Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22924

Title

Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this vintage Boy Scout adventure, the Hickory Ridge Troop faces a mystery when their pathfinder, Elmer Chenowith, leaves cryptic birch-bark messages tracking a missing scout. Blending nature lore with thrilling suspense, the story follows the boys as they decipher clues, outsmart hostile intruders, and rescue their friend in the deep woods.

Summary up to 500 words

In Captain Alan Douglas's *Pathfinder; or, The Missing Tenderfoot*, the Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts embark on a summer vacation game that transforms into a serious rescue mission. The troop, divided into patrols including the Wolf, Beaver, and Eagle, follows a trail laid by their pathfinder, Elmer Chenowith. Elmer utilizes 'Indian picture writing'—a simple form of pictorial communication—to leave messages for the rest of the group. These messages identify scouts ahead by their unique physical traits, such as Nat Scott's missing hat or Ty Collins's crooked leg, and track enemy movements by interpreting signs like cooking fires versus campfires. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the scouts discover that three of their own members have been captured by a family of Italians seeking refuge in a haunted mill. While the main body of the troop pursues the captors, Elmer and his companion, Lil Artha, remain behind to devise a trap. Elmer predicts that the Italian woman, distracted by a lost rosary, will return to the shack alone. Demonstrating exceptional patience and observation, Elmer hides behind a box, using a red squirrel as a sentinel to detect approaching footsteps. His strategy succeeds; the woman returns, and Elmer captures her. The story highlights the scouts' mastery of tracking, reading nature's signs, and understanding animal behavior, featuring educational sections on reptiles like rattlesnakes and turtles. The climax involves a tense exchange where the boys plan to trade their captured friend, Nat, for the woman. The narrative concludes with the successful rescue of Nat and the defeat of the hostile intruders. Through teamwork, ingenuity, and courage, the Hickory Ridge scouts overcome the mystery, showcasing the practical skills and moral fortitude essential to the Boy Scout ethos.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22924.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg22924.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-06 02:37 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction