Four Afoot: Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Highway

In Short

Four boarding-school friends—Nelson, Dan, Bob, and Tom—spend part of their summer vacation on an impromptu pedestrian trip across Long Island. Armed with a road map, tight pockets, and endless energy, their modest itinerary expands into a series of real-world adventures. Along the dirt highways, they navigate wrong turns, cranky homeowners, empty purses, and sudden summer storms. Along the way, they capture a hotel burglar with the help of a brave terrier, improvise a circus stint to make ends meet, play a wild game of small-town baseball, and help a friendless runaway find a steady path forward.

The Story

The journey begins with high spirits and a vague plan to hike to the hamlet of Jericho. Almost immediately, the four boys discover that real-world navigation is trickier than reading a paper map. Early misdirections land them in Bakerville instead of their target, while Tom's frequent stomach complaints slow their pace. When they finally seek evening shelter, they are turned away by the ill-tempered Mr. William Hooper, whose grudge against an acquaintance leaves the boys stranded without dinner. Hungry but undeterred, they push forward to the coastal town of Barrington.

As they travel along the north shore, their casual stroll takes a dramatic turn at a local hotel. A nighttime break-in leaves the establishment in chaos, but Nelson and Dan, aided by a small dog named Barry, corner the thief on a staircase. After pinioned arms, tied towels, and a wrested weapon, the boys successfully detain the burglar for the town constable. The rescue earns them local praise and a loyal four-legged companion in Barry.

Physical comfort quickly gives way to financial hardship. Finding themselves down to their very last half-dollar, the quartet faces actual hunger. Their fortunes shift when they stumble into the encampment of a traveling circus. Reconnecting with Jerry Hinkley, a troubled boy they had met earlier on the road, they find work and temporary refuge. Dan even takes to the arena, performing high-diving feats into a water tank to earn their keep.

Leaving the circus behind, their journey turns toward athletic competition. Recruited to fill in for a local town baseball team during a fierce rivalry match between Mannig and Laurelville, Nelson takes the pitcher's mound while Bob takes the field. The game descends into chaos—fueled by aggressive small-town play and a sudden fire alarm that empties the grandstands—forcing the boys to beat a swift retreat from the field.

A sudden storm forces them to take shelter in an abandoned hut, where they encounter their former hotel burglar once more. Using quick teamwork, they subdue the escapee a second time. Later, after surviving a squall in a small sailboat, they are taken in by Mr. Cozzens, an agreeable schoolmaster who offers warmth and practical advice.

The trip draws to a close as the boys head back toward Barrington. Their final miles are marked by a joyful reunion with Jerry Hinkley, now neatly groomed, confident, and heading to steady work on a local farm. Refreshed, heavier, and seasoned by their months on the road, the four friends part ways to return to their respective prep schools as autumn approaches.

How It Unfolds

The journey commences Nelson, Dan, Bob, and Tom set out on foot across Long Island with a map and high hopes. They quickly lose their way, ending up in Bakerville instead of Jericho, while Tom’s sudden abdominal cramps stall their progress.

A cold reception Hoping for a warm meal and a bed, the hungry hikers approach the farm of Mr. William Hooper. Upon hearing the name of the acquaintance who sent them, Hooper flies into a rage and threatens to set his dog on the boys, forcing them to push on toward Barrington.

Midnight heroics While resting at a hotel, the boys are awakened by a commotion and join the chase after a room-thief. Nelson and Dan tackle the intruder on a stair landing, disarming him of a leather billy club and binding him until the constable arrives.

Down to the last coin Drenched by persistent rain and completely out of money, the boys discover a single half-dollar in Tom’s pocket. They pool their meager resources to buy basic provisions and camp near the edge of town, wondering how they will manage their next meal.

Life under the big top The boys encounter a traveling circus and cross paths with Jerry Hinkley, a runaway youth. Dan volunteers to join the show, performing a dangerous high-dive into a shallow tank of water to earn food and passage for the group.

A wild afternoon on the diamond Drafted to play in a rowdy local baseball game between rival towns, Nelson steps onto the pitcher's mound. The contest turns chaotic amid rough play, questionable calls, and a sudden fire alarm that scatters the spectators, prompting the boys to make a quick exit.

