Chapter II: Preface

"Dave Porter in the South Seas" is a complete story in itself, but forms the second volume in a line issued under the general title of "Dave Porter Series."

In the first volume of this series, called "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," I introduced a typical American boy, and gave something of his haps and mishaps at an American boarding school of to-day. At this school Dave made a number of warm friends, and also a few enemies, and was the means of bringing one weak and misguided youth to a realization of his better self. Dave was poor and had to fight his way to the front, and this was not accomplished until he had shown those around him what a truly straightforward and manly fellow he was.

The one great cloud over Dave's life was the question of his parentage. He had been raised by those who knew practically nothing of his past, and when he thought that he saw a chance to learn something about himself, he embraced that opportunity eagerly, even though it necessitated a long trip to the South Seas and a search among strange islands and still stranger natives. Dave makes the trip in a vessel belonging to the father of one of his school chums, and is accompanied by several of his friends. Not a few perils are encountered, and what the boys do under such circumstances I leave for the pages that follow to tell.

In penning this tale, I have had a twofold object in view: first, to give my young readers a view of a long ocean trip and let them learn something of the numerous islands which dot the South Seas, and, in the second place, to aid in teaching that old truth--that what is worth having is worth working for.

Again I thank the many thousands of boys and girls, and older persons, too, who have shown their appreciation of my efforts to amuse and instruct them. I can only add, as I have done before, that I sincerely trust that this volume fulfills their every reasonable expectation.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

April 10, 1906.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE BOYS OF OAK HALL 1

II. A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST 10

III. THREE CHUMS ON THE RIVER 19

IV. A PLOT TO "SQUARE UP" 28

V. WHAT THE PLOT LED TO 37

VI. THE FUN OF A NIGHT 46

VII. GUS PLUM'S MYSTERIOUS OFFER 55

VIII. SHADOW HAMILTON'S CONFESSION 64

IX. ABOUT ATHLETIC CONTESTS 72

X. HOW A RACE WAS WON 81

XI. A FIGHT AND ITS RESULT 90

XII. SHADOW AS A SOMNAMBULIST 100

XIII. A PHOTOGRAPH OF IMPORTANCE 110

XIV. A GLEAM OF LIGHT 119

XV. WINDING UP THE SCHOOL TERM 128

XVI. PREPARING FOR A LONG TRIP 137

XVII. THE TRIP TO THE FAR WEST 146

XVIII. SAILING OF THE "STORMY PETREL" 155

XIX. DAYS ON THE OCEAN 164

XX. CAUGHT IN A STORM 174

XXI. CAVASA ISLAND AT LAST 183

XXII. ABOUT SOME MISSING MEN 192

XXIII. IN WHICH THE SUPERCARGO IS CORNERED 201

XXIV. THE CARGO MYSTERY EXPLAINED 210

XXV. SWEPT ONWARD BY A TIDAL WAVE 219

XXVI. EXPLORING A TROPICAL ISLAND 228

XXVII. A MAP AND A PLOT 237

XXVIII. MAROONED 245

XXIX. THE COMING OF THE NATIVES 254

XXX. THE RETAKING OF THE "STORMY PETREL" 262

XXXI. LIFTING THE CURTAIN 270

XXXII. HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION 278

ILLUSTRATIONS

The canoe was sent closer and finally beached
(page 258) _Frontispiece_

Page

Dave cleared the last hurdle, and came in a winner 87

"Tell me his name, at once!" 121

"Good-by to Oak Hall!" 137

Another flash lit up the scene 179

The former supercargo was washed off the steps and
came down flat on his back 225

Billy Dill managed to catch the last one and turn
him over 233

"I have come about seven thousand miles to see you" 274

DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS