The River Motor Boat Boys on the Colorado

In Short

The River Motor Boat Boys on the Colorado is a classic 1913 juvenile adventure novel by Harry Gordon. Set along the muddy waters and towering canyons of the Colorado River, the story follows the crew of the motorboat Rambler as they become entangled in a high-stakes search for stolen wealth, hidden documents, and a mysterious mine. Confronted by desperate river pirates, corrupt local figures, and eerie specters, the boys rely on their wits, loyalty, and a pair of animal companions to navigate the dangers. It remains a memorable period piece for its fast-paced action and colorful regional backdrop.

The Story

The adventure opens in the scorching heat near the mouth of the Colorado River on the Gulf of California. The crew of the motorboat Rambler—led by the practical Clay, along with his companions Case and Alex—finds themselves drawn into trouble almost immediately. While anchored near shifting sandbars and desert wastes, the boys spot a group of hostile men attempting to seize their vessel. With the help of their white bulldog, Captain Joe, and a semi-tamed bear cub named Teddy, the boys repulse the initial attack, only to realize they have stepped into a much larger conflict involving a stolen fortune.

A deputy sheriff named King arrives on the scene, hot on the trail of Don Durand, a runaway youth accused of taking fifty thousand dollars and crucial papers from a Chicago bank. The boys soon encounter Don and his brother Tom, discovering that the situation is far more complex than a simple theft. Don claims he took the money belt from a thief to return it to its rightful owner, but the belt—and the mysterious documents inside—keep changing hands through theft, trickery, and hidden drop-offs. Suspicion swirls among the crew, but Clay and Case choose to trust their companions, resolving to help clear Don’s name and protect the boat from ruthless Mexican bandits and river pirates who are desperate to grab the reward.

As the Rambler journeys northward up the river toward Yuma and into the deep canyons, the danger intensifies. The boys endure ambush attempts, night visits from armed intruders, and temporary abductions. Along the way, they encounter local legends of a headless ghost that haunts the cliffs near an abandoned mine. Through careful investigation, Case and Alex discover disguises hidden in an old river shack, proving that the supposed ghost is merely a hoax orchestrated by outlaws to keep outsiders away from a secret treasure.

In the dramatic climax near the canyon walls, banker Myron G. Frost arrives with law enforcement, clearing Don of wrongdoing and exposing the true criminals, including an outlaw named Flint who was responsible for a local shooting. Exploring the underground passages near the river, Clay and Don stumble directly into the long-lost mine, uncovering an iron chest filled with government bonds that secures the Durand brothers' fortune. With the mystery solved, the villains arrested, and the "ghost" laid to rest, the boys turn the Rambler back down the river for a peaceful month-long voyage to Yuma, preparing for their next journey toward the Mississippi.

How It Unfolds

Ambush at the mouth of the river While anchored off the Gulf of California, the boys discover men attempting to push the Rambler ashore toward waiting bandits. Clay and Case row frantically to regain their craft, using an automatic revolver to ward off swimmers while their bear cub unexpectedly helps drive the intruders overboard.

Confronting doubts and missing money After Deputy King boards the vessel seeking fugitive Don Durand and a missing money belt, Alex is forced to confess to his friends that the belt in his possession contains only sand and hidden papers. Despite the outlandish story, Clay and Case reaffirm their trust in Alex and agree to help solve the mystery.

Outwitting the law and river pirates As the Rambler moves upriver past Yuma, the boys face constant harassment from river thieves and the overzealous deputy. Teddy the bear cub repeatedly intervenes, at one point dunking Deputy King into the river and forcing him to swim for shore with a life preserver.

Unraveling the canyon specter Near the steep cliffs of the Colorado canyons, the crew investigates reports of a headless horseman guarding an old mine. Case and Alex search a deserted shack, discovering white sheets and black masks that reveal the supernatural sightings are a human conspiracy.

Finding the hidden mine Navigating pitch-black underground tunnels and narrow rock ledges above the roaring river, Clay and Don accidentally locate the lost mine entrance. They rejoin their friends, clear Don's name with the arrival of bank manager Frost, and recover an iron chest of valuable bonds.

The People

• Clay: The level-headed leader of the Rambler crew. Clay maintains a calm demeanor during crises, makes tactical decisions regarding the boat's movements, and acts as the moral anchor who stands loyally by his friends when suspicions arise.
• Alex: An impulsive and expressive member of the crew who frequently finds himself in sticky situations. Alex struggles with the burden of carrying mysterious secrets, but his quick humor and devotion to his chums keep the group united.
• Case: A pragmatic, street-smart youth who relies on logic and direct action. Skeptical of supernatural claims, Case actively hunts down the truth behind the cliffside "ghost" rather than giving in to fear.
• Don Durand: A young runaway accused of stealing fifty thousand dollars from a Chicago bank. Don wants to protect his family's legacy and restore stolen funds to their proper owner, enduring desert hardships and constant pursuit until his innocence is proven.
• Deputy King: An ambitious officer determined to capture Don and secure the advertised reward. Though his single-minded pursuit leads to chaotic standoffs and comedic drenchings in the river, he ultimately acts in accordance with his view of legal duty.
• Teddy and Captain Joe: The crew's animal companions—a white bulldog and an adventurous bear cub—who protect the ship, ward off intruders, and provide comic relief throughout the journey.

In Its Own Voice

"The sun was lifting out of the desert to the East, rising round and red and hot, like the bottom of a great brass kettle, and the chill of the dark hours was changing to the stifling, long-scorching heat which is a thing of the desert the world over." The opening setting establishes the brutal environment surrounding the mouth of the river.

"There are two volcanic elevations running down the peninsula, and beyond them lies the tumbling Pacific ocean, a hundred miles away." The narrative frequently pauses to map out the rugged geography of the Mexican borderlands.

"Reared in the hard school of the streets, he had long ago learned to accept nothing as true which did not comply with the standards of the knowable." Case's pragmatic worldview shapes how the boys approach the mystery of the canyon ghost.

What It's Really About

Underneath its kinetic plot of boat chases and treasure hunts, The River Motor Boat Boys on the Colorado explores themes of absolute loyalty and adolescent self-reliance. The narrative repeatedly tests the bonds between the boys; when faced with improbable stories about missing money or hidden belts, the characters choose trust over suspicion. It also examines the tension between law enforcement and frontier justice, contrasting Deputy King's legalistic pursuit of rewards with the boys' practical ethics. Finally, the novel celebrates youthful ingenuity and rational thought, demonstrating how persistence and logic can demystify terrifying local legends and overcome environmental hazards.

Why Read It Today

This novel offers a spirited slice of early twentieth-century American juvenile fiction, appealing directly to readers who enjoy classic outdoor adventure, historical river transportation, and retro mystery. The reading experience is swift and uncomplicated, driven by brisk dialogue, frequent physical confrontations, and the novel inclusion of animal sidekicks like Teddy the bear cub. It captures the rugged atmosphere of the Southwest before widespread modern development, portraying the Colorado River as an unpredictable wilderness.

Potential readers should be prepared for period-typical stylistic choices, including straightforward prose, simplified character motivations, and early 1910s regional phrasing and cultural stereotypes, particularly in its depiction of Mexican figures along the border. However, for those interested in early genre fiction or nostalgic boyhood adventure sagas, the book offers an engaging, fast-paced trip through the canyons of the Old West that leaves a lingering sense of youthful freedom.