Highway Pirates; or, The Secret Place at Coverthorne

In the summer of 1830, a band of boarders at Hobworth’s School turns the countryside into a playground of daring exploits. With no organized sports to occupy them, the lads split into rival tribes—the Foxes and the Eagles—each led by a self‑appointed chief. Their contests range from harmless games of marbles to bold raids on nearby farms, a world where strength and bravado rule and the teachers look on only when trouble truly erupts.

The narrator and his close friend Miles Coverthorne find themselves in the midst of a frantic chase, fleeing from the feared leader of the Eagles, Ben Liddle, and his pack of local keepers. As they dart through bristling hedgerows and tangled underbrush, the boys' loyalty to their tribe and the thrill of outwitting their rivals drive them onward. The opening act sets the stage for a season of mischievous adventure, secret hide‑outs, and the fierce camaraderie that defines their youthful rebellion.