, if they know what's good for them. We're not out
looking for trouble, but, if it comes along, you and your cronies will
find that there are four fellows who know how to take care of
themselves. Got that, Andy?" he said sternly.

The bully looked at him fixedly for a moment, and then drawing back his
short upper lip after a way he had, and which made his face resemble that
of a snarling wolf, with fangs exposed, he remarked:

"It makes me laugh to think of such a lot of tenderfeet in the woods. Be
careful not to shoot yourselves, kids. Guns are mighty dangerous
sometimes. And just make up your minds that we ain't agoing to be scared
by big words. The fellows that train with me have been up against hard
knocks too often to knuckle down before a lot of bluster and brag. Them
two weeks'll be the liveliest you ever knew, take my word for it."

With his tongue in his cheek he scurried away, just in time to avoid the
proprietor of the store, who now came bustling out to learn what all the
racket might mean, and found our four boys busily replacing his pyramid
of empty boxes.

CHAPTER II

READY FOR THE START

Centerville was a thriving town situated almost midway down the east
shore of Camalot Lake, and very nearly opposite Newtonport on the
opposite bank; in consequence, there was more or less rivalry between the
two places, which condition extended from the shopkeepers and banks to
the sports of the boys of the bustling miniature cities.

Since the four chums are to figure as the leading spirits in our stirring
tales of the Outdoor Club, it seems only proper that we should take an
early opportunity to introduce them more fully to the reader, together
with some of their more prominent hobbies, hoping that the acquaintance
thus begun may ripen into warm intimacy as we journey along in company.

Jerry Wellington's father was a railroad magnate, and in full sympathy
with his boy's love for the open; indeed, it was from the elder
Wellington that Jerry, no doubt, inherited his love for fair play,
whether in games on the baseball or football arena, or in sports afield;
his sympathies seemed to be always with the under dog in the fight, and
he would scorn to shoot a rabbit or a quail unless in full flight; or to
take a game-fish by any other means than the methods in vogue among true
sportsmen.

On the other hand, Bluff Masters could never get it through his head what
need there was for all this fuss and feathers