Dave Porter in the Gold Fields

by Edward Stratemeyer

Dave Porter Series

---

DAVE PORTER

IN THE GOLD FIELDS

OR

THE SEARCH FOR THE LANDSLIDE MINE

BY

EDWARD STRATEMEYER

Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "The Lakeport Series,"
"Pan-American Series," "Old Glory Series," etc.

ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER ROGERS

BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.

Published, August, 1914

Copyright, 1914, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.

---

All Rights Reserved

---

Dave Porter in the Gold Fields

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

"A NUGGET! A NUGGET OF GOLD!" CRIED DAVE.—Page 276.

PREFACE

"Dave Porter in the Gold Fields" is a complete story in itself, but forms the tenth volume in a line issued under the general title of "Dave Porter Series."

The series was begun some years ago by the publication of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," in which my young readers were introduced to a typical American lad at a typical American boarding school.

There was at that time a cloud over Dave's parentage, and to clear this away he took a long sea voyage, as related in the next volume, entitled "Dave Porter in the South Seas." Then he came back to school, as told of in "Dave Porter's Return to School," in which he gave one of the local bullies a much-needed lesson.

During a vacation Dave journeyed to Norway, as related in "Dave Porter in the Far North," and then came back to Oak Hall, to win various honors, as recorded in "Dave Porter and His Classmates." Then came an opportunity to visit the West, and how our hero did this is set down in the book called "Dave Porter at Star Ranch." When he returned to school many strenuous happenings awaited him, and what they were will be found in "Dave Porter and His Rivals."

Dave had lived for years with a rich manufacturer of jewelry, and when this man was robbed it was our hero who followed the criminals in a long flight, as told in "Dave Porter on Cave Island." Then, with the booty in his possession, the youth returned home, to go back to school, from which he soon after graduated with honors, as shown in the volume preceding this, entitled, "Dave Porter and the Runaways."

In the present volume are related the particulars of another trip West, taken by Dave and his chums to locate a lost gold mine, willed to Roger Morr's mother by her brother. The boys had some strenuous happenings, and some of their old-time enemies did all they could to bring their expedition to grief. But Dave showed his common sense and his courage, and in the end all went well.

Once again I thank my young readers for the interest they have shown in my books. I trust that the reading of this volume will benefit them all.

Edward Stratemeyer.

February 1, 1914.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER		PAGE
I.	The Landslide Mine	1
II.	Dave Porter's Past	11
III.	Caught in a Storm	21
IV.	A Question of Stocks	31
V.	A Trap for Job Haskers	41
VI.	Another Surprise	51
VII.	A Gathering of Oak Hall Boys	61
VIII.	Fire and Firecrackers	71
IX.	What Nat Poole Had to Tell	81
X.	Dave at Home	91
XI.	Overheard in the Summer-House	101
XII.	On the Way West	111
XIII.	Dave Sees Something	121
XIV.	In Butte	131
XV.	At Abe Blower's Home	141
XVI.	On to Black Cat Camp	151
XVII.	Along the Mountain Trail	161
XVIII.	The Stolen Horses	171
XIX.	The Newspaper Clew	181
XX.	The Exposure	191
XXI.	On the Back Trail	201
XXII.	Dave and the Mountain Lion	211
XXIII.	In the Mountain Cave	221
XXIV.	Searching for the Landslide Mine	231
XXV.	Caught in a Storm	241
XXVI.	Prowlers in Camp	251
XXVII.	The Two Prisoners	261
XXVIII.	The Lost Landslide Mine	270
XXIX.	Another Landslide	279
XXX.	The New Claim—Conclusion	288