F. S. (Frederick Sadleir) Brereton
Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia
"Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia" by Captain F. S. Brereton is a fictional adventure novel written in the early 20th century. The story introduces David Harbor, the son of a recently deceased man whose fortune is in dispute, and his struggles against his unscrupulous stepfather, Ebenezer Clayhill, and his stepmother. As David seeks to make his own way in the world and reclaim his rightful inheritance, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his father's will, leading him from his home in England to the rugged terrains of Mongolia. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to David's troubled family dynamics after the death of his father, Edward Harbor. David finds himself at odds with Ebenezer, who has married his mother and seeks to cut David out of his father's estate. Following a heated confrontation where David refuses to accept Ebenezer's orders to leave home and go to work in London, he decides to fend for himself and uncover the truth. With a mixture of determination and resilience, David sets off on a quest to find his father's will, aided by his resourcefulness and quick thinking amidst the challenges he faces. This opening sets the stage for an engaging narrative filled with adventure, conflict, and the quest for justice.