Dave Porter in the Gold Fields or, The Search for the Landslide Mine

Edward Stratemeyer

Description

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.

Sujets

• Westerns
• Western (genre)
• Western

Informations

• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819903284
• Langue: English

Extrait

PREFACE
"Dave Porter in the Gold Fields" is a complete storyin itself, but forms the tenth volume in a line issued under thegeneral title of "Dave Porter Series."
T he series wasbegun some years ago by the publication of "Dave Porter at OakHall," in which my young readers were introduced to a typicalAmerican lad at a typical American boarding school.
There was at that time a cloud over Dave'sparentage, and to clear this away he took a long sea voyage, asrelated in the next volume, entitled "Dave Porter in the SouthSeas." Then he came back to school, as told of in "Dave Porter'sReturn to School," in which he gave one of the local bullies amuch-needed lesson.
During a vacation Dave journeyed to Norway, asrelated in "Dave Porter in the Far North," and then came back toOak Hall, to win various honors, as recorded in "Dave Porter andHis Classmates." Then came an opportunity to visit the West, andhow our hero did this is set down in the book called "Dave Porterat Star Ranch." When he returned to school many strenuoushappenings awaited him, and what they were will be found in "DavePorter and His Rivals."
Dave had lived for years with a rich manufacturer ofjewelry, and when this man was robbed it was our hero who followedthe criminals in a long flight, as told in "Dave Porter on CaveIsland." Then, with the booty in his possession, the youth returnedhome, to go back to school, from which he soon after graduated withhonors, as shown in the volume preceding this, entitled, "DavePorter and the Runaways."
In the present volume are related the particulars ofanother trip West, taken by Dave and his chums to locate a lostgold mine, willed to Roger Morr's mother by her brother. The boyshad some strenuous happenings, and some of their old-time enemiesdid all they could to bring their expedition to grief. But Daveshowed his common sense and his courage, and in the end all wentwell.
Once again I thank my young readers for the interestthey have shown in my books. I trust that the reading of thisvolume will benefit them all. EDWARD STRATEMEYER. February 1,1914.
DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS
CHAPTER I
T HE LANDSLIDEMINE "Roger, that sounds like a fairy tale – a real gold minebelonging to your mother lost through a landslide!" "So it doessound like a fairy tale, Dave; but it is absolutely true. The minewas owned by my uncle, Maurice Harrison, of Butte, Montana, andwhen he died he left it to my mother, who was his sister. On theday he died there was a big landslide in the mountains, where themine was located, – and that was the end of the mine, as far as myfolks were concerned." "You mean you couldn't find the mine afterthe landslide?" asked Dave Porter, with deep interest. "That's it,"answered Roger Morr. "The opening to it was completely covered up,and so were the stakes, and several landmarks that showed where themine was located." "But why didn't you tell of this before, Roger?"asked a third youth of the group seated on the lawn of SenatorMorr's country estate. "Did it just happen?" "No, Phil, thishappened last fall, about nine months ago. The reason I didn'tmention it to you and Dave was because my folks wanted it keptquiet. From what my uncle said in his will, the mine must be veryvaluable, and my folks didn't want any outsiders to re-discover themine and set up a claim to it. So they started a search on thequiet – hiring some old miners and prospectors they could trust.But the search has been in vain." "Couldn't they discover the mineat all?" queried Dave Porter. "No, the landslide was too heavy andtoo far-reaching. The old miners told my father it was the biggestlandslide known in Montana. One prospector said he thought the minemust now be a hundred feet or more underground." "Had your uncleworked it at all?" questioned Phil Lawrence. "Not much, but enoughto learn that it was a valuable claim. It was in a district thathad been visited by landslides before, and so he called it theLandslide Mine." "Well, your uncle could be thankful for one thing– that he wasn't in the mine when that big slide took place. Butyou said he died anyway." "Yes, of pneumonia, on the very day theslide took place. Wasn't it queer? Dad and mother went out toButte, to the funeral – Uncle Maurice was an old bachelor – andthen they heard his will read and learned about the mine." "Andthey couldn't get any trace at all, Roger?" asked Dave, as hestopped swinging in the hammock he occupied. "Nothing worthfollowing up. One of the miners thought he had a landmark located,but, although he spent a good deal of money digging around, nothingcame of it. You see that big landslide seemed to change the wholeface of the country. It took down dirt and rocks, and trees andbushes, and sent them to new resting places." "Perhaps the mine waswashed away instead of being covered up," suggested