
Two restless boys, Dick and Ned, find themselves tangled in a small scandal at school and are sent home with a warning that soon turns into an invitation to the wild. Their curiosity leads them beyond the familiar fields and into the tangled waterways of South Florida, where the Everglades spread out like a living map of mystery. The narrative follows their first forays into the swamp, where they meet curious manatees, noisy dolphins, and the looming shadows of alligators, all while learning the true cost of daring.
The author, an experienced explorer of the region, weaves his own encounters into the boys’ journey, grounding the story in authentic detail. Photographic half‑tone illustrations bring the lush scenery to life, letting listeners picture the tangled mangroves and sun‑dappled waters. As the boys grapple with nature’s wonders and their own responsibilities, the tale offers a vivid, hands‑on glimpse of early 20th‑century life in the Everglades.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (396K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sandra Brown, the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, and Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children
Release date
2004-08-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1842–1918
An old-school Wall Street financier turned outdoors writer, he brought a mix of adventure, travel, and firsthand observation to books about Florida, fishing, logging camps, and wild country. His work often paired vivid storytelling with the photographs of his son, Julian A. Dimock.
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