L. Frank Baum, the author of the famous Oz books, wrote a number of series for children (and occasionally, books for older readers) under a variety of pseudonyms. Among those you can find many examples of adventure fiction, including this, the inaugural title of the Sam Steele series. Although its original title is perfectly reasonable, its reprint moniker of The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska is perhaps even more charming, just because there's only one boy hunting fortune at this point in the series - and, strange to say, his ship never makes it to Alaska! What actually befalls Sam is the adventure of a father lost at sea, an mysterious uncle discovered, a quest undertaken and gold found on an uncharted island. It's all sub-Treasure Island stuff, to be sure, but it moves at an energetic pace with a nice flair for the tropes of the genre. I'd read another one. ( )