Cursed be the treasure

"Cursed be the Treasure" by H. B. Drake is a novel written in the late 1920s. The story appears to be an adventure tale with strong elements of mystery and psychological drama, likely set in England with a focus on themes like pursuit, hidden secrets, and family bonds. The main character is a young boy named Tommy, who narrates his experiences of continual flight and suspense alongside his enigmatic and resourceful father, whose past is deeply intertwined with crime, betrayal, and shadowy adversaries. The opening of "Cursed be the Treasure" introduces Tommy's earliest memories, dominated by a life on the run with his father from a mysterious enemy called "Shadow-of-Fear." Tommy grows up in a world shaped by uncertainty, disguise, and constant movement, with his father as his only consistent anchor. Early chapters depict a dramatic night in a rain-soaked hut, where hiding, sudden danger, and a violent confrontation with a threatening stranger set the tone for lives shaped by old crimes and relentless pursuit. As Tommy grows, he becomes skilled in evasion and self-defense, taught by his father in a series of games often toeing the line between play and survival. Much of the opening centers on their return to the Dolphin Inn, Tommy’s intensive training, the search for secret passages and hidden treasures, and brewing conflicts with smugglers and lawmen. The atmosphere is tense and shadowed by a legacy of betrayal, leaving both the protagonist and readers questioning the true nature of his father's past and their uncertain future.