XIX. NOT A LOVE FEAST 196

XX. THE COOK SHACK DISASTER 203

XXI. ON THE TRAIL BACKWARD 215

XXII. HEN DUTCHER IS MODEST 226

XXIII. THIS TIME IS AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER 236

XXIV. CONCLUSION 244

The Grammar School Boys Snowbound

CHAPTER I

REALLY A GREAT PLAN, BUT----

As Hen Dutcher came up to a group of boys on the ice, and slowed down
his speed, he stuck the point of his right skate in the ice to bring
himself to a full stop.

"Huh! You fellows think you're some smart on fancy skating, don't you?"
he demanded rather scornfully.

"No," replied Dave Darrin shortly.

"You been showing off a lot, then."

"Hen," grimaced Dave, "I'm afraid you're going to miss your calling in
life."

"Didn't know I had any," grunted Hen.

"Yes, you have; one of your own choosing, too."

"What is it?" asked Hen curiously.

"You're a walking anvil chorus."

"An anvil chorus?" repeated Hen Dutcher, the puzzled expression
deepening in his face.

"Yes; wherever you go the fellows are sure to hear the sounds of
'hammering' and 'knocking.'"

A score of boys grinned, a dozen laughed outright. But Hen wasn't bright
enough to see the point.

"What's an anvil got to do with it all?" demanded Hen in a puzzled tone.
"An anvil belongs in a blacksmith shop."

"And that's where you ought to go, to do all your 'hammering' and
'knocking,'" explained Dave, as he skated slowly away.

"Huh! You think you're smart!" growled Hen, who still couldn't see why
the other fellows had laughed.

"Hen," remarked Dick Prescott, "I'm afraid you're not up to concert
pitch."

"Concert pitch?" repeated the dense one. "No, I know I'm not. Did I ever
make any claim to being musical?"

"You see," hinted Greg Holmes, "the trouble with the Dutcher kid is that
he's all ivory, from his collar-button up."

Another laugh greeted this assertion, but Hen only glared stupidly.

"Ivory is all white, anyway," Hen muttered. "So am I."

He swelled out his chest, did one or two fancy little things on skates,
and tried to look important. But none of the other fellows in the group
on the ice seemed inclined to take young Dutcher at his own valuation.

Hen Dutcher was a peculiar chap, at any rate. His worst fault,
probably--but one that led to other faults--was his egoti