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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
resided. "Our camping out last summer was immense. If only we have
half as much fun this winter!"

"We will have, Giant," broke in the boy called Whopper. "Didn't I tell
you I was going to bring down sixteen deer, twenty bears, two hundred
wild turkeys, a boatload of wolves, and--"

"Phew, Whopper! Every time you name 'em over the list gets longer!"
cried Charley Dodge. "If you bring down so much game there won't be
anything left for other hunters."

"Well, I'll leave you a bear or two," said Whopper cheerfully.

"Thanks awfully."

"Leave me one lone wild turkey, Whopper dear," came mournfully from
Shep Reed.

"Say, if you're going to talk like that I won't leave anything," burst
out Frank.

"Whopper may bring down all the game, but I'll wager he can't throw a
snowball as straight as I can," said Charley,