A group of boys living on a Mississippi‐river island lead an adventurous, humorous existence steeped in local folklore and tall tales. When a new, unusually tall and lanky boy with oversized spectacles and a prominent, “jib‐sail” nose arrives with his family, he immediately disrupts the insular circle. Although initially regarded with skepticism because of his odd habits and laconic manner, he soon proves to be resourceful, full of peculiar observations and imaginative ideas that both confound and delight his peers. Throughout their long, meandering summer, the boys engage in a series of episodic exploits that blend everyday river life with fantastical adventure. They debate the supremacy of their beloved Mississippi River’s middle reaches while fishing with motorboats, diving for pearls in unconventional ways, and staging contests where resourcefulness is as prized as raw skill. The newcomer repeatedly surprises the group with offhand accounts from his many river journeys with his author–father, recounting exotic adventures on distant rivers, and offering curious explanations for seemingly absurd phenomena like motorboats used for climbing steeples, or the method of “nosing” mussel shells to extract pearls. A central thread in their escapades is the quest for a long–rumored hidden treasure allegedly amassed by a notorious “land pirate.” According to fragmented oral lore—recounted by an aged negro and later pieced together by the newcomer—the treasure was secreted away using a system of lone pine “signal” markers and cryptic maps. The boys form an impromptu treasure–hunting society, drawing up plans, scrutinizing an old, scribbled map that may either indicate “Greenland” or “green sand” as the key, and plotting to follow clues that link a seemingly insignificant lone pine near a ruined farmhouse to long–lost riches. Their investigation spawns an intricate series of maneuvers: they explore abandoned houses and cellar cisterns, unearth a hollow sound in a dirt floor that suggests a concealed chamber, and even recover a single, perfectly preserved dollar coin in a neglected cistern—all of which spark both hope and further confusion as to the hidden fortunes. Amid these treasure pursuits, the boys invent schemes to profit from the abundant natural resources of their island. Faced with the scarcity of bait during dry spells, they establish a “worm mine” in Mosquito Hollow. They excavate, stake a claim, and set up a small–scale enterprise to harvest and package worms for sale—a venture that briefly funds the repair of their motorboat after it is vandalized by local tramps. The worm–mining enterprise is treated with as much seriousness as the treasure hunt, reflecting the blend of earnest enterprise and imaginative play. Intermittent intrusions by rough, lower–class characters—tramps and local bullies with nicknames like “Tough Customer” and “Redheaded Bandit”—add danger and comic menace to the proceedings. These unsavory figures jostle for control of maps and attempted digs, clashing with the boys’ spirited efforts at discovery. Occasional episodes of “magic” are invoked by the new boy, who employs chants and makeshift rituals reminiscent of exotic, far–flung cultures as he claims his nose gives him the intuition to locate hidden riches. Even when the boys collect seemingly trivial items (such as grains of river sand, each meticulously tagged with its origin) the emphasis remains on preserving memories and mysteries of their wondrous summer on the river. In the end, the narrative presents a vivid tapestry of childhood ingenuity, camaraderie, and the mystery of the Mississippi. Through inventive schemes, humorous contests, and an enduring belief in secret fortunes, the boys – guided in part by the eccentric newcomer’s insights – navigate a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and every whisper of local lore might conceal a treasure waiting to be claimed.
By Ellis Parker Butler · First published 1919 · Genre: Children's literature, Humor, Coming-of-age · 24 chapters