E-text prepared by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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The old hunter was at hand
LAKEPORT SERIES
The
Gun Club Boys of Lakeport
OR
The Island Camp
By EDWARD STRATEMEYER
Author of “The Baseball Boys of Lakeport,” “Dave Porter at Oak Hall,” “Old Glory Series,” “Pan-American Series,” Etc.
ILLUSTRATED
BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
Copyright, 1904, by A. S. Barnes & Co., under the Title
“The Island Camp.”
Copyright, 1908, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
PREFACE.
This story is a complete tale in itself, andit also forms the first volume of a series to bedevoted to sport in the forest, on the water,and on the athletic field.
My object in writing this tale was two-fold:first, to present to the boys a story which wouldplease them, and, second, to give my youngreaders an insight into Nature as presentedin the depths of the forest during the winter.
The young hunters of Lakeport are no differentfrom thousands of other youths of to-day.Although they do some brave deeds,they are no heroes in the accepted sense ofthat term, and at certain times they get scaredjust as others might under similar circumstances.They are light-hearted and full offun, and not above playing some odd practicaljokes upon each other. In the old and experiencedhunter, who goes with them on thisnever-to-be-forgotten outing, they find a companionexactly to their liking, and one whoteaches them not a few “points” about huntingthat are worth knowing.
The scene of this tale is laid in one of oureastern states. A few years ago small gameof all kinds was plentiful there, and deer,moose, and even bears, could also be laid low.But some of the larger animals are fast disappearing,and it is now only a question of timewhen they will be wiped out altogether. Thisseems a great pity; but the march of the lumbermanand the progress of the farmer cannotbe stayed.
Edward Stratemeyer.