A group of boarding-school boys, led by a well‐traveled professor, set out on an expedition throughout tropical America and the West Indies. They leave behind the familiar world of New York and travel by ship and overland through Venezuela, where they experience disorganized postal deliveries, lively pranks, and tense squabbles among themselves. Early misadventures on a steamer—marked by rough treatment from a harsh captain, dangerous boiler troubles, and racial cruelty toward a trusted crewman—test their resourcefulness and unity. Disputes arise particularly from the difficulties imposed by the overbearing bully of the group, whose penchant for gambling and troublemaking leads him into further humiliation when he loses money and cherished personal items to a crafty card sharp encountered at a seaside resort. Their journey continues as they move northward to Jamaica and then into Cuba. In the Cuban ports the boys receive letters from home, sample local food, and encounter diverse characters. They wander through busy streets of port cities, observe old colonial architecture and monuments, and absorb lessons on local history and commerce from the professor. Amid humorous pranks and mishaps (for instance, a scheme involving a can of sticky pitch which is set up to foil the bully, and a late‐night accident during a tropical storm), the expedition reveals both the allure and the hardships of life in the Caribbean under American influence. Travelling by train and then by horseback over narrow, winding roads of Puerto Rico, the group observes small towns, sugar and tobacco plantations, and rural life. The professor explains the island’s industries, geographical features, and historical background—including the legacy of Spanish colonial rule and recent changes under American administration—while the boys enjoy the adventure, even as the incorrigible bully repeatedly provokes and suffers indignities. Their overland journey takes them through villages and along high mountain passes where they witness the meeting of tropical vegetation and sweeping vistas of the Caribbean Sea. Eventually the expedition embarks on a new leg of the journey aboard a French steamer bound for a volcanic island. During the crossing the professor offers detailed instructions about the formation of volcanoes, the causes of earthquakes, and the history of notable eruptions—from Lisbon through Vesuvius to the tremendous Krakatoa—and describes the local geology of Martinique. In lively discussions the boys learn that the island is small but marked by dramatic natural features, including Mont Pelée, whose past eruptions nearly decimated its principal cities. The professor’s lecture is interwoven with the boys’ familiar banter and misadventures, yet even the recalcitrant bully is forced to acknowledge the legitimacy of nature’s power. Throughout the narrative the young travelers experience a blend of educational instruction, physical hardship, humorous pranks, and moral lessons. The professor consistently demands unity, responsibility, and fair play, even as he allows his charges to learn from both their successes and foolish errors. Their encounters with local natives—ranging from compassionate nurses rescuing a woman and her children during a lightning storm to native vendors in bustling marketplaces—further broaden their understanding of tropical life. As the expedition reaches the final stages of their voyage toward Martinique, the group stands on the threshold of exploring volcanic terrain firsthand, filled with anticipation for the natural wonders that await.
By Edward Stratemeyer · First published 1910 · Genre: Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, Educational Fiction · 33 chapters