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Wallace Boys #9
09 Hostage in the Highlands
This is the ninth in the Wallace Boys series. Following their adventure in London and Cornwall, the boys go to the far north-west of Scotland where they intend to refurbish a yacht, the ten-metre Silver Spray, prior to sailing her out to the South Pacific. They meet up with Richard Hannay, a boy of their own age, the grandson of the famous John Buchan character in 'The Thirty-nine Steps'.
The Silver Spray is lying up on Loch Machray overlooked by a magnificent island castle similar to the famous, dramatic Eilean Donan, but no one can visit the island, for it is certain death for anyone who dares. Like Gruinard Island, this island too was infected with the deadly anthrax bacteria during a biological experiment during World War Two.
Bruce then lands accidentally on the island in thick fog!
And then the excitement really starts, involving the IRA and a royal hostage, secret tunnels, laird’s lugs and a bottle pit dungeon!
The Silver Spray is lying up on Loch Machray overlooked by a magnificent island castle similar to the famous, dramatic Eilean Donan, but no one can visit the island, for it is certain death for anyone who dares. Like Gruinard Island, this island too was infected with the deadly anthrax bacteria during a biological experiment during World War Two.
Bruce then lands accidentally on the island in thick fog!
And then the excitement really starts, involving the IRA and a royal hostage, secret tunnels, laird’s lugs and a bottle pit dungeon!
- GenresAdventure
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1995
1 person is currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Duncan Watt
26 books1 followerBorn near Victoria Falls in what was then Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, Watt, the only child of British parents, traveled to more than 80 countries around the world. Finally settling in Singapore in 1976.
He worked as a teacher and administrator at the British Council until he retired in 1992.
For 16 years, he read the prime time news on Channel 5 for the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. He also hosted an afternoon program on Symphony 92.4, playing light classics, until 2004.
His 20-book Wallace Boys series was set in far-flung places such as Kariba, Zimbabwe, the Skeleton Coast and the Scottish Highlands. He researched the locations for his books as thoroughly as possible, making it a point not to write anything he himself had not experienced.
Watt was diagnosed with liver cancer in June 2016. He died on 7 September 2017 at the age of 74.
He worked as a teacher and administrator at the British Council until he retired in 1992.
For 16 years, he read the prime time news on Channel 5 for the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. He also hosted an afternoon program on Symphony 92.4, playing light classics, until 2004.
His 20-book Wallace Boys series was set in far-flung places such as Kariba, Zimbabwe, the Skeleton Coast and the Scottish Highlands. He researched the locations for his books as thoroughly as possible, making it a point not to write anything he himself had not experienced.
Watt was diagnosed with liver cancer in June 2016. He died on 7 September 2017 at the age of 74.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 24, 2020
There is a lot of action in this book as Nigel and Bruce go to Scotland on an errand for their Uncle William. He bought a boat that is moored in Scotland (Wasn't there one for sale closer to St. Helena?) and they have volunteered to rehab and deliver the boat. They planned to stay at the home of the seller, Richard, a boy about their own age. The book is packed with information about Scottish history and castles, secret passages, dungeons & pits, and chemical warfare.
Several of Duncan Watt's favorite themes appear. There is the old familiar footnote to tell the reader that "for'ard" is a nautical term meaning "forward" that appears in all of his books that contain any ocean-going vessels. And there is always a bad guy with an AK-47. No terrorist should leave home without one.
Several of Duncan Watt's favorite themes appear. There is the old familiar footnote to tell the reader that "for'ard" is a nautical term meaning "forward" that appears in all of his books that contain any ocean-going vessels. And there is always a bad guy with an AK-47. No terrorist should leave home without one.
Displaying 1 of 1 review