Adventure House

BRANDED OUTLAW: Story Excerpt:
Gradually the proximity of death drove all other thoughts from Lee’s head. He rode in a red nightmare of pain, fast because he could see the cloud which marked the pursuit behind him. Somehow he had to get into the mountains.
Many times, as a boy, he had ridden over this terrain. And it was only because he knew it so well that he was able to reach the canyon mouth which led upward into a tangled labyrinth of ravines and peaks. Somewhere ahead, he knew, there was a stream and on its banks there was an old trapper’s cabin, so well hidden that few punchers, interested mainly in the flat range, had ever come upon it. That place, where he had once spent happy weeks fishing for trout, was his only chance of life—providing he could remain conscious long enough to reach it.
— L. Ron Hubbard

IF I WERE YOU: Story Excerpt
“You are wondering,” said the Professor, “why I have sent for you.” His voice was very low and Little Tom had to put his ear close to the evil-smelling lips. “In your mind,” said the Professor, “you are turning over the reasons for this. I must put you at ease, for I have always respected you.”
Little Tom was startled.
“Yes,” said the Professor, “I have seen much to admire in you. On the lot about me, men are afraid. They spread away from me when I approach. But you . . . you were brave, Tom Little. You did not cower away. You had steel enough in you not only to meet me and speak to me, but you also had courage enough to risk my wrath—a thing which all other men feared.”
—L. Ron Hubbard

UNDER THE BLACK ENSIGN: Story Excerpt
The time-honored cry of the sea floated down to them from the foretop. “Sail ho!” All eyes went aloft. The lash was momentarily forgotten. The sail must be very close, otherwise it would not have been announced.
“Where away?” shouted Mannville.
“Off the starboard, coming across our bows!”
Men leaped to the rail. The haze of light cast up by the sun on water momentarily blinded them. And then they saw the ship. It was sailing against the morning sun, full-rigged, tall-masted, gilded sterncastle sparkling. It was a bark of about sixty guns. Against the light, its sails looked black.
Even as they stared at it, a roll of bunting went up the truck and burst. Its identity was unmistakable. A grinning skull against an ebon field.
—L. Ron Hubbard