Forbidden Cargoes

"Forbidden Cargoes" by Roy J. Snell is an adventure novel written in the late 1920s. The story follows a young boy named Pant, who is on a quest to recover a stolen map that is crucial for his grandfather's fortune in chicle production, while dealing with dangerous adversaries in the Central American jungle. The narrative evokes themes of exploration, friendship, and the chase for treasure, particularly as Pant seeks to team up with his friend Johnny Thompson, who finds himself in unexpected trouble elsewhere. At the start of the novel, we meet Pant, a young boy determined to retrieve a looted map that has been taken by thieves in a palm-thatch shack located near the jungle. As he prepares for action, we glimpse into his capabilities, including his exceptional night vision and stealth. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, his friend Johnny is far away in jail, a subplot that promises to intertwine their fates as the story unfolds. Pant's surroundings and his immediate challenge set a thrilling and dangerous tone, promising readers a gripping adventure filled with mystery and intrigue in the wilds of Central America.