Bart Keene's Hunting Days; or, The Darewell Chums in a Winter Camp

by Allen Chapman

"Bart Keene's Hunting Days; or, The Darewell Chums in a Winter Camp" by Allen Chapman is a fictional novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story follows a group of young boys, known as the Darewell Chums, specifically focusing on Bart Keene and his friends as they embark on various adventures and misadventures, including a midnight excursion to their school where they plan a prank. As the narrative unfolds, they become embroiled in a mystery involving a missing diamond bracelet and a suspected thief. The opening of the book introduces Bart Keene and his two friends, Ned Wilding and Frank Roscoe, as they sneak out at midnight to play a prank on their friend Stumpy Masterson by "borrowing" reptiles from their school's science cabinet. However, their plans are complicated when they notice a mysterious man entering the school. As they attempt to understand the nature of this man's actions, they decide to proceed with their joke despite the potential consequences. This sets up a story filled with adventure, friendship, and the central mystery of the vanished bracelet connected to Bart and his friends' antics.