The Boy Scouts with the Red Cross

"The Boy Scouts with the Red Cross" by Robert Shaler is a children’s adventure novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows a group of Boy Scouts from Oakvale, led by Scout Master Hugh Hardin, who find themselves in the midst of a crisis when they attempt to assist injured strikers during a riot. As they face the challenges of providing aid amid turmoil, the tension escalates when the grandson of a factory owner goes missing, prompting a desperate search. At the start of the book, the story built around the boys begins with their enthusiastic response to the arrival of a Red Cross ambulance after they've set up a makeshift field hospital to care for injured men from a nearby cement plant. Among them are various characters including Billy Worth and Arthur Cameron, who contribute to the heroic efforts of the troop. In a twist, the plot thickens when the child of the factory owner disappears, leading to suspicion of kidnapping tied to the strikers. Amid growing unrest, the young Scouts, alongside a determined Red Cross nurse named Nurse Jones, take on the responsibility of finding the child, blending themes of bravery, compassion, and community service while underscoring the principles of scouting.