The Boy Scouts Book of Stories

In Short

Compiled by Franklin K. Mathiews, the Chief Scout Librarian for the Boy Scouts of America, this 1919 anthology brings together eighteen classic short stories originally written for adults. Designed to capture the imagination of boys in their early teens, the collection spans a wide variety of genres, including frontier comedy, high-seas peril, historical drama, locked-room mysteries, and supernatural encounters. Featuring acclaimed authors like Mark Twain, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, O. Henry, and Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the book has endured as an accessible showcase of traditional narrative craft, humor, and timeless adventure.

The Story

The anthology opens with lighter, character-driven narratives focused on youth, humor, and local flavor. Early selections explore the mischief and social anxieties of boyhood, from prep school rivalries and secret club rituals to small-town misunderstandings. Readers are introduced to colorful figures operating in unique American landscapes, such as gold prospectors in Arizona experimenting with ostriches, local gamblers wagering on trained frogs in California camps, and mischievous youngsters inadvertently outwitting adults.

As the collection progresses, the tone shifts toward suspense, mystery, and physical danger. In Melville Davisson Post’s "A Twilight Adventure," young Martin rides alongside his resolute Uncle Abner through the Virginia mountains, where they are forced off the main road at gunpoint by a mysterious armed guard. Rather than backing down, Abner calmly asserts his rights and investigates the sinister situation unfolding in the woods. Detective intrigue follows in Arthur Conan Doyle’s "The Red-Headed League," where Sherlock Holmes unravels a convoluted plot involving a pawnbroker, a sudden job opportunity copying the encyclopedia, and a subterranean bank robbery.

The middle section delves into high-stakes nautical survival and physical endurance. In Norman Duncan's "The Devil-Fish," sailors face the terrifying grip of a giant squid in northern waters, while Morgan Robertson’s "The Dollar" tracks a Scotch seaman named Scotty through shipwrecks, harsh beatings, and unexpected trans-shipments across ocean traders. Meanwhile, comedic relief arrives through Western yarns and capsizing adventures, such as Joseph C. Lincoln’s "The Hero and The Cowboy," where an old sea captain experiences a wild, hair-raising ride in an early automobile along a narrow stretch of beach.

The narrative arc culminates in haunting historical lore and direct supernatural conflict. A. T. Quiller-Couch’s "The Roll-Call of the Reef" follows a young marine drummer and a dragoon trumpeter whose shared memories of Peninsular War battles bind them together beyond a tragic shipwreck. The book concludes with Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s gothic masterpiece, "The House and The Brain." A fearless narrator investigates a notoriously haunted London residence, witnessing floating lights, invisible forces, and moving objects. Upon discovering a secret room hidden beneath a trapdoor, he unearths an ancient vellum tablet inscribed with a curse. When the tablet is burned and the hidden chamber razed, the house is restored to peace, bringing the collection to an satisfying, victorious close.

How It Unfolds

Youthful capers and countryside mysteries A series of opening tales highlights boyhood schemes, schoolyard drama, and rural encounters, setting a lighthearted baseline for the collection.

An ominous roadside confrontation While riding through the mountain roads of Virginia, Uncle Abner and his nephew Martin are stopped by an armed man with a rifle, forcing them to stand their ground against unlawful authority.

Solving the London cellar plot Sherlock Holmes investigates an absurd job advertisement targeting red-headed men, deducing that the scheme is merely a cover to dig a tunnel into a bank vault.

Peril upon the open seas Sailors and castaways navigate shipwrecks, giant ocean creatures, and harsh shipboard discipline across various global maritime journeys.

A terrifying night in a haunted house A bold investigator spends the night in a cursed London home, enduring phantom drafts, disappearing pocket watches, and unexplained knocking.

Breaking the ancient curse The investigator uncovers a hidden chamber containing a magical vellum tablet, destroying the artifact to permanently cleanse the dwelling.

The People

• Uncle Abner: A righteous, fearless Virginian who stands up to armed intimidation on country roads. He relies on moral authority, calm logic, and absolute composure to protect his nephew Martin and uphold justice.
• Sherlock Holmes: The brilliant London consulting detective who uses keen observation—such as noticing the worn knees of a suspect's trousers—to foil a major bank heist before it occurs.
• Scotty: A rugged Scotch seaman who survives beatings, shipwrecks, and rough trans-shipments while stubbornly guarding a single dollar tucked in a leather casing around his neck.
• The Narrator of "The House and The Brain": A disciplined, highly rational investigator who enters a haunted house armed with a revolver, a dagger, and books, determined to scientifically confront and destroy the supernatural forces within.

In Its Own Voice

"The man brought his gun up to his middle, but he did not shoot. He was like all those who undertake to command obedience without having first determined precisely what they will do if their orders are disregarded."

This moment captures Uncle Abner's quiet bravery as he stares down an armed threat in the Virginia hills.

"From north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in his hair had tramped into the City to answer the advertisement."

A Jabez Wilson client describes the overwhelming, bizarre spectacle of Londoners responding to the Red-Headed League's call.

"On all that it can reach within these walls--sentient or inanimate, living or dead--as moves the needle, so work my will!"

The translated Latin curse inscribed upon the hidden vellum tablet found inside the haunted London home reveals the source of its terror.

What It's Really About

The collection explores how courage, resourcefulness, and humor allow individuals to navigate an unpredictable world. Whether dealing with highwaymen, deep-sea monsters, financial fraudsters, or supernatural spirits, the characters triumph by keeping their heads under pressure. The stories subtly contrast blind fear with disciplined observation, demonstrating that knowledge and moral fortitude routinely overcome intimidating obstacles. Beyond individual bravery, the anthology celebrates camaraderie—the bonds formed between fellow scouts, sea crewmates, or soldiers facing shared hardship—showing that loyalty and clear-headed action are essential human virtues across every walk of life.

Why Read It Today

This collection offers an enjoyable window into early 20th-century American literary curation, serving as a gateway to classic storytellers. Readers who appreciate historical fiction, traditional mysteries, and classic adventure yarns will find much to admire in its rich variety. The prose shifts fluidly from the sharp, analytical tone of Victorian detective fiction to the colorful, exaggerated dialects of Western frontier humor and maritime slang.

While the writing is consistently vivid, modern readers should expect period-specific mannerisms, including heavy phonetic renditions of Irish, Scottish, and African American dialects, as well as antique slang. The pacing reflects the era's emphasis on gradual atmosphere building rather than instant action. However, these elements add to the book's historical authenticity. Reading this anthology feels like sitting by a campfire listening to seasoned yarn-spinners, leaving you with a renewed appreciation for standard plot construction, clever twists, and the enduring appeal of a well-told tale.