The Adventures of Stirling

By Kaylene Irving-Dusting

It is a cold and misty morning as passengers board a ship heading for Australia with hopes of making a new life in the new settlement on the other side of the world. As nine-year-old Abigale Sherman joins her family on the ship, she has no idea of what lies ahead.

Aft er she makes new friends who soon begin teasing her, Abigale begins exploring the shipa decision that leads her straight to a political prisoner caged inside a crate. After she sets him free without realizing he intends to unleash an evil plan, Abigale is thrust in the midst of a tragedy that causes her life to take an entirely new turn. As she is led to Australia and to a life she never imagined with a new family, Abigale must somehow summon the inner-strength to overcome her challenges, shun bad influences, and find lasting love despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

In this historical tale, a young girl immigrates to Australia during the 1850s where she attempts to begin a new chapter while battling criminals, poverty, and herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Nov 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504303927

Kaylene Irving-Dusting

Kaylene Irving-Dusting has completed year twelve of schooling and holds a Victorian certificate of education. Her interests are historical and classic fiction as well as anything written by Jane Austen. Kaylene is a single mother of two who resides in Bendigo, Australia. The Adventures of Stirling is her first book.

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Copyright © 2016 Kaylene Irving-Dusting.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Certain characters in this work are historical figures, and certain events portrayed did take place. However, this is a work of fiction. All of the other characters, names, and events as well as all places, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-0391-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-0392-7 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 11/08/2016

Contents

Chapter 1 The nightingale ship

Chapter 2 The storm

Chapter 3 The real and fake Mr Nightingale

Chapter 4 A new life

Chapter 5 A trip of discovery

Chapter 6 Housekeeping

Chapter 7 Sailing away

CHAPTER 1

The nightingale ship

A cold, misty morning it was for the passengers who were boarding the ship that was heading for Australia. There were families and business men who were hoping to make a new life in the new settlement on the other side of the world. The ship gently rocked in the water and the sails were protected by the wind. A young girl named Abigale was joining her family on the ship. She noticed men working in the cargo part of the ship. They had no shoes and their clothes were rags. The men had hats and their hair was cut short. The ship’s captain had to make room below for it had become overcrowded and the ship wasn’t in a good condition for a long journey. The ship was packed with supplies for the journey. Once the cargo was filled and the passengers had set up their sleeping spaces the ship was cast away from the dock.

It was slowly pushed along until it reached the end of the harbour where the sails were opened up to catch the wind and sail with all its force. There were plenty of other ships that were sailing and in many directions. All the ships were made from the same wood and had the same sort of sails. The names were common and had no importance other than to be a ship to possess whenever there was the need. The water grew unstable as they went out farther and it took some time for the passengers to acquire sea legs. The passengers gave themselves tasks to fill their time during the journey.

Abigale found some