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GUNS AND SNOWSHOES

Or

The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters

by CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL

AUTHOR of "FOUR BOY HUNTERS," "FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS," "THE WINNING RUN," "FLAG OF FREEDOM SERIES," ETC.



ILLUSTRATED

BOY HUNTERS SERIES

By Captain Ralph Bonehill

FOUR BOY HUNTERS Or The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters.

GUNS AND SNOWSHOES Or The Outing of the Gun Club

GUNS AND SNOWSHOES

CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCING FOUR BOYS

II. A QUARREL IN THE SNOW

III. THE RESULTS OF SNOWBALLING

IV. THE EXPLOSION

V. OFF FOR CAMP

VI. CHICKENS AND MINCE PIE

VII. A DISMAYING DISCOVERY

VIII. THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP

IX. INTO A HOLE AND OUT

X. OUT AFTER DEER

XI. SNOWBOUND

XII. A CRY FOR HELP

XIII. IN CAMP ONCE MORE

XIV. IN WHICH A TRAMP DISAPPEARS

XV. SOMETHING OF A CHASE

XVI. AN EVIL COMPACT

XVII. FUN IN THE CAMP

XVIII. AN UNEXPECTED PERIL

XIX. THE FIGHT WITH THE BUCK

XX. SHOOTING WILD DUCKS

XXI. A TOUCH OF A BLIZZARD

XXII. A REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS

XXIII. IN TROUBLE ONCE MORE

XXIV. A DISAGREEABLE MEETING

XXV. AT THE CAMP ONCE AGAIN

XXVI. THE TRAIL THROUGH THE SNOW

XXVII. THE CAPTURE OF THE TRAMP

XVIII. FOUR BOYS AND A BEAR

XXIX. UNEXPECTED VISITORS

XXX. A SURPRISE--GOOD-BYE

PREFACE.

My DEAR LADS:

This story is complete in itself, but forms volume two of a set known under the general title of the "Boy Hunters Series," taking the heroes through various adventures while out hunting and fishing, in the woods and mountains, and on rivers and lakes.

The boys are bright, lively lads of to-day, with a strong liking for a life in the open air and a keen taste for hunting both big and little game, and for fishing in various ways. In the former volume, entitled, "Four Boy Hunters," they organized their little dun Club and obtained permission to go a number of miles from home and establish a camp on the edge of a lake. From this spot they were driven by enemies, and then settled at another camp, where they had various adventures and not a little fun, and in the end cleared up a mystery which had bothered them not a little.

In the present story we have the same boys and almost the same locality, but the time is now winter, and in the pages which follow are related the sport the boys had in the snow and on the ice, and something about a new mystery, which ended in rather a surprising fashion.

As I have said before, hunting, especially in our eastern states, is not what it was years ago. Almost all of the big game has disappeared, and the fellow who can get a deer or a moose without going a good many weary miles for the game is lucky. Yet in some sections small game is still fairly plentiful, and a bag full of rabbits or wild ducks is much better than nothing.

With best wishes to all who love the woods and waters, a gun, a dog, and a rousing campfire, I remain,

Your sincere friend,

CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL.

GUNS AND SNOWSHOES.

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCING FOUR BOYS

"Hurrah, boys, it's snowing at last! Aren't you glad?"

"Glad? You bet I'm glad, Snap! Why I've been watching for this storm for about six months!"

"There you go, Whopper!" answered Charley Dodge, with a grin. "Six months indeed! Why, we haven't been home six months."

"Well, it seems that long anyway," said Frank Dawson, who was usually called Whopper by his chums, because of his exaggerations when speaking. "I've just been aching to see it snow."

"So that we can take that trip we proposed," put in Sheppard Reed, quickly. "I guess we are all waiting for that."

"I am anyway," came from Will Caslette, the smallest lad of the four, who had gathered at their usual meeting place in the town where they