The Boy Patrol Around the Council Fire

"The Boy Patrol Around the Council Fire" by Edward Sylvester Ellis is an adventure story for young readers that follows a group of Boy Scouts, mainly Jack Crandall and his buddies, during their summer vacation near Gosling Lake. The story begins with Jack hurting his leg during a scouting mission and being taken care of by his friends and a local doctor. As Jack recovers, his friends, especially Mike Murphy, start to look into the disappearance of Uncle Elk, a loner who has a strange connection with the doctor; their exploration hints at a mystery involving suspicious tramps in the area. Throughout the story, which also includes characters like Gerald Hume and Arthur Mitchell, the boys work to solve mysteries and embrace being scouts, highlighting themes of friendship, courage, and the excitement of discovery.