In the first volume of this series, entitled, "Tom Fairfield's
Schooldays," I related how Tom's father and mother had to go to
Australia to claim some property left by a relative. As it was not
convenient to take Tom along he was sent to school--Elmwood Hall--where
he boarded and studied.

Tom at once made friends and enemies, as any lad would. But his
enemies were few, the two principal ones being Sam Heller and Nick
Johnson, and they cordially hated our hero. Tom's chief friend was
Jack Fitch, with whom he roomed, though Bert Wilson, George Abbot, Joe
Rooney, Lew Bentfield, Ed. Ward, Henry Miller and a host of others were
on intimate terms with him. I might also mention Bruce Bennington, a
Senior when Tom reached Elmwood Hall, and with whom Tom soon became
friendly.

Dr. Pliny Meredith was headmaster at Elmwood. He was sometimes called
"Merry" because, as Jack Fitch used to say, he was so glum. But he was
a gentleman. Not so Professor Skeel, who was a taskmaster. It was
against Mr. Skeel that Tom led a revolt because of the professor's
meanness in Latin class.

How the boys went on a strike, how they were made prisoners, how they
escaped in a great storm, burned the effigy of Mr. Skeel at the flag
pole, and how Tom won the strike--all this is set down in the first
volume. There is also told how Tom saved Bruce Bennington from
disgrace, and was the means of Mr. Skeel fleeing in fear of discovery.

In the second book, entitled, "Tom Fairfield at Sea," I told how our
hero learned that the vessel on which his parents were sailing from
Australia had been wrecked. He at once set out to make the long voyage