The Outdoor Chums on a Houseboat; Or, The Rivals of the Mississippi

** "The Outdoor Chums on a Houseboat; Or, The Rivals of the Mississippi" by Quincy Allen is an adventure story about four college friends, Frank, Will, Jerry, and Bluff, who spend their summer traveling down the Mississippi River on a houseboat. The story begins with the pals learning they have been invited by Will's Uncle Felix to take a houseboat down the river. As they prepare for their trip, they banter about their expectations versus the reality of the modest boat. As the group begins their journey they are alerted to the river's dangers and potentially bad people, especially related to a man named Marcus Stackpole that Uncle Felix is worried about. The early parts of the story focus on presenting the characters, their friendship, and the exciting idea of youth and adventure, hinting at a summer full of issues and realizations. **