
In a quiet English hamlet, fifteen‑year‑old Jack Elliot and his fourteen‑year‑old friend Jamie Stuart spend a restless afternoon chasing trout beneath a roaring waterfall. Their playful rivalry is tinged with the weight of their families—Jack, the youngest son of a fading squire with brothers already off to distant campaigns, and Jamie, an orphan whose father vanished under the harsh punishments of the old game laws. A slip on the moss‑slick rocks sends Jamie tumbling into the icy stream, turning a simple fishing trip into a test of courage and camaraderie.
Both boys are restless for something beyond the narrow lanes of Burnside, dreaming of the wide‑open frontiers their elders speak of in hushed tones. When news of a new venture across the Atlantic reaches the village, the duo finds themselves drawn toward a world of untamed wilderness and uncertain danger. Their friendship, forged in the rush of the trout‑filled waters, becomes the foundation for the daring quest that lies ahead.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (293K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2013-07-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1876–1947
Best known for brisk adventure stories for younger readers, this early 20th-century British writer had a special flair for airships, aviation, and bold journeys into the unknown. His books mix fast-moving action with the period's excitement about new technology and faraway places.
View all books