Hunting for Hidden Gold facts for kids
Original 1928 edition
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| Author | Franklin W. Dixon |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Hardy Boys |
| Genre | Detective, mystery |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
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Publication date
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May 1, 1928, revised edition 1963 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | original edition 192, revised edition 177 |
| ISBN | 9780448089058 |
| OCLC | 2531131 |
| Preceded by | The Missing Chums |
| Followed by | The Shore Road Mystery |
Hunting For Hidden Gold is the fifth book in the popular The Hardy Boys mystery series. It was first published in 1928 by Grosset & Dunlap. This exciting adventure story has sold over a million copies. It is one of the best-selling children's books ever in the United States.
The story is about a big gold theft from a mining camp in Montana. Fenton Hardy, the boys' father, starts investigating the case. When he gets hurt, his sons, Frank and Joe, join him. The Hardy boys face many challenges. They work hard to find the stolen gold. In the end, they catch the bad guys and return the gold.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Leslie McFarlane in 1928. Many Hardy Boys books were updated between 1959 and 1973. The original "Hunting For Hidden Gold" was rewritten in 1963 by Alistair Hunter. This means there are two different stories with the same title.
The Revised Story: Hunting for Gold in Montana
In the revised 1963 version, The Hardy Boys travel to Montana. They go to help their father, who broke his ribs while working on a case. They arrive in a small mining town called Lucky Lode.
There, they find a mystery linked to a man they had saved earlier. This man was shot by accident by some hunters. He had his gold stolen while mining in Lucky Lode. He suspected one of his partners, who disappeared with the gold.
In Lucky Lode, the boys meet Mr. Burke. He owns the general store. They later discover he is a spy named "Slip Gun." He works for the main villain, Big Al. Big Al was known as Black Pepper when the man they saved lived in Lucky Lode.
While searching for the hidden gold, the Hardy Boys find a cave. They go inside to look for clues. But they run into a group of wolves! They must find a way to escape the cave safely.
They also learn that Bart Dawson, the pilot who flew them to Montana, is actually Bob Dodge. He had lost his memory, which is called amnesia. In the end, the boys get the gold back. They also round up all the bad guys in the story.
The Original Story: A Different Adventure
In the original 1928 version, the story begins differently. Their father, Fenton Hardy, is in Montana working on a missing gold case. Meanwhile, the Hardy Boys are ice skating with friends. They meet an old gold miner named Jadbury Wilson.
Wilson tells them his sad story. His partner, Bart Dawson, ran off with four bags of gold during a gunfight. Dawson was supposed to keep the gold safe. But he never came back after the fight.
After helping the injured Jadbury Wilson, the boys get a telegram. Their father asks them to join him in Montana right away.
A stranger pretends to be their father's lawyer. He tricks the boys onto the wrong train. They are kidnapped but manage to escape. The Hardy boys decide to travel in disguise. They finally reach Lucky Bottom, Montana, to meet their father.
Their father tells them they are looking for gold. Bart Dawson claims an outlaw named Black Pepper stole it from him. The next day, the boys are attacked by Black Pepper's gang. They escape and return to town.
The following day, they catch one gang member. He gives them information about Black Pepper. The boys find a cabin used by Black Pepper. Inside, they discover a map to the hidden gold. The map shows it is buried in The Lone Tree mine.
While exploring the mine, the Hardy boys are attacked by a pack of wolves. The wolves chase them down another shaft. This shaft turns out to be the main mine entrance. It is also the first landmark on the map.
Following the map, the Hardy boys find the gold. This leads to a fight with Black Pepper himself. The boys gain the upper hand. They march back to town with both the outlaw and the gold.
Later, they learn that Bart Dawson thought Jadbury Wilson was dead. Now that he knows Wilson is alive, he is happy to share the recovered gold. Bart Dawson explains he didn't return with the gold earlier. He had amnesia from a gunshot wound to his head.
