Ghost Messages

Pursuing the thief who stole her father's treasure, a young Irish girl encounters some strange characters when she stows away on the ship that is laying the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1865. Ailish O'Connor supports herself and her father with her fortunetelling skills. Their gypsy caravan travels from one place to another looking for the crowds in which to earn their living. In Ireland in 1865, the place to be is on the west coast, as people gather to launch the largest ship ever built, the Great Eastern. Its mission is to lay the first undersea telegraph cable right across the Atlantic Ocean, to Newfoundland. Ailish's father thinks he has their future secured with a solid-gold horse that has come into his possession, but when the figure is stolen, 13-year-old Ailish pursues the thief and winds up trapped on the Great Eastern as it sails! She pretends to be a cabin boy to avoid the harsh treatment of a stowaway. On the journey, she gets help from another young boy, Davy, who seems to live below decks. She also makes friends with an Irish sailor and tries to track down the hiding place of their precious horse. The crew must battle the seas and the mishaps of their cable-laying mission, some of which appear to be sabotage. Through many adventures, Davy is her constant companion. But why won't he ever come topside? Can Ailish use her wits, her determination and her friendships to survive the trip, let alone save the day? With her trademark storytelling skills, Jacqueline Guest has fashioned a nail-biter of an historical seafaring action adventure. In pursuit of stolen treasure in 1865 Ireland, thirteen-year-old Ailish winds up trapped on the Great Eastern as it sails The largest ship ever built, the Great Eastern's mission is to lay the fi rst undersea telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean. On the journey, Ailish gets help from a young boy, Davy, who seems to live belowdecks. She makes friends with an Irish sailor and tries to track down the hiding place of her father's treasure. The crew must battle the seas and the mishaps of their cable-laying mission, some of which would appear to be sabotage. Through many adventures, Davy is her constant companion. But why won't he ever come topside? Can Ailish use her wits, her determination and her friendships to survive the trip, let alone save the day? Thirteen Year-old Ailish, A Feisty Irish Fortune-teller, Is About To Become Part Of History. She Becomes Trapped On The Mightly Great Eastern Just As The Ship Sets Off On Its Voyage To Lay The Very First Trans-atlantic Telegraph Cable. Escape Is Impossible! Ailish Must Pretend To Be A Boy To Keep From Being Pitched Into The Ocean By The Superstitious Sailors, While Dodging A Dangerour Ruffian Who Has Stolen Her Golden Treasure. She Frequently Gets Help From A Pale Young Boy Named Davy, Who Seems To Know Everything About The Great Eastern, But Won't Ever Appear Up On Deck-- When Ailish, an Irish fortune-teller, becomes trapped on the Great Eastern as the ship sets off on its voyage, she meets a young boy named Davy who seems to know everything about the ship, but never appears on its deck