A Scout of To-day

In Short

Set along the woods, marshes, and tidal rivers of coastal New England, this early Boy Scout story follows a group of local youths as they form the Owl Patrol. Guided by an energetic visitor and a wise former ship captain, the boys learn outdoor survival skills, fire-making, signaling, and first aid. Over the course of a year, their adventures—from swamp rescues and winter ice-storms to a dangerous seaside fire—transform former bullies, timid stragglers, and neighborhood delinquents into courageous, disciplined young men devoted to service and chivalry.

The Story

The tale opens on a sunny September day in New England, where fourteen-year-old Colin Estey lies in the salt-marshes longing to explore the great woods beyond. He joins his studious friend Marcoo ("Coombsie"), local bully Leon "Starrie" Chase, and Marcoo's visiting cousin, Nixon Warren. Nixon is a visiting Boy Scout from Pennsylvania whose deep knowledge of woodcraft, plants, and animal tracks immediately sets him apart. Nixon's quiet authority is tested when Leon tries to smoke a chipmunk out of its hole for his dog to kill; Nixon steps in, ready to fight for his principles, and forces Leon to back down.

As the boys forge deeper into the forest toward a local landmark called Varney's Paintpot, they chase an injured young raccoon into Big Swamp. Colin missteps and sinks to his waist in the sucking green mud. Acting quickly with scoutcraft, Nixon uses a long pine branch to anchor and pull Colin to safety. Later, as night falls and the boys lose their way, Leon sprains his ankle. Nixon uses a bow-drill to light a friction fire, sheltering the group safely in a stone cave called the Bear's Den until morning.

Impressed by Nixon’s skills and composure, the local community decides the town's youth need an outlet for their restless energy. Captain Andy, an old sea captain, and the local doctor help organize the town's first Boy Scout troop, forming the Owl Patrol. Leon, whose destructive tendencies had previously made him a neighborhood nuisance, immerses himself in flag signaling, knots, and scout ideals, eventually becoming a corporal.

Throughout the fall and winter, the scouts put their training into practice. Leon begins performing quiet acts of service, such as chopping wood for Ma'am Baldwin, an impoverished old woman whose son, Dave, ran wild years earlier and ended up in a reformatory. During a treacherous Christmas ice-storm, the scouts rescue Ma'am Baldwin's young grandson from the freezing tidal river, earning silver life-saving medals.

By spring, two more patrols join the troop: the Foxes, led by former street-mocker Godey Peck, and the Seals. During a summer camping trip on the Sugarloaf Sand-Dunes, the boys attempt to care for an orphaned pup-seal before returning it to the river. Their peace is disrupted when a fire breaks out in a deserted seaside bungalow colony. Using signaling torches from a high dune, Leon alerts distant lighthouse keepers, who summon the fire brigade. Though suspicion initially falls on the wandering, homeless Dave Baldwin, the scouts help clear his name. Captain Andy hires Dave to help clear land for a farm, turning the former outcast into a hardworking, respected young man.

How It Unfolds

Entering the unknown woods Four boys head into the vast New England forest to explore Varney's Paintpot. Tensions flare when Nixon, a trained Boy Scout, stops Leon from killing a trapped chipmunk.

Trapped in Big Swamp While chasing a raccoon, Colin plunges into the sucking mud of Big Swamp. Nixon uses a heavy branch and practical scout tactics to haul the panic-stricken boy to safety.

The friction fire Lost at dusk with a sprained ankle in their group, the boys face a cold night in the forest. Nixon demonstrates his woodcraft by creating a fire from wet bark and friction, securing shelter in the Bear's Den.

Forming the Owl Patrol Recognizing the boys' need for positive direction, town leaders help establish a local Boy Scout troop. Leon throws his energy into learning Morse code, knots, and basic first aid.

Rescuing the river's victim During a freezing winter storm, the scouts rush to the river to save Ma'am Baldwin's grandson from the icy waters. Their brave team effort earns four patrol members silver life-saving medals.

