The Motor Scout: A Story of Adventure in South America

by Herbert Strang

"The Motor Scout: A Story of Adventure in South America" by Herbert Strang is a fictional adventure novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Young Tim O’Hagan, a spirited sixteen-year-old boy living in the town of San Rosario in the Peruvian Andes, who gets caught up in thrilling escapades involving a motor-bicycle, brigands, and local politics, including the corrupt governor and the rebellions against the oppressive prefect. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to Tim as he takes a wild ride through town with the local gobernador, Señor José Fagasta, who is humorously terrified of the motor-bicycle. The ride quickly turns serious when they are ambushed by brigands, and while Tim manages to escape, he is ultimately left grappling with his conscience about abandoning the gobernador. Subsequently, Tim decides to return and frees Señor Fagasta from captivity, leading to an unexpected friendship. This sets in motion a series of events involving Tim's family, corrupt officials, and a deeper political conflict, propelling the storyline into exciting and risky adventures as the young protagonist navigates his way through schemes and dangers that impact both his family and community.