A sailor boy with Dewey

A sailor boy with Dewey centers on Oliver Raymond, a strong-willed sixteen-year-old from a wealthy merchant family, and his close friend Dan Holbrook. Their journey begins aboard the sailing schooner Dart bound for Manila Bay, where they quickly confront danger when Captain Kenny, the ship's frequently drunk and brutal commander, endangers the crew during a fierce hurricane. After the Dart is wrecked and the crew forced to abandon ship, Oliver and Dan are separated, with Dan presumed lost. Oliver’s small boat crew endures a harrowing night at sea before landing on Luzon Island, where they face threats from native tribes rumored to practice cannibalism.

The survivors’ attempts to reclaim the Dart lead to capture by hostile Tagal natives and imprisonment in the village of Bumwoga. Oliver and Tom Dawson escape during a storm and, after evading pursuit, reunite with other survivors including Matt Gory and Watt Brown. They prepare to flee the hostile area by boat but face ongoing dangers, including Captain Kenny’s treachery and the complex tensions of the Philippine rebellion against Spanish rule.

In Manila, Oliver and Dan are arrested as suspected rebel sympathizers by Spanish soldiers but manage a daring jail escape. They flee to Hong Kong, where news of the Spanish-American War reaches them. Joining the American Asiatic Squadron, they assist in naval preparations and take part in the battle of Manila Bay, witnessing the destruction of Spanish ships and the surrender of Cavité. Despite Dan’s injury, their determination to protect their business interests and friends remains strong.

Returning to Manila, they navigate the chaos of an uprising, seeking a native guide to enter the city. After capture and imprisonment by the Manila Home Guard, they escape during a rebel attack and uncover a plot to rob their firm’s offices. They defend the offices alongside loyal allies and flee the city amid ongoing violence. Their journey through the wilderness is fraught with natural dangers, including a buffalo stampede and the threat of hostile natives.

The group confronts Captain Kenny again, now allied with suspected pirates attempting to seize the Dart. A fierce battle ensues aboard the schooner, marked by hand-to-hand combat, musket fire, and the arrival of a U.S. warship that rescues them. Watt Brown, wounded in the fight, dies but leaves behind a clue to a hidden treasure. Captain Kenny meets a violent end, and the Dart is turned over to the U.S. government. Oliver and Dan recover their lost documents and money, returning to San Francisco with plans for future adventures.

Throughout the narrative, the story explores themes of survival against natural and human threats, loyalty and friendship amid adversity, and the clash of cultures during a turbulent historical period. The characters face moral challenges and shifting alliances, with Captain Kenny embodying villainy and betrayal, while Oliver, Dan, and their comrades demonstrate courage and resourcefulness. The backdrop of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine rebellion adds political complexity and urgency to their personal struggles.