
Four energetic friends set out on a breezy July morning aboard the little motor‑boat Gadabout, eager for a day of fishing and harmless mischief. Led by the quick‑witted Grant, the lanky John, the pint‑sized Fred, and the good‑natured George, they chat, joke, and plot their route through the waters between Drummond and Cockburn Islands, all under the watchful eye of a grizzled captain who knows the local currents—and the law—better than anyone. Their banter hints at a deeper curiosity about the mysterious Smugglers’ Island that looms nearby, a place whispered about in local lore and marked by the faint scent of adventure.
When the boys finally reach the island’s rugged shore, they discover more than just tangled reeds and quiet coves; hidden trails lead to abandoned cabins and secret caches that suggest illicit activity. As they explore, the line between a harmless outing and a daring investigation blurs, and the youngsters must decide whether to obey the captain’s caution or follow their own daring instincts. Their choices set the stage for a spirited clash of youthful bravado and the stern realities of law‑enforcement, promising a tale of courage, camaraderie, and the thin line between fun and folly.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (262K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
Release date
2011-03-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Best known for brisk early-20th-century adventure stories for young readers, this American author wrote the popular Go Ahead Boys books along with wartime tales and other action-filled fiction. His stories are remembered for fast pacing, teamwork, and a strong sense of youthful daring.
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