
CHAPTER I A SHOT
CHAPTER II A PROMISE
CHAPTER III THE PARTING
CHAPTER IV THE SUFFERER
CHAPTER V A PLAIN DUTY
CHAPTER VI FIRST AID—LAST AID
CHAPTER VII LITTLE DROPS OF WATER
CHAPTER VIII BARRETT’S
CHAPTER IX ON THE TRAIL
CHAPTER X LUKE MEADOWS
Westy Martin, a first‑class scout from a small New Jersey town, finds his quiet summer routine shattered by a sudden gunshot echoing through the woods. Stunned and uneasy, he watches a bullet‑punched leaf swing in the breeze, realizing the danger is far closer than he imagined. As he calls out, “Don’t shoot!” the forest falls back into an uneasy silence, leaving him to decide whether to stay hidden or confront the unseen threat.
Back home, Westy’s ambitions are rooted in the promise of adventure: a saved hundred dollars, a dream of Yellowstone, and a summer working on his uncle’s farm. His father’s cautious advice about the rifle he carries hints at deeper family tensions, while his troop leaders see in him the steady mind of a true scout. Caught between the allure of the wild and the responsibilities of home, Westy must navigate fear, duty, and the yearning for a future beyond the familiar.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (183K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2020-01-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1950
A hugely popular early 20th-century writer for young readers, he turned camping trips, troop life, and everyday mischief into fast-moving adventure stories. His books helped shape the spirit of classic Boy Scout fiction for a generation of American readers.
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