The Outdoor Chums on a Houseboat; Or, The Rivals of the Mississippi

Four college friends, members of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club, are buzzing with excitement when one of them receives a surprising letter from his uncle in New Orleans. The uncle, a solitary bachelor who lives aboard a quirky houseboat, offers the boys the chance to sail the mighty Mississippi as a graduation adventure. With a modest stipend and the promise of a floating home waiting in St. Paul, the group begins to picture lazy river days, midnight campfires on deck, and the thrill of navigating a historic waterway together.

As the semester draws to a close, the chums scramble to gather supplies, plan routes, and imagine the sights they’ll encounter—from bustling river towns to cotton‑field vistas. Their youthful optimism is tempered by the practical worries of food, money, and the unknown challenges of a vessel that moves only with the current. Yet the promise of camaraderie, fresh scenery, and a story worth telling keeps them eager to set off on what could become the trip of a lifetime.