Camp on the dunes The expanding troop sets up summer camp among the white sand-dunes and wild cranberry patches. They rescue a stranded pup-seal and encounter Dave Baldwin, a local delinquent living on the margins.

The midnight signal When an arsonist's fire threatens the summer bungalows, Leon uses fire-torch signaling from the dunes to raise the alarm. The emergency response saves the colony and proves the troop's tactical value.

A second chance Dave Baldwin is cleared of wrongdoing and hired by Captain Andy to clear pastureland. Hard work and the scouts' encouragement help the former vagrant transform into an industrious young farmer.

The People

• Nixon Warren: A visiting Boy Scout from Pennsylvania whose expert knowledge of nature, first aid, and fire-making inspires the local boys. He wants to live by the scout law and help others, facing initial hostility from Leon before earning everyone's absolute trust.
• Leon "Starrie" Chase: A restless, aggressive boy whose excess energy initially vents itself in cruelty and wild pranks. He wants excitement and leadership; through the Owl Patrol, his natural drive is redirected toward signaling, rescue work, and genuine acts of chivalry.
• Colin Estey: A fourteen-year-old boy eager for adventure beyond the salt-marshes. Eager to prove himself, his impulsiveness leads him into danger in Big Swamp, but he grows into a dependable scout.
• Marcoo ("Coombsie"): Nixon’s thoughtful, studious cousin who knows birdlife and acts as a peacemaker. He seeks harmony among his peers and uses his calm head to keep tensions from boiling over.
• Captain Andy: A retired sea captain who views restless boys as turbulent ocean currents. He acts as a community patriarch, guiding the troop and eventually taking Dave Baldwin under his wing.
• Dave Baldwin: A homeless young man with a reformatory record who wanders the dunes. Despised as a good-for-nothing vagrant, he longs for a fresh start, which he finds through hard farm labor and the scouts' acceptance.

In Its Own Voice

"The woods in November can put it all over the September woods to my mind."

Leon muses on the changing seasons as his growing maturity allows him to appreciate the rugged strength of bare trees and cold salt-marshes over simple summer beauty.

"At low tide, when there's nothing doing, too much o' something is crowded onto the ledges in him, an' when it froths over, it gets himself and others into trouble."

Captain Andy uses maritime metaphors to explain to the local doctor how a lack of healthy activity turns spirited young boys into lawbreakers.

"At duty's call, with a smile for all, The Scout will do his part!"

The troop marches through the autumn forest singing their anthem, expressing the core ethos of service and good cheer that reshapes their small coastal town.

What It's Really About

Beneath its adventure-filled surface, the novel examines the problem of youthful energy and how society handles its most restless boys. Written during the early years of the Boy Scout movement, the book argues that boyhood aggression and delinquency are rarely caused by innate malice; rather, they are the natural overflow of unchanneled vigor. When given structure, practical outdoor goals, and a code of chivalry, that same wildness transforms into courage, community service, and civic responsibility. The narrative highlights how peer accountability and adult mentorship can save both privileged troublemakers like Leon and marginalized outcasts like Dave Baldwin.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in historical juvenile fiction and the origins of the Scouting movement will find this a vivid, authentic time capsule of early twentieth-century American youth culture. The prose carries a genuine warmth, capturing the authentic sights and smells of New England salt-marshes, dense hardwood forests, and windswept ocean dunes.

The book does reflect its era through occasional period slang, rustic dialect, and regional turns of phrase ("ne'er-do-weel," "vaurien"), alongside a straightforward, unapologetic instructional tone regarding early scout codes and outdoor crafts. French-Canadian dialect spellings used for secondary characters like Toiney may feel dated to contemporary ears. However, its depiction of adolescent camaraderie, outdoor survival, and the satisfying redemption of its misunderstood characters remains genuinely engaging. It offers a clean, atmospheric slice of Americana that feels both cozy and bracingly active.