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