The River Motor Boat Boys on the Columbia; Or, The Confession of a Photograph

"The River Motor Boat Boys on the Columbia; Or, The Confession of a Photograph" by Harry Gordon is an adventure story about three friends—Clayton, Cornelius, and Alexander—who begin an exciting trip down the Columbia River aboard their motorboat, the Rambler. Their voyage takes an unexpected turn when they find themselves stranded with their boat on a train car high in the Rocky Mountains, facing both a broken train car and the wild. As they wait for help, the boys demonstrate their teamwork and cleverness, keeping their spirits up with friendly jokes and hints of their past adventures, including a trip to the Amazon. The story builds suspense by foreshadowing a possible clash with dangerous train robbers as the boys focus on their ultimate goal of reaching the Columbia River for the start of their summer adventures.