The Banner Boy Scouts Afloat

In Short

During their summer vacation, the Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts embarks on a river and lake expedition aboard motorboats. Led by assistant scout master Paul Morrison, the twenty-six energetic lads set up camp on Cedar Island, a remote spot shadowed by local rumors of a ghost and counterfeiters. Instead of supernatural terrors, they discover a reclusive professor conducting secret explosive experiments. Through quick thinking, practical jokes, and steady teamwork, the scouts navigate treacherous mud flats, floods, and hazards, returning home with matured judgment and deepened camaraderie.

The Story

The Stanhope Troop of Boy Scouts gathers in their thriving hometown for a new summer adventure under the leadership of young assistant scout master Paul Morrison. Preparing for an extended trip afloat, the boys load provisions, tents, and gear onto two motorboats named the Comfort and the Speedwell. Along the way, curious members like Bobolink and Jack Stormways speculate about mysterious boxes hauled off earlier by local wagons, while the troop handles minor navigational mishaps, including running aground in shallow, oozy river channels.

Reaching their destination, the scouts establish camp on Cedar Island, a lonely expanse long avoided by locals due to dark stories of a resident ghost and hidden criminals. True to their scout training, they post sentries and maintain watchful routines. Bobolink utilizes a clever hot-water pump contraption, heated on a kerosene cookstove, to deter local troublemakers who attempt nighttime pranks against the anchored boats. Despite this lighthearted and effective defense, an unsettling atmosphere pervades the island, heightened by strange nocturnal flashes, mysterious tracks in the brush, and the presence of a wild dog identified as Nuthin's former pet, Lion.

Sensing deeper secrets behind the island's bad reputation, Paul leads a carefully organized exploring party across the rugged terrain. The boys dodge thickets, observe local wildlife like cotton-tail rabbits and partridges, and maintain open communication with the main camp via signal flags and smoke codes. Their suspicions grow that the supposed ghost is merely a cover for human activity. Soon, a massive earth tremor shakes the region, triggering a landslide that dams the lake's outlet and causes water levels to rise rapidly around their camp.

Faced with mounting danger, the scouts secure their boats against the ferocious current and wait out the storm. The explosion that accompanied the tremor is revealed to be the work of an eccentric professor experimenting with advanced explosives in a secluded shack. When the natural dam finally gives way and the flood recedes, the professor is safely evacuated with the help of his assistants and the scouts. Expressing profound gratitude to Paul for saving his life, the professor departs, leaving the boys to conclude their summer vacation successfully before returning home to Stanhope via the river currents and canal.

How It Unfolds

The troop assembles The Stanhope Scouts gather in town to organize their roster and pack provisions onto motorboats for a summer river trip. Eager members manage equipment while discussing mysterious local freight hauls and past rivalries.

Reaching Cedar Island The motorboats navigate shallow river channels before setting up camp on the secluded and supposedly haunted Cedar Island. Scouts post sentries and deploy inventive defenses, including a hot-water pump, to drive off nighttime mischief-makers.

The mysterious disturbances Camp life is disrupted by strange nighttime flashes, unusual tracks, and a wild dog roaming the brush. The boys debate whether counterfeiters or ghosts inhabit the island, prompting Paul to organize a careful scouting expedition.

The flood and the explosion An earth tremor triggers a massive shockwave and a landslide that dams the lake outlet, causing floodwaters to rise rapidly. The scouts fight to secure their boats against the dangerous suction while uncovering the true source of the disturbances.

Resolution and return The natural dam breaks safely, releasing the pent-up waters and revealing an eccentric professor's explosive research shack. After assisting the professor and receiving his heartfelt thanks, the scouts return home to Stanhope with rich tales of their adventure.

The People

Paul Morrison serves as the steady, conscientious assistant scout master and patrol leader of the Red Fox Patrol. He wants to guide his troop safely through their adventures, facing the obstacle of heavy responsibilities over seventeen lively boys; he ends up earning the deep respect of an eccentric professor and growing as a trusted leader.

Robert O. Link, universally known as Bobolink, acts as the official bugler. He wants to uncover every mystery he encounters, hindered only by his own impatience and an intense curiosity, finishing the trip as a reliable scout who contributes clever practical solutions like the hot-water pump.

Jack Stormways is Paul’s close chum and a sharp-eyed scout. He wants to make sense of puzzling local phenomena and helps deduce parallels between island rumors and classic tales of hidden criminals, ending up proven right through careful observation.

Phil Towns manages the troop roster and contributes valuable knowledge of local history and nature study, helping interpret wildlife and environmental signs.

The eccentric professor lives in isolation on the island conducting dangerous explosive experiments. He faces the obstacle of a severe accident from his own research, ending up rescued and deeply grateful to Paul for saving his life.

In Its Own Voice

"What are you limping for, Bobolink?"

Jack Stormways immediately notices when Bobolink tries to hide his sore feet after a long fishing trip on the Radway River.

"It's all Bobolink's idea."

The narrative explains how the inventive bugler rigged a garden pump with a kerosene stove to create a hot-water defense against nighttime intruders.

"I honestly believe that you saved my life, my boy..."

The grateful professor tearfully thanks Paul Morrison after his explosive experiments and the resulting flood are safely resolved.

What It's Really About

The book explores the formation of character through responsibility, resourcefulness, and outdoor stewardship. It examines how youthful imagination often transforms ordinary rural mysteries—like reclusive researchers, wild animals, or natural geological events—into ghostly legends. Beneath the lighthearted adventure, the narrative argues that true scouting is forged not just by winning banners or camping in the open, but by maintaining steady judgment, courage, and composure in unexpected emergencies. The story questions how young people handle leadership burdens, showing that real growth happens when boys transition from playful pranks to looking out for one another's safety during genuine peril.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic juvenile adventure, wholesome camaraderie, and earnest coming-of-age stories will find much to enjoy here. Reading the book feels like stepping into a simpler, highly structured world of early twentieth-century youth organizations, complete with enthusiastic slang, strict troop hierarchies, and unshakeable optimism. Modern readers should be prepared for period attitudes, formal Victorian-esque narration from the author's introductory note, and dated dialogue reflecting early-1900s small-town life. Despite these period elements, the enduring charm lies in the genuine warmth between the boys, their inventive problem-solving, and the vivid depiction of river camping. It stays with you as a comforting, nostalgic snapshot of boyhood loyalty and cooperation.