Boy Scouts on the Great Divide; Or, The Ending of the Trail

Four Boy Scouts—Will, George, Charley, and Tommy—have pitched their camp in a quiet mountain valley near a creek that later becomes the Sweetwater River. Fresh from previous adventures in Lake Superior and the Everglades, they now serve as a patrol under Scoutmaster Will, each proudly wearing badges for Stalker, Ambulance, Seaman and Pioneer. Their vacation has been reshaped by a well‑known Chicago lawyer who has asked them to travel to Green River, Wyoming, and—once there—secure supplies before a secret assignment arrives via messenger.

While they wait for the telegram that will spell out their task, the boys keep a watchful eye on the surrounding woods, sharing jokes over a fire‑cooked supper. A lone rider with a rifle appears on the ridge, pausing to study the camp before stepping into the circle of light. The encounter hints at the challenges ahead, as the Scouts must balance hospitality with the caution their new mission demands.