In the Track of the Troops

"In the Track of the Troops" by R. M. Ballantyne is a late 19th-century novel that follows Jeffry Childers, a curious young scientist obsessed with explosives and torpedoes, as he navigates exciting adventures tied to military advancements amidst conflict. The story kicks off with Jeffry reflecting on his childhood fascination with science and his dangerous experiments with explosives, highlighting a mishap that injured a servant and further fuels his worries about scientific endeavors. After finishing his medical studies, Jeffry reveals his ambition to invent an advanced torpedo, sparking a conversation with his mother about the perils of his explosive work and their opposing viewpoints of it. This beginning lays the groundwork for Jeffry's journey and the moral challenges that come with his innovation of powerful weapons.