THE OUTDOOR CHUMS Or The First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club BY CAPTAIN QUINCY ALLEN 1911 CONTENTS I PLANNING THE CAMPAIGN II READY FOR THE START III THE RACE FOR A CAMP-SITE IV UNDER THE TWIN HEMLOCKS V THE FIRST CAMP SUPPER VI BLUFF MEETS WITH A LOSS VII THE SHACK OF THE MUSKRAT TRAPPER VIII WHERE IS BLUFF? IX JERRY TAKES CHANCES X UNCLE TOBY FLIES HIGH XI A NIGHT ALARM XII THE TELL-TALE MATCH-SAFE XIII THE COMING OF THE STORM XIV HOW JERRY WAS TREED XV IN A BEAR'S HOLLOW XVI HEAPING COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD XVII AFTER THE STORM XVIII A STRANGE VISITOR IN CAMP XIX SURPRISING TRAPPER JESSE XX PROVING HIS CLAIM XXI DOWN THE OLD SHAFT XXII "LOOK PLEASANT, PLEASE!" XXIII MORE SIGNS OF TROUBLE XXIV WHAT BLUFF DID XXV BREAKING CAMP THE OUTDOOR CHUMS CHAPTER I PLANNING THE CAMPAIGN "Great news, Jerry! The storm last night damaged the roof of the academy so that it has been condemned as unsafe. And the Head has decided that there can be no school held for two weeks." "So Watkins was just telling me. He says most of the outside students are to be sent home again until repairs can be made. And I was just thinking that while I'm sorry for the Head, it opens up a jolly good prospect for some of us." "How's that, Jerry? For myself, I was just feeling glad to be back at my desk again, after vacation, and now it's knock around again." "All right, just stop and consider. There are four boys I know of, constituting the Rod, Gun and Camera Club, who have been busy planning an outing for next summer, back of the lumber camps at the head of the lake. Talk to me about opportunities, what's to hinder us going into the woods right now, and making use of our rods, guns, and that elegant new camera your mother gave you on your birthday last week?" demanded the boy called Jerry. "What's all this about, you two conspirators?" demanded one of two other boys, swinging alongside just then, as though sure of a hearty welcome, and a voice at the council fire. "Glad you came, Frank and Bluff, for I want your opinion. Jerry has just sprung an astonishing idea on me, and I'm so dazed I hardly know what to say. Are you ready for the question? All in favor of spending the two weeks' additional vacation out in camp back of the lumbermen's diggings say ay!" The two newcomers looked at each other as if trying to grasp the immensity of the proposition; then they pulled off their hats, and giving a shout threw them into the air while both roared the affirmative word: "Ay!" Jerry looked at Will, with a broad smile of delight on his face. "Three against one--the motion is carried!" he declared, triumphantly.