Gunpowder Treason and Plot, and Other Stories for Boys

In Short

This volume is an anthology of short stories primarily aimed at young readers at the turn of the 20th century. It compiles various narratives—ranging from English public school dramas to colonial military exploits and harrowing encounters with wild beasts in Russia and the American West. Through themes of honor, duty, and physical courage, the collection reflects the educational and moral values of its era. It remains a notable example of the "boys' own" literary tradition, preserved for its direct, brisk storytelling and its vivid, often earnest, characterizations of adventure.

The Story

The collection opens with "When Friends Fall Out," featuring two twin brothers, Granby and Noel, whose relationship is strained by a decade-long grudge originating from a past incident at Cubberly. Despite their mutual resentment, they are fiercely protective of one another in secret. Their story culminates in a dramatic rescue at sea, where both dive to confront a shark threatening the other, an act that finally breaks their long silence.

The narrative scope then shifts to the Russian wilderness in "The Wolfman," which follows a child named Petka, who, after being lost as an infant and raised by wolves, is returned to human society. Known as "Volkitch," he retains an affinity for the forest and a strange, protective bond with wolves. His life takes a turn when he is pressed into service as a hunter for a local nobleman, only to flee his obligations. He eventually finds himself torn between his human mother and his animal kin, a conflict resolved only when his mother is attacked by wolves, forcing him to witness the savage reality of the forest.

In "Bimbashi Jones," the collection ventures to the Soudan. Alaric Jones, a self-assured young man of twenty-three, secures a commission as a major in the Egyptian army. His path to glory is marked by a mix of genuine courage and absurd circumstance. During a conflict, he single-handedly "captures" the Khalifa, who surrenders with the grace of a cavalier after being confronted by the young major. The story ends with Jones achieving fame and a medal, his youthful vanity tempered by the bemusement of his peers and the proud, if bewildered, support of his father back in Yorkshire.

The school-based stories, such as "Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot" and "The Cock-House Cup," ground the collection in the familiar world of English education. In the former, a group of rebellious boys plots to defy a headmaster’s ban on fireworks. The conspiracy, led by the impetuous Brookfield, falters when many of the boys lose their nerve, leaving the small band of ringleaders to face the consequences of their failed rebellion. In the latter, the mystery of a missing cricket trophy creates a crisis of suspicion between rival houses. The theft is treated as a grave affront to school honor, leading to intense investigations and, eventually, the unmasking of the culprit, restoring the competitive order of the school.

How It Unfolds

The brothers' standoff Granby and Noel maintain a cold, public silence that baffles their schoolmates, yet they instinctively defend each other from outside bullying. Their stubborn pride prevents an apology for an old grievance until a life-threatening encounter with a shark forces a reconciliation under the water.

The wolf-child’s return Petka is brought back to his mother, struggling to adapt to human food and manners after living among wolves. He grows into a master hunter who refuses to kill wolves, a vow that is severely tested when his mother is mauled by a pack.

The rise of Bimbashi Jones Alaric Jones enters the military with a declared aversion to marriage and a hunger for professional advancement. He survives a major campaign through luck and audacity, eventually being toasted as a hero by veterans who find his rapid rise both impressive and slightly surreal.

The schoolboy rebellion A group of students organizes a clandestine fireworks display in defiance of the headmaster’s authority. When the scheme is discovered and half the conspirators abandon the cause, the remaining boys are left to face the administration's discipline alone.

The missing trophy A school cricket cup vanishes from a pavilion, leading to accusations and counter-accusations between houses. The social fabric of the school is strained until a mysterious cap left at the scene points the way toward the truth.

The People

• Granby and Noel: Twin brothers whose deep-seated stubbornness creates a ten-year rift. They represent the archetype of the "misunderstood" rivals, learning that blood ties ultimately outweigh petty pride.
• Volkitch (Petka): A "wolf-boy" who bridges the gap between civilization and the wild. His struggle centers on his dual identity, and his arc concludes with the realization that nature is indifferent to his past associations.
• Alaric Jones: A bimbashi who embodies the Victorian ideal of the young, ambitious officer. He is defined by his unshakeable self-belief and his capacity to treat high-stakes warfare with a peculiar, understated politeness.
• Brookfield: A headstrong student leader who attempts to organize a rebellion against school authority. His failure highlights the fragility of peer-led movements and the crushing weight of institutional power.
• Herbert and Buckle: Students involved in the theft of the Cock-House Cup. They serve as pillars of the school hierarchy, concerned with the preservation of tradition and the internal justice system of their peers.

In Its Own Voice

"Once or twice some misguided cadet attempted to curry favour with Granby by abusing Noel, imagining that he would thereby placate the brother who, to all appearances, was upon the worst possible terms with his twin."

This passage illustrates the complex, protective dynamic between the estranged brothers.

"There's a good deal in what the old boy says."

The Sirdar remarks on the Khalifa’s sermon, which is revealed to be a direct copy of a speech given by Bimbashi Jones’s own father.

"He was a hunter from the top of his head to the sole of his foot--savage in the pursuit of every bird and beast, with one exception: nothing would ever induce him to shoot a wolf."

The narrator highlights the peculiar, lingering loyalty of the wolf-reared Petka to his foster family.

What It's Really About

The collection explores the nature of duty, the weight of reputation, and the transition from youth to manhood. Whether in the harsh landscape of the Soudan or the structured confines of an English public school, the characters are preoccupied with "keeping faith"—with their families, their schools, or their own internal codes of honor. The stories argue that true character is forged through testing one's limits, even when those tests arise from trivial pranks or irrational grudges. There is an underlying tension between the desire for individual rebellion and the necessity of conforming to the expectations of one's community, suggesting that maturity comes when one accepts the consequences of one's actions.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical period pieces will appreciate the authenticity of the language and the specific cultural anxieties of the late 19th century. The stories feel like artifacts, carrying the earnest, slightly stiff, yet fundamentally optimistic tone common to the genre. Those who admire the "boarding school" subgenre will find familiar tropes of rivalry and camaraderie that still resonate in modern fiction.

However, the book requires a reader comfortable with the attitudes of the time. The narrative voice is unabashedly imperialistic and occasionally reflects the simplified, often prejudiced views of foreign peoples—such as the Ute or the Dervishes—common in contemporary 1901 literature. It is not a book that interrogates its own assumptions; rather, it assumes its reader shares them. If you approach it as a historical lens—viewing it as a genuine reflection of how a certain class of British boy was encouraged to see the world—it is a compelling read. The pacing is brisk, the stakes are usually high, and the short-story format makes it an accessible way to engage with the prose style and values of a bygone era. It remains a classic of its kind, offering a blend of adventure and moral instruction that defined a generation.