The Motor Boys After a Fortune

In Short

This is a classic example of early twentieth-century juvenile fiction, blending the era's fascination with burgeoning technology—specifically airships and automobiles—with the high-stakes appeal of a treasure hunt. The story follows three inseparable chums as they navigate mechanical challenges, hostile terrain, and a persistent antagonist to reach a remote canyon. It remains a quintessential piece of boys' adventure literature from the 1910s, capturing a specific moment when internal combustion and aviation felt like the keys to unlocking a world of limitless, daring possibility.

The Story

The narrative begins in the town of Cresville, where Jerry Hopkins, Ned Slade, and Bob Baker—all sons of wealthy families—find their peaceful lives interrupted by an emergency at the local dam. Their quick thinking and heroic actions earn them local acclaim, but the real catalyst for their next journey arrives through their associate, Professor Uriah Snodgrass. During a discussion about his scientific pursuits, the professor mentions the existence of a valuable radium deposit located on Snake Island in the Grand Canyon. This news is overheard by the boys' long-time nemesis, the bullying Noddy Nixon.

Noddy, bitter and driven by greed, decides to beat the trio to the treasure. He recruits a disgraced former professor, Dr. Kirk Belgrade, to assist him. While Noddy and his cronies scramble to organize their own expedition, the three chums prepare their own craft—the Dartaway and eventually their advanced dirigible, the Comet. The ensuing race takes the characters across the Allegheny River and through a series of mechanical mishaps, train journeys, and confrontations.

As they move toward the American West, the rivalry intensifies into a literal game of tag in the skies above the Colorado River. Jerry, using superior piloting skills, maneuvers their craft to force Noddy’s surrender. The climax occurs deep within the Grand Canyon, where the boys encounter an eerie, haunting landscape. They are met with mysterious "ghosts"—which turn out to be natural phenomena—and must navigate a nest of dangerous serpents. After outmaneuvering their rivals one final time and forcing them to leave the island, the boys discover a cave. Inside this hidden chamber, they finally locate the sought-after radium, securing their success and concluding their arduous journey. They return home with the treasure, having proven their ingenuity and courage once again against the machinations of a bully who is consistently outmatched by their integrity and mechanical prowess.

How It Unfolds

The spark of adventure After a local emergency, Professor Snodgrass mentions the legendary radium on Snake Island to the boys. Noddy Nixon overhears this, setting in motion a plan to secure the fortune for himself.

The race takes shape The boys prepare their boat and airship while tracking their rival's movements. They discover that Noddy and his accomplice, Dr. Belgrade, have also set out on a journey toward the canyon.

Conflict on the trail The chums face various obstacles, including a run-in with a local constable and a tense search for their airship. They must constantly pivot between travel methods, eventually using a borrowed airplane and their own Comet to bridge the distance.

The aerial confrontation In the skies above the Grand Canyon, the boys engage in a high-stakes game of air-tag. Jerry’s superior control of the Comet forces the rival ship to descend, effectively ending Noddy's challenge.

Discovery in the canyon After navigating the perilous river and the island's strange phenomena, the group finds a cave. Within its depths, they uncover the elusive radium deposit, validating the professor’s claims and rewarding their persistence.

The People

Jerry Hopkins is the natural leader of the trio, possessing the cool-headedness and technical skill required to pilot the Comet through dangerous skies. His drive is matched by Ned Slade, who provides the necessary logistical support and serves as a sharp strategist during their many conflicts. Bob Baker, the "fat lad" of the group, functions as the emotional anchor and comic relief, whose constant focus on food provides a grounded, human contrast to the scientific and aeronautical intensity of their mission.

Professor Uriah Snodgrass serves as the moral and intellectual compass, though his single-minded obsession with rare biological specimens—like his search for the "two-tailed toad"—often pulls him into absurdity. Noddy Nixon serves as the perfect foil; he is motivated by raw, unearned greed and a desire to humiliate the boys. His failure is inevitable because he relies on underhanded tactics rather than the collaborative skill and genuine friendship that define the main trio. While the boys grow in maturity and experience through their trials, Noddy remains static, defined entirely by his envy and his eventual defeat.

In Its Own Voice

“Radium; that was what those motor boys were talking of,” he murmured to himself, as he felt of the bandage on his head.

Noddy Nixon, recovering from an injury, overhears the boys and immediately begins plotting to steal their discovery.

“This is going to be a game of tag, and I’m going to make Noddy ‘it.’”

Jerry prepares to use his superior piloting skills to force the rival craft out of the sky.

“Below them they saw a great gash in the earth--a gash a mile or more in depth, and the sides of which were of black rock, mingled here and there with marble colored red, pink and blue, with an occasional bright yellow.”

The boys describe the breathtaking and intimidating sight of the Grand Canyon from the cabin of their airship.

What It's Really About

At its core, this story explores the collision between traditional human curiosity and the rapid technological expansion of the early 1900s. The hunt for radium—then a mysterious and powerful substance—represents the era’s awe of scientific discovery. The boys’ ability to master machines like the Comet suggests an argument that true agency comes from a blend of technical competence and ethical action. The Grand Canyon serves as a backdrop that tests this agency, forcing the characters to confront the scale of the natural world. Ultimately, the book asks whether human ingenuity, when applied with grit and friendship, can tame the unknown, positioning the "motor boy" as the ideal modern adventurer who succeeds through character rather than raw power.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical artifacts or the specific "boys' adventure" subgenre will find this book a fascinating time capsule. It captures the breathless optimism of an age when an airship represented the pinnacle of freedom and when the map of the world still held corners—like the deep reaches of the Grand Canyon—that felt truly mysterious.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the realities of its period. The prose is functional and occasionally repetitive, reflecting its origins as part of a series intended for rapid consumption. The characters’ attitudes are firmly rooted in the 1910s; the dialogue can feel stilted, and the social dynamics are simplistic, with clear-cut lines between "good" heroes and "bad" bullies. You will also encounter period-specific phrasing and language that reflect the social landscape of the time, which may feel jarring or outdated today.

Despite these limitations, there is a genuine, warm-hearted camaraderie in the interactions between Jerry, Ned, and Bob that holds up well. It is a light, undemanding read that offers a window into the imagination of a bygone generation, making it a charming selection for those interested in the history of juvenile literature or simply looking for a nostalgic, uncomplicated adventure.