The Boy Scouts with the Motion Picture Players

"The Boy Scouts with the Motion Picture Players" by Robert Shaler is an early 20th-century children's adventure about a troop of Boy Scouts, with the resourceful Hugh Hardin at the helm, who set out on a camping excursion to unravel the secrets of the eerie Randall's Folly, a castle rumored to be haunted; after facing a few predicaments, they decide to make the most of their weekend camping trip, only to stumble upon a film crew shooting a movie nearby; the book starts by introducing the five main characters—Hugh, Alec, Billy, Arthur, and Monkey—who are enthusiastically hiking through the woods as they tell each other stories and talk about their purpose for the camping trip, which includes investigating the peculiar ruins of the castle and taking photos for Alec's wealthy aunt; they soon discover mysterious footprints, leading to the delight of adventure that awaits them. As they arrive near the castle, their outing takes a surprising turn when they witness a commotion, which they think is trouble, only to realize it's a vibrant film crew creating an action scene; the combination of scouting, mystery, and film creates the setting for an exciting and entertaining story.