Three Young Ranchmen

Or, Daring Adventures in the Great West

By Captain Ralph Bonehill

Author of "A Sailor Boy with Dewey," "For the Liberty of Texas," "TheYoung Bandmaster," etc.

Illustrated

New York and Boston
H. M. Caldwell Company
Publishers

Copyright, 1901

By The Saalfield Publishing Company

HORSE AND YOUTH WENT PLUNGING HEADLONG.

PREFACE

"Three Young Ranchmen" relates the adventures of three brothers, Allen,Chetwood and Paul Winthrop, who are left to shift for themselves upon alonely ranch home situated in the mountainous region of the beautifulState of Idaho, near one of the numerous branches of the Salmon River.

The lads, although sturdy and brave, have no easy time making a living,and among other troubles, they are visited by horse thieves, and also bya crafty prospector who wishes to take their claim away from them. Inthe meantime an uncle of the lads has gone off to visit the city, and hedisappears entirely, adding to the complexity of the situation. What theboys did to straighten out the trouble is told in the chapters whichfollow.

In writing this story I have tried to give my boy readers a fair idea oflife on a ranch of to-day, as well as of life in the wild mountains ofIdaho, with some idea of the ranch hands and miners to be met with inthese localities. The tale has been drawn as true to nature as possible,and I trust its reading will prove both entertaining and useful.

Captain Ralph Bonehill.

CONTENTS

PREFACE
CHAPTER I. An Unpleasant Discovery
CHAPTER II. Allen on the Trail
CHAPTER III. A Dangerous Situation
CHAPTER IV. The Man in the Sink Hole
CHAPTER V. Good Cause for Alarm
CHAPTER VI. From One Peril to Another
CHAPTER VII. The Cave in the Mountain
CHAPTER VIII. Into a Snake's Nest
CHAPTER IX. A Visitor at the Ranch
CHAPTER X. The Captain's Setback
CHAPTER XI. Ike Watson's Arrival
CHAPTER XII. The Boys Talk It over
CHAPTER XIII. Caught in a Cyclone
CHAPTER XIV. Another Surprise
CHAPTER XV. At Dottery's Ranch
CHAPTER XVI. ...