Edward S. Ellis 
The Launch Boys‘ Cruise in the Deerfoot 

This book was published in 1912. This is one of the two books from the Launch Boys Series. Ellis also the author of stories for The Flying Boys Series, Deerfoot Series, Boys Banner Series, Foreign Adventure Series and many more. The tale begins: I once hear the bravest officer I ever knew declare that the height of absurdity was for a person to boast that he did not know the meaning of fear. Such a man is either a fool or the truth is not in him, was the terse expression of the gallant soldier.