Chapter I: Preface

"Dave Porter and the Runaways" is a complete story in itself, but forms the ninth volume of a line issued under the general title of "Dave Porter Series."

In the first volume of this series, entitled "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," the reader was introduced to a typical American lad, and the particulars were given of his doings at an up-to-date boarding school.

There was a cloud over Dave's parentage, and in order to solve the mystery of his identity he took a long voyage over the ocean, as related in the second volume, called "Dave Porter in the South Seas." Then he came back to his schoolmates, as told of in "Dave Porter's Return to School," and then took a long trip to Norway, to hunt up his father, the particulars of which are given in "Dave Porter in the Far North."

Having settled the matter of his identity to his satisfaction, our hero came back to Oak Hall and had a number of strenuous contests, related in detail in "Dave Porter and His Classmates." Following this came the summer vacation, and the youth made a trip West, the happenings of which are set down in "Dave Porter at Star Ranch."

When Dave returned to Oak Hall once more he found the school rivalries as bitter as ever, and what these led to has been related in "Dave Porter and His Rivals." His enemies tried hard to do our hero much injury, but he exposed them and they were forced to flee, to escape the consequences of their actions.

The winter holidays found Dave homeward bound. He had anticipated some jolly times among his relatives and friends, but a robbery upset all his plans, and, almost before he knew it, he found himself bound southward, as related in "Dave Porter on Cave Island." On the island he had many adventures out of the ordinary, and he came home more of a hero than ever, having saved Mr. Wadsworth, his benefactor, from ruin.

In the present story Dave is back once again at school. There are some queer happenings, and then some lads run away. How Dave proved his common sense, and brought the runaways back, I leave for the pages which follow to tell. I trust the reading of this volume will do all my young friends good.

Edward Stratemeyer.
_February_ 1, 1913.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. Dave and His Chums 1
II. A Glimpse at the Past 11
III. A Talk of the Future 21
IV. Mr. Job Haskers's Doings 31
V. At Oak Hall Once More 41
VI. Phil Shows His Stubbornness 52
VII. Phil and Ben Make a Move 62
VIII. An Unusual Compact 72
IX. The King of Sumatra 82
X. Nat Poole Wants to Know 91
XI. Bonfire Night at the Hall 101
XII. Plans for a Spread 111
XIII. The Cabin on the Island 121
XIV. The Bandanna Handkerchief 131
XV. At the Hotel 141
XVI. The Blowing up of the Bridge 151
XVII. A Serious Accusation 161
XVIII. The Meeting on the Road 171
XIX. Looking for the Runaways 181
XX. The Wild Man Again 190
XXI. Something of a Clew 200
XXII. After the Runaways 210
XXIII. At the Camp 220
XXIV. Out in the Storm 230
XXV. Perils of the Flood 239
XXVI. Back to the School 249
XXVII. The Trail Through the Woods 259
XXVIII. The Capture of the Wild Man 268
XXIX. A Bit of Evidence 278
XXX. The Exposure--Good-By to Oak Hall 287

DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS