In the volcano's mouth; or, A boy against an army

"In the Volcano's Mouth; or, A Boy Against an Army" by Frank Sheridan is an adventure story about a boy, Madcap Max, who travels with his father, Maximilian Gordon, from England to Egypt, where his playful nature leads to dangerous encounters. The story starts with Max and his father leaving for Egypt after a difficult time for their family. As they travel, Max's adventurous side comes out through jokes and pranks. When they get to Alexandria, Max bravely steps in to help an Arab girl, but this act of courage leads to a violent fight and a terrible loss for Max. This sets the scene for Max to change from a carefree boy into a brave young man who has to face tough challenges far from home.