Storms and sudden reunions Seeking shelter from a heavy downpour inside a deserted hut, the boys are surprised by their escaped burglar. They tackle and bind the criminal once again before being rescued from a sailing mishap by a friendly school principal.

The turn for home With autumn approaching, the four friends wrap up their trek, satisfied with their improved health and strength. They share a final ride with a transformed Jerry Hinkley before separating to begin another school year.

The People

• Nelson is the steady, athletic anchor of the group. A student at Hillton, he brings physical endurance and calm decision-making to the trek. Whether pitching a high-stakes baseball game or tackling an intruder on a dark stairway, he desires clear goals and order, usually stepping up to lead when the group faces an unexpected emergency.
• Dan is the irrepressible humorist and risk-taker. Energetic and quick to crack jokes, he wants excitement and novelty, which leads him to jump at the chance to perform high-diving acts with a traveling circus. His open, lighthearted nature makes him quick to form bonds with everyone from stray dogs to weary runaways.
• Bob serves as the group's practical thinker and informal navigator. Hailing from Portland, Maine, he resists anything that resembles outright begging, insisting on working or paying their way even when money runs completely out. He wants to keep the journey moving forward while preserving the boys' sense of self-respect.
• Tom is the youngest and most vocal member of the quartet, easily recognized by his persistent stammer and frequent physical complaints. He wants comfort and steady meals, often bemoaning long miles or half-ripe fruit, yet his accidental discovery of forgotten pocket change saves the group from total starvation.
• Jerry Hinkley is a down-on-his-luck runaway boy searching for a stable path forward. Shy, cautious, and lacking confidence when the boys first meet him, his interactions with the Four encourage him to leave the traveling circus behind for steady farm work, emerging by the end of the story as a neat, self-assured young man.

In Its Own Voice

“Fellow tramps,” declaimed Dan, “let us drink a health to Jerry. May he be a credit to Hillton!”

The boys gather around an old-fashioned farm well, pausing their dusty trek to toast the runaway boy they have taken under their wing.

“If I had bu-bu-bu-been there,” began Tommy. “If you had been there,” interrupted Bob unkindly, “the thief would have got away while you were choking over it.”

In the chaotic aftermath of the nighttime hotel robbery, the boys trade good-natured jabs in their room as adrenaline gives way to banter.

“There was a young fellow named Nelson, Who sometimes got foolish spells on--”

While drying off after a chilly ocean swim, Tom improvises bad limericks to tease his friends, breaking into playful rhymes as they get dressed.

What It's Really About

Beneath its lightweight episodic structure, the narrative explores the transition from boyhood dependence to self-reliant young manhood. The open road serves as a testing ground where four comfortable prep-school students must manage their own resources, make decisions under pressure, and navigate real-world hardships without adult supervision.

The story champions an uncomplicated moral code centered on loyalty, cheerful endurance, and practical charity. When the boys encounter Jerry Hinkley, their immediate impulse is not to judge his runaway status, but to offer tangible help and encouragement. True character is revealed not through wealth or background, but through how one handles a cold rain, an empty stomach, or a sudden crisis.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic turn-of-the-century juvenile fiction will find a straightforward, sun-drenched adventure that captures the simple freedom of a summer spent outdoors. The book offers a nostalgia-rich portrait of early twentieth-century American life—a world of dirt highways, country hardware stores, rural baseball games, and small-time traveling circuses. Its prose moves at a relaxed, steady pace, relying on gentle humor and natural, easy dialogue between distinct characters.

Modern readers should be prepared for period conventions common to early 1900s series books: simple plot coincidences, straightforward moral distinctions, and regional dialect. Tom’s pronounced stammer is written out phonetically for comedic effect, which may feel dated to contemporary ears. Nevertheless, the underlying spirit of warmth, camaraderie, and innocent adventure remains genuine. It stays with you as a cozy reminder of a time when a summer vacation required nothing more than a good pair of walking shoes, a pocket map, and a few reliable friends.