A group of young cadets from a boarding school spend time at a lakeside summer camp and at rival camps, engaging in boating, races, and athletic contests. A dramatic biplane incident leads to a tense rescue and raises questions of blame and responsibility. Storms, a squall on the lake, and excursions into the woods test the boys’ seamanship and courage. Rivalries, pranks, and a baseball match produce quarrels and eventual reconciliations, while encounters with wild animals and an important discovery in a cabin bring a mystery to light. The tale concludes with rescues, resolution of conflicts, and the boys’ return home.