Canoe Boys and Campfires Adventures on Winding Waters   By: William Murray Graydon (1864-1946)

[Illustration: THE FIVE MILE WALK WAS A TRIFLE TO THE BOYS Page 110]

CANOE BOYS AND CAMPFIRES

Or, Adventures on Winding Waters

BY WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON

Author of "From Lake to Wilderness," "With Puritan and Pequod," "The Camp in the Snow," etc.

ILLUSTRATED

THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. CLEVELAND NEW YORK

Made in U. S. A.

Copyright, 1907, by Chatterton Peck Company

PRESS OF THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. CLEVELAND

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCING THE BOYS 9

II. PLANNING THE TRIP 17

III. THE CRUISE BEGINS 23

IV. ADRIFT IN THE DARKNESS 32

V. DISAPPEARANCE OF NUGGET 40

VI. THE LOST FOUND 48

VII. BATTERS AND JOE 57

VIII. HOW THE DAY DAWNED 74

IX. A SAFE SHELTER 82

X. A TRAMP ACROSS COUNTRY 90

XI. SEARCHING FOR THE CAMP 99

XII. OVER THE CLIFF 107

XIII. WHAT CLAY SHOT 116

XIV. CAUGHT IN THE WHIRLPOOL 125

XV. RANDY'S PROPOSITION 133

XVI. A SHATTERED DELUSION 142

XVII. THE STORM BREAKS 149

XVIII. AT THE MERCY OF THE TEMPEST 156

XIX. ADRIFT ON A LOG 163

XX. MR. DUDE MOXLEY 170

XXI. A MYSTERIOUS WARNING 178

XXII. AN INSOLENT DEMAND 185

XXIII. A DARING ATTEMPT 192

XXIV. AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER 200

XXV. THE SIEGE BEGINS 207

XXVI. BUG'S PROPOSITION 215

XXVII. THE BURNING OF THE MILL 222

XXVIII. A GOOD DEED 229

XXIX. RANDY GOES SAILING 236

XXX. A NIGHT ALARM 243

XXXI. STORMY WEATHER 250

XXXII. THE BROKEN DAM 257

XXXIII. AN UNDERGROUND CRUISE 264

XXXIV. DESPAIR 270

XXXV. NUGGET DISCOVERS A LIGHT 275

XXXVI. HOME AGAIN 280

CANOE BOYS AND CAMPFIRES

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCING THE BOYS

"I say, Ned, this is beginning to grow wearisome," drawled Randy Moore as he tipped his chair against the wall, and crossed his feet on the low railing in front of him. "Clay promised to be here half an hour ago," he went on in an injured tone, "and if he doesn't come in a few minutes I'm going to have a spin on the river. It's aggravating to sit here and do nothing. I can count a dozen boats between the railroad bridge and Bushy Island."

"I wouldn't mind being out myself," said Ned Chapman, "but we have important business to transact to night, Randy, and I think it would be wiser to let boating go for once. I have everything planned out in ship shape fashion, and it only wants the seal of approval from you and Clayton."

"Oh! you have, have you?" exclaimed Randy with a sudden show of interest. "That's good news, Ned. If Clay knew the momentous question was to be settled at last, he would stir himself to get here, wherever he is. I'll give him ten minutes' grace."