Wilmer Mateo Ely was the American author of The Boy Chums' series which consists of eight volumes published between 1905 and 1916. The Boy Chums' series includes: The Boy Chums on Indian River, or, The Boy Partners of the Schooner "Orphan" (1905), The Boy Chums on Haunted Island, or, Hunting for Pearls in the Bahama Islands (1909), The Boy Chums in the Forest, or, Hunting for Plume Birds in the Florida Everglades (1910), The Boy Chums' Perilous Cruise, or, Searching for Wreckage on the Florida Coast (1911), The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico, or, On a Dangerous Cruise With the Greek Spongers (1913), The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters, or, The Perils and Dangers of the Fishing Fleet (1914), The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle, or, Charlie West and Walter Hazard With the Seminole Indians (1915) and The Boy Chums in Mystery Land, or, Charlie West and Walter Hazard Among the Mexicans (1916).