Phil. "No, allthose who have visited the locality are agreed that the entrance tothe claim must have been covered up." "Say! I'd like to hunt forthat mine!" cried Dave Porter, enthusiastically. "So would I,"returned Roger Morr, wistfully. "I know my mother would like tohave somebody find it – just to learn if it is really as valuableas Uncle Maurice thought." "Well, if you two fellows go West tolook for that mine you can count on having me with you," put inPhil Lawrence. "We were going to decide on what to do for the nexttwo months. If Roger says the word – – " "Oh, I could do thateasily enough," said the senator's son. "But Dave wrote that he hadsomething up his sleeve. Maybe his plans won't fit into this." "Butthey just will fit in!" cried Dave. "At least, I think they will,"he added, more slowly. "You say this mine is located in Montana?""Yes." "Well, that isn't very far from Yellowstone Park, is it?""No – in fact a corner of the Park is in Montana." "Then, while theothers were taking the trip through Yellowstone Park we could goout to that mining district and try to locate this missing mine,"went on Dave, with a smile. "What are you talking about, Dave?"questioned his two chums, in a breath. "I'm talking about apersonally-conducted tour of the Park that some folks in and aroundCrumville are getting up. Mr. Basswood, Ben's father, is at thehead of it. It's a sort of church affair. They have got my folksinterested, and my Uncle Dunston says he will go, and so willLaura, and Mrs. Wadsworth, and Jessie, and half a dozen others youknow. They thought maybe we boys would want to go, too." "Wow! Allto the merry!" cried Phil, and leaping out of the willow chair heoccupied, he turned a "cart-wheel" on the lawn. "Say, this fits inbetter than a set of new teeth, doesn't it?" he went on,enthusiastically. "When is this grand tour to come off?" askedRoger. "It starts about the middle of July – just two weeks fromto-day. The plan is to spend about four weeks in and around thePark, seeing everything thoroughly. You know there are some fine,comfortable hotels there, and folks like Mrs. Wadsworth don't liketo travel in a hurry." "Going through the Park would certainly be agreat trip," said Roger. "And especially with the girls." "We couldtravel with them as far as – let me see, what's the name of theplace – oh, yes, Livingston. That's where they leave the main lineof the railroad to go on the little branch to the Park." "Well, ifthey spent four weeks in the Park that would give us plenty of timeto hunt for the mine," said Phil, thoughtfully. "But it would be abig job." "And a dangerous one," added Roger. "Remember, wherethere have been several landslides there may be more. Fact is, whenI spoke to my dad about going out there, he shook his head and saidI had better keep away – that the search ought to be conducted byexperienced men who understood the lay of the land and all that.""Oh, we could be careful," returned Dave, impulsively. The idea ofgoing in search of the lost mine appealed to him strongly. "Sure,we'd be careful," added Phil. "Aren't we always careful? All aboardfor the Landslide Mine, say I! Come on, if you are going!" And hegrinned broadly. "Better wait until after lunch," returned thesenator's son, dryly. "We might have something you'd like to eat,Phil." "All right, just as you say." The other youth dropped backinto a wicker chair. "Say, doesn't it just feel good to think thatwe have graduated from Oak Hall and don't have to go back?" headded, with a sigh of satisfaction. "I'm glad I have graduated, butI am not so glad that I am not going back," answered Dave. "We hadsome good times at the Hall." "So we did – dandy times!" criedRoger. "I tell you, I shall miss Oak Hall a great deal. I shallmiss our friends and also our enemies." "Speaking of enemies, Iwonder what ever became of old Job Haskers," said Phil. "I don'tknow and I don't want to know," came from Dave. "I never want tosee that good-for-nothing teacher again. I am glad, on account ofthe fellows left at Oak Hall, that the doctor discharged him." "Soam I," put in the senator's son. "Just the same, Dave, Haskers willtry to get square with us if he ever gets the chance." "Oh, I knowthat. But I don't intend to give him the chance." "Speaking of ourenemies, I wonder what ever became of Link Merwell," said Phil. "Heseems to have dropped out of sight completely." "I rather imaginehe has left the country," returned Roger. "For if he was around atall, some of the school fellows would be sure to hear of him. Say,he certainly was a bad egg." "Yes, but not as bad as Nick Jasniff,"said Dave. "I am glad they locked that fellow up. He was anout-and-out criminal." "Let us drop those fellows and get back tothis lost mine," interrupted Phil. "If we are really going out toMontana we ought to make some sort of preparations for the trip.""Oh, we've got two weeks to do that in, Phil," answered Roger. "Andplease to remember, Fourth of July is coming, and I am expectingseveral of the other fellows here to help celebrate. We can fix itup about that western trip after the Fourth." "Who are coming,Roger, did you hear?" asked Dave. "Shadow