The Boy Scout is a novel by Richard Harding Davis, first published in 1912. It tells the story of a young boy, Tom Slade, who joins the Boy Scouts of America and embarks on a series of adventures. Tom is a mischievous and rebellious young boy who is sent to live with his uncle in the small town of Bridgeboro. He quickly gets into trouble with the local police and is sent to a reform school. However, he is soon released and joins the local Boy Scout troop. Tom quickly proves himself to be a capable and loyal scout, and he is soon sent on a mission to help a group of settlers in the nearby woods. Along the way, he meets a mysterious stranger who helps him on his journey. Tom eventually discovers that the stranger is a former scoutmaster who is on the run from the law. He helps the man escape and is rewarded with a valuable gold watch. Tom's adventures continue as he helps the scouts save a group of settlers from a forest fire, and he eventually earns the highest rank of Eagle Scout. The novel ends with Tom's return to Bridgeboro, where he is welcomed as a hero.
By Richard Harding Davis · First published 1914 · Genre: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age Fiction