The Lost Middy: Being the Secret of the Smugglers' Gap

A restless teenager named Aleck spends an afternoon wrestling with a stubborn money‑box, his temper flaring as he finally shatters it and scoops up the few coins that spill out. The scene is set in a cosy, slightly ramshackle family home, where a sleepy tabby watches his antics and an impatient uncle works over a pile of papers. From this seemingly petty revolt, Aleck’s sharp mind begins to notice a hidden slip of paper tucked among the torn wood—a clue that hints at something far beyond his garden.

That fragment draws Aleck into the whispered legends of the Smugglers’ Gap, a narrow inlet said to conceal a long‑forgotten network of contraband routes. As he follows the cryptic instructions, he encounters secret passages, wary locals, and the ever‑present danger of being caught by those who guard the mystery. The early chapters blend youthful folly with a rising sense of adventure, promising a tale where curiosity can lead to both treasure and peril.