The Boy Scouts of the Geological Survey

Ralph Kenyon is a hard‑working eighteen‑year‑old who has taken over his family’s modest farm after his father’s death. By day he tends the fields and garden, but his evenings are spent roaming the woods, trapping mink, foxes, and rabbits to earn a modest income. Though he dreams of attending the School of Mines, the harsh reality of paying for his education forces him into a rugged, seasonal life of hunting and guiding a group of university students on a geological survey.

When his mother’s eyesight begins to fail, a costly operation looms as the family’s most urgent priority. Ralph must decide whether to continue the risky hunt for pelts or find another way to raise the funds before winter closes. The story follows his struggle to balance duty, ambition, and the unforgiving demands of rural life, offering a vivid portrait of a young man caught between the pull of the land and the promise of a brighter future.