The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama

"The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama" by Floyd Akers is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around a young boy named Sam Steele, who is about to embark on a perilous sea voyage aboard a shabby ship called the "Gladys H.", tasked with delivering a valuable cargo to San Pedro, California. Along the way, he encounters a diverse cast of characters, including the eccentric inventor Duncan Moit, who has created a unique automobile capable of traversing both land and water. At the start of the narrative, we meet Sam as he agrees to take on the challenge of navigating the old "Gladys H." after his father, Captain Steele, declines the offer due to his commitment to building a new vessel. Sam quickly assembles a crew, which includes his uncle, Naboth Perkins, and prepares for an adventurous journey that promises not only trials at sea but also potential treasure in the form of diamonds, hinted at from the dead man they discover later in the story. The opening chapters lay the groundwork for the unfolding adventure, including the dangers of the sea, the perils of the unknown San Blas territory, and the bond that forms among the characters as they face challenges and explore the new world together. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.