Chapter I: Preface

"DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL" is a complete story in itself, but forms the third volume in a line issued under the general title of "Dave Porter Series."

In the initial volume of this series, entitled "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," I took pleasure in introducing to my readers a typical American lad, of strong moral qualities, and told of many of the things which happened to him during a term at an American boarding school of to-day. Such a school is a little world in itself, and Dave made both friends and enemies, and aided one weak and misguided youth to a realization of his better self.

The great cloud over Dave's life was the question of his parentage. His enemies called him "a poorhouse nobody," which hurt him to the quick. At length he made a discovery which led him to begin a search for his missing relatives, and in the second volume of this series, entitled "Dave Porter in the South Seas," we followed the lad on a most unusual voyage, in a quarter of our globe but little known. Here Dave met his uncle, and learned something of himself and his father and sister, which pleased him immensely.

In the present volume the scene is shifted back to Oak Hall, where Dave goes to finish his preparation for college. His friends are still with him, and likewise his enemies, and what the various students do I leave for the pages that follow to relate. In all his trials Dave stands up for what is honest and true, and in this his example is well worth following.

Again I thank the many young people who have taken an interest in my efforts to amuse and instruct them. I hope this volume may prove to their liking and do them good.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

_Washington's Birthday, 1907._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. AT THE RAILROAD STATION 1

II. SOMETHING OF THE PAST 11

III. DAVE'S RETURN TO OAK HALL 20

IV. IN THE DORMITORY 29

V. SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY 38

VI. JOB HASKERS'S BAD NIGHT 47

VII. A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 57

VIII. THE RIVALS OF OAK HALL 66

IX. THE END OF THE GAME 76

X. ALL ON ACCOUNT OF A KITE 86

XI. AT THE WIDOW FAIRCHILD'S HOUSE 95

XII. AT WORK IN THE DARK 105

XIII. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY 115

XIV. CARRIED OFF 125

XV. OFF FOR THE GAME 134

XVI. THE GREAT FOOTBALL GAME 143

XVII. HOW THE GAME ENDED 153

XVIII. A FUNNY INITIATION 163

XIX. ALMOST SCARED TO DEATH 173

XX. A STUDENT'S STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE 182

XXI. THE CAVERN IN THE WOODS 191

XXII. A BOY AND A MOTOR CYCLE 201

XXIII. WHAT A RUNAWAY LED TO 211

XXIV. MORE PLANS THAN ONE 220

XXV. THE FIGHT IN THE GYMNASIUM 229

XXVI. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF NICK JASNIFF 239

XXVII. WHAT HAPPENED AT ROCKVILLE 249

XXVIII. AN ICE-BOAT RACE 259

XXIX. THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND 269

XXX. DAVE'S HEROISM 279

XXXI. GUS PLUM'S CONFESSION 289

XXXII. THE MEDAL OF HONOR--CONCLUSION 297

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

The Snowbird continued to forge ahead. Frontispiece

Dave began to mount the improvised rope. 50

Carl was made to bow until his nose touched the floor. 166

He made one wild leap forward. 288

DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL