Dave Porter's Great Search

n the day they had encountered the heavy storm. As Mr. Obray had said, the trail w

he came forward to see his chum depart. "They tell me there is one spot on

nswered our hero; and then, with a wave of his hand, he gall

gh the mountains was just to his liking. He could not help but whistle gayly to himself as he sped forw

care. In some places where the trail was of dirt, the brushwood grew thickly, so that it often brushed his legs and the sides of his steed as they passed. This, of

in Crumville. The beautiful face of Jessie, with her bewitching eyes, was continually before him; and once or twi

civil engineer, and I'm going to

t vicinity, but now he seemed to be alone on the trail, and the only sound that broke the stillness

him were the jagged rocks leading still further upward, while on the other was the broad valley, clothed in green and with a shimmering river flowing t

the proper season," he told himself. "I'd like to go out myself fo

mself on the dangerous part of the trail mentioned by Roger. The youth had heard

the neck. "Neither of us wants to take a tumble down yond

the path as possible, and picked every step carefully, and thus they moved onward until the very worst of the trail had 71been lef

Dave came around one of the narrow bends of the trail. And the n

houlder. He was so close that he had to leap to one side for fear of being trampled und

Dave, and for the instant

led the former bully of Oak Hall.

business, Jasniff,"

our hero so much trouble. "Thought you were playing a fine game on me, didn't you-having that construc

se, Jasniff," 72ordered Dave. "

go when

And so speaking, Dave leaned over in

iff, who was tall and powerful, caught him by the arm, and the next instant had hauled him from the saddle. T

sniff, the squinting eye squinting worse than ever as he scow

nothing to accomplish his purpose. Our hero remembered well the dastardly at

ting Jasniff in the cheek. Then several blows were exchanged in quick succession, Dave being hit in the chest and shoulder and Jasniff receiving several in the chest and one on the nose w

panted Jasniff, as he did his best

r with such a tall and powerful fellow as Jasniff he mus

he waist. Then Jasniff went down with Dave on top of him, and both rolled over and over

sniff presently, when he foun

ough with you-not before,

Then, however, he managed to get one leg doubled up and he sent his foot into Dave's stomach in such a way that our hero wa

him another blow in the nose, one which made the blood spurt, Jasniff

nexpectedly, and in a trice Dave found himself rolling over and over down a rocky slope. He clutched out wildly, and managed to catch hold of several bushes. But these came out by the

lay among the bushes hardly realizing where he was or what had happened. Then, when he finally arose to his feet, he

he groaned to himself. "I suppose

ing over and over down

feet above his 75head. From where he stood he could not see that portion of the trail wher

elf. But after he had taken a good look around he c

to the trail and try to find out what

o give him a knock-out blow when I had him down on the rocks! If I had given him that I could have made him a prison

hen began to scramble up the rocks. This was by no means easy, and more than once he had to stop to catch his breath and nurse

ere, feeling rather weak, he sat down to regain his strength. He listened intently, but scarcely a sound broke

tterly. "To foot it all the way to Orella, and especial

he quickly thrust his hand into his pocket to see if t

rt almost stopped beatin

as the envelope the construction camp manager had given him missing, but likewise the letters he had received from