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Dave Porter Series

DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH

Or

The Pluck of an American Schoolboy

by

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "Dave Porter in the South Seas,"
"Dave Porter's Return to School," "Old Glory Series," "Pan American
Series," "Defending His Flag," etc.

Illustrated By Charles Nuttall







[Illustration: In a twinkling the turnout was upset.--_Page 206._]



[Illustration: Publishers mark]

Boston
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.

Published, March, 1908

Copyright, 1908, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
All rights reserved

DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH

Norwood Press
BERWICK & SMITH CO.
Norwood, Mass.
U. S. A.



PREFACE


"Dave Porter in the Far North" is a complete story in itself, but forms
the fourth volume in a line issued under the general title of "Dave
Porter Series."

In the first volume, entitled "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," I introduced a
typical American lad, full of life and vigor, and related the
particulars of his doings at an American boarding school of to-day--a
place which is a little world in itself. At this school Dave made both
friends and enemies, proved that he was a natural leader, and was
admired accordingly.

The great cloud over Dave's life was the question of his parentage. His
enemies called him "that poorhouse nobody," which hurt him deeply. He
made a discovery, and in the second volume of the series, entitled "Dave
Porter in the South Seas," we followed him on a most unusual voyage, at
the end of which he found an uncle, and learned something of his father
and sister, who were at that time traveling in Europe.

Dave was anxious to meet his own family, but could not find out just
where they were. While waiting for word from them, he went back to Oak
Hall, and in the third volume of the series, called "Dave Porter's
Return to School," we learned how he became innocently involved in a
mysterious series of robberies, helped to win two great games of
football, and brought the bully of the academy to a realization of his
better self.

As time went by Dave longed more than ever to meet his father and his
sister, and how he went in search of them I leave the pages which follow
to relate. As before, Dave is bright, manly, and honest to the core, and
in those qualities I trust my young readers will take him as their model
throughout life.

Once more I thank the thousands who have taken an interest in what I
have written for them. May the present story help them to despise those
things which are mean and hold fast to those things which are good.

                                                    EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

January 10, 1908.



                        CONTENTS


CHAPTER                                        PAGE

     I.  ON THE TRAIN                             1

    II.  A ROW IN A RESTAURANT                   12

   III.  OFF THE TRACK                           22

    IV.  WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BARN               32

     V.  BACK TO OAK HALL                        42

    VI.  GUS PLUM'S CONFESSION                   51

   VII.  HOW JOB HASKERS WENT SLEIGH-RIDING      59

  VIII.  A MYSTERIOUS LETTER                     69

    IX.  DAVE TALKS TO THE POINT                 78

     X.  AN ADVENTURE ON ROBBER ISLAND           87

    XI.  A HUNT FOR AN ICE-BOAT                  97

   XII.  THE MEETING OF THE GEE EYES            107

  XIII.  AN INTERRUPTED INITIATION              116

   XIV.  GOOD-BYE TO OAK HALL                   125

    XV.  DAVE AND ROGER IN LONDON               134

   XVI.  SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION             143

  XVII.  ON THE NORTH SEA                       152

 XVIII.  IN NORWAY AT LAST                      162

   XIX.  OFF TO THE NORTHWARD                   171

    XX.  AN ENCOUNTER WITH WOLVES               181

   XXI.  CAUGHT IN A WINDSTORM                  190

  XXII.  SNOWBOUND IN THE MOUNTAINS             200

 XXIII.  LEFT IN THE DARK                       210

  XXIV.  THE BURGOMASTER OF MASOLGA             219

   XXV.  TO THE NORTHWARD ONCE MORE             228

  XXVI.  DAYS OF WAITING                        237

 XXVII.  DAVE STRIKES OUT ALONE                 246

XXVIII.  A JOYOUS MEETING                       255

  XXIX.  BEARS AND WOLVES                       264

   XXX.  HOME AGAIN--CONCLUSION                 274



                           ILLUSTRATIONS


In a twinkling the turnout was upset (page
206)                                          _Frontispiece_

                                                        PAGE

Roger shoved it aside and it struck Isaac Pludding
full on the stomach                                       25

"Can't stop, I'm on the race-track!" yelled
Shadow                                                    58

The mule shied to one side and sent Dave
sprawling on the ice                                     101

What was left of the camp-fire flew up in the
air                                                      120

Once they ran close to a three-masted schooner           160

"Out with the lot of them! I will take the
rooms"                                                   229

Dave received a blow from a rough paw that
sent him headlong                                        267



DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH




CHAPTER I

ON THE TRAIN


"Here we are at the station, Dave!"

"Yes, and there is Phil waiting for us," answered Dave Porter. He threw
up the car window hastily. "Hi, there, Phil, this way!" he called out,
lustily.

A youth who stood on the railroad platform, dress-suit case in hand,
turned hastily, smiled broadly, and then ran for the steps of the
railroad car. The two boys already on board arose in their seats to
greet him.

"How are you, Dave? How are you, Ben?" he exclaimed cordially, and shook
hands. "I see you've saved a seat for me. Thank you. My, but it's a cold
morning, isn't it?"

"I was afraid you wouldn't come on account of the weather," answered
Dave Porter. "How are you feeling?"

"As fine as ever," answered Phil Lawrence. "Oh, it will take more than
one football game to kill me," he went on, with a light laugh.

"I trust you never get knocked out like that again, Phil," said Dave
Porter, seriously.

"So do I," added Ben Basswood. "The game isn't worth it."

"Mother thought I ought to stay home until the weather moderated a bit,
but I told her you would all be on this train and I wanted to be with
the crowd. Had a fine Thanksgiving, I suppose."

"I did," returned Ben Basswood.

"Yes, we had a splendid time," added Dave Porter, "only I should have
been better satisfied if I had received some word from my father and
sister."

"No word yet, Dave?"

"Not a line, Phil," and Dave Porter's usually bright face took on a
serious look. "I don't know what to make of it and neither does my Uncle
Dunston."

"It certainly is queer. If they went to Europe your letters and
cablegrams ought to catch them somewhere. I trust you get word soon."

"If I don't, I know what I am going to do."

"What?"

"Go on a hunt, just as I did when I found my uncle," was Dave Porter's
reply.

While the three boys were talking the train had rolled out of the
station. The car was but half filled, so the lads had plenty of room in
which to make themselves comfortable. Phil Lawrence stowed away his suit
case in a rack overhead and settled down facing the others. He gave a
yawn of satisfaction.

"I can tell you, it will feel good to get back to Oak Hall again," he
observed. "You can't imagine how much I've missed the boys and the good
times, even if I was laid up in bed with a broken head."

"You'll get a royal reception, Phil," said Dave. "Don't forget that when
you went down you won the football game for us."

"Maybe I did, Dave, but you had your hand in winning, too, and so did
Ben."

"Well, if the fellows---- Say, here comes Nat Poole." Dave lowered his
voice. "I don't think he'll want to see me."

As