Books with title Powder Monkey

“No, sir,” said the little boy, shrinking; for the man now took a step forward and clapped a big, brown, tarry hand upon his shoulder. “Then why can’t yer understand yer own lingo?” “I do, sir,” said the boy, with a sound like a sob. “Then why did you say you didn’t, and make me think you was a Frenchy?” “I didn’t know what you meant, sir, by ‘hilli’ something, and ‘what cheer.’” “Why, yer young savage!” cried the man. “Arn’t yer never been to school?” “Yes, sir, and had a tutor.” “A tutor, eh? What may that be? But lookye here, my lad; I arn’t a sir—on’y a marrineer.” “A what, sir?” said the boy, staring. “Marrineer—seaman. Fore the mast man, ship now lying off the port o’ Torquay. Whatcher doing there?” “Cry-ying, sir,” came for answer, with a piteous sob.

Harry, a young assistant to a harbor shopkeeper, suddenly finds himself pressed into loading one of the ships of Lord Nelson's Navy during England's battles against France. A knock on the head keeps Harry on the ship after it sets sail. In his first terror, he finds his best friend George has been forced onto the ship, and he makes friends with Jack, an experienced sailor. Harry becomes a -powder monkey,- one of the young boys who carried explosive charges and powder to supply the gun crews -- a dangerous but important job. He survives a battle, and eventually returns home safely. Text Type: Historical Fiction, Realistic FictionTheme/Topic: World Connections, Human History