Two Gallant Sons of Devon

On a June evening in 1577, two friends leave their work in Devonport for a sail on the Sound. Philip Stukely, an apothecary's assistant with artistic interests and a taste for adventure stories, takes the tiller. Dick Chichester, a practical young shipwright's apprentice, tends the sails. Harry Collingwood's adventure for younger readers begins with their shared enthusiasm for boats, giving close attention to the handling of a lugger and the waters around Plymouth.

The story later takes the friends into Peru, where Vilcamapata, a former priest they have saved, offers to reveal a temple's hidden wealth. His account points toward a sacred lake beneath a snowy mountain, with months of difficult travel ahead. Phil's growing command of the local language helps their conversations, though the priest's expectations remain puzzling. Readers drawn to seafaring tales and historical adventures will find a contrast between everyday working lives and the risks of distant travel.