Afloat; or, Adventures on Watery Trails

When a group of Boy Scout volunteers in the sleepy town of Hickory Ridge finish a rainy camp, they gather for a final meeting that promises one more adventure before summer ends. Patrol leader Elmer Chenowith unveils a plan to investigate a series of odd happenings—missing gear, strange messages, and a mysterious knife with a buckhorn handle. The boys, each with their own quirks, eagerly vote to follow the clues, setting off toward the tangled waterways of the nearby Sassafras Swamp.

Their first push into the water labyrinth reveals a vanished skiff and a precarious trail that ends abruptly, forcing the scouts to improvise with rope, paddles, and the keen observation skills they’ve honed in previous patrols. Along the way they encounter wary locals, a suspicious figure named Landy, and a perplexing message from Hen Condit that hints at deeper trouble in the swamp’s shadows. As night falls, the youngsters must rely on teamwork and the principles of scoutcraft to stay safe while the mystery thickens.