Tom Slade's Double Dare

"Tom Slade's Double Dare" by Percy Keese Fitzhugh is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds at a scout camp called Temple Camp, where the protagonist, Tom Slade, and his fellow scouts face both natural and personal challenges. The narrative intricately weaves themes of bravery, adventure, and the importance of camaraderie among scouts as they navigate the consequences of a storm, uncover a mystery, and confront moral dilemmas. The opening portion introduces us to a turbulent week at Temple Camp characterized by relentless rain and flooding. Amidst the gloom, Tom Slade emerges as a competent and calm presence who realizes the severity of the situation when he suspects that the rising waters could endanger the incoming bus carrying fellow scouts. As the storm intensifies, the scouts engage in banter, oblivious to the disasters unfolding around them, until they spot a mysterious light atop a mountain that suddenly goes out. This sets off a series of events culminating in Tom and his friends trying to uncover the secrets of the camp, testing their scout principles of initiative, responsibility, and bravery, and setting the stage for the challenges and adventures that lie ahead.

Tom Slade's Double Dare, by Percy Keese Fitzhugh. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #19590.