Dave Porter on Cave Island; Or, A Schoolboy's Mysterious Mission Read online

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  "Empty!" murmured Dave sadly. "Empty!"--_Page 217._]

  Dave Porter Series

  DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND

  OR

  A SCHOOLBOY'S MYSTERIOUS MISSION

  BY

  EDWARD STRATEMEYER

  Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "Dave Porter in the South Seas," "The Gun Club Boys of Lakeport," "Old Glory Series," "Pan-American Series," etc.

  _ILLUSTRATED BY H. RICHARD BOEHM_

  BOSTON LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.

  Published, March, 1912 Copyright, 1912, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.

  _All Rights Reserved_

  Dave Porter on Cave Island

  Norwood Press Berwick and Smith Co. Norwood, Mass. U. S. A.

  PREFACE

  "Dave Porter on Cave Island" is a complete story in itself but forms theeighth volume in a line issued under the general title of "Dave PorterSeries."

  The opening tale of this series, called "Dave Porter at Oak Hall,"related the adventures of a wide-awake lad at a typical boarding schoolof to-day. This was followed by "Dave Porter in the South Seas," whitherour hero had gone to find his father, and then by "Dave Porter's Returnto School."

  From Oak Hall, Dave journeyed to Norway, as related in "Dave Porter inthe Far North." On his return to this country he once more attendedschool, as told of in "Dave Porter and His Classmates." Dave made a hostof friends and likewise a few enemies, and some of the latter plotted todo him much harm.

  When vacation came once more, Dave received an invitation to visit ahome in the far west, and what he did on that trip has been set forth in"Dave Porter at Star Ranch." Then, when vacation days were at an end, hecame back to Oak Hall, as related in the seventh volume of this series,entitled, "Dave Porter and His Rivals."

  In the present book we find Dave again at school. But the Christmasholidays are at hand and the lad returns home. Here a most mysteriousand unlooked-for happening occurs, and Dave's great benefactor, Mr.Wadsworth, is on the verge of ruin because of it. Dave gets a clew tothe mystery, and, with his chums, resolves to investigate. He takes along journey and has a number of stirring adventures, the particulars ofwhich are given in the pages that follow.

  When I started this line of books I trusted that Dave might please theboys, but I did not imagine that so many thousands of boys and girls allover the land would clamor as they have for more concerning the doingsof my hero. I thank all for their appreciation of my efforts to pleasethem, and I sincerely trust that the reading of this new volume will bea benefit to them.

  Edward Stratemeyer. _February_ 1, 1912.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I. The Schoolboy Chums 1 II. A Glimpse at the Past 16 III. What Dave Had to Tell 18 IV. The Schoolboy Hunters 28 V. A Tramp Through the Snow 38 VI. Good-by to Oak Hall 48 VII. Nat Poole's Revelation 58 VIII. A Merry Christmas 63 IX. Nat Poole Gets Caught 78 X. What Happened at the Jewelry Works 88 XI. Looking for the Robbers 98 XII. The Telltale Cigarette Box 108 XIII. Dark Days 118 XIV. Off for the South 128 XV. Something About White Mice 138 XVI. Picking up the Trail 147 XVII. Meeting Old Friends 157 XVIII. Off for Barbados 167 XIX. The Missing Ship 177 XX. Landing on Cave Island 187 XXI. Into a Cave and Out 197 XXII. The Hurricane 207 XXIII. A Strange Discovery 217 XXIV. Jasniff and Merwell 227 XXV. Link Merwell's Story 237 XXVI. The Column of Smoke 247 XXVII. Behind the Curtain of Vines 257 XXVIII. In Which the Enemy Sails Away 267 XXIX. A Chase on the Ocean 277 XXX. Homeward Bound--Conclusion 287

  DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND