisherman who learns courage, responsibility, and moral integrity through nautical trials. Blending realistic sea stories with Christian themes, this tale encourages perseverance and ethical growth while delivering thrilling incidents aboard the Flyaway and the Fawn.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in the coastal town of Bayville, *Little By Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway* by William Taylor Adams (Oliver Optic) follows the journey of Paul Duncan, a fourteen-year-old fisherman who struggles between obeying his mother and proving his independence to his wealthy friend, Thomas Nettle. After receiving the new boat, the *Fawn*, as a gift from Captain Littleton, Paul and his brother John begin a life at sea. The narrative escalates when Paul is falsely accused of mutiny; his friends Frank Thompson and Tom Nettle actually plot to seize control of the yacht, the *Flyaway*, intending to run away. During a violent storm, Paul is held captive in the cabin while his friends nearly wreck the vessel. Paul eventually escapes, takes command, and saves the crew, exposing the mutiny. Following this ordeal, Paul reflects on his growth, rejecting the idea that wealth defines success. Years later, having saved enough to buy a schooner, Paul accepts a position as second mate on an ocean steamer, eventually rising to captaincy. The story concludes with his marriage to Carrie Littleton and the continued success of his brother John's fishing business. Throughout, the text emphasizes that true riches lie in character, faith, and the steady accumulation of good deeds "little by little." The author notes that while the story contains stirring incidents, it avoids exaggerated romantic events, aiming instead to instill a true Christian spirit and teach young readers the value of obedience, perseverance, and moral integrity over material gain.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Local file path

data/epubs/pg22365.epub

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Categories

• Adventure
• Religion
• Boys