Edward Stratemeyer

“ In a few minutes the wolves had come up and were glaring at Mr. Porter and Dave as they crouched close to the camp-fire. There were fourteen of the beasts, all large, lean, and hungry-looking. They sniffed the air and set up yelps and mournful howls. Two found the spot where one of the bears had been wounded and pawed at the blood which had saturated the snow.
"Oh, for a brace of good shotguns!" sighed Dave. "We could scatter them in short order."
"When we shoot we must make every shot tell," said his father. "And keep the cartridges where we can get at them quickly. ”

“ Hardly had Roger spoken when Dave heard a peculiar sound on the rocks behind the crowd. He looked back and saw Mike Marcy's mule, nibbling at some bushes.
"The mule—I'm going to catch him!" he ejaculated, and made a leap for the animal. Just as the mule turned he caught hold of the halter.
"Whoa there! Whoa, you rascal!" he cried, and then, watching his chance, he flung himself across the mule's back. The animal pranced around in a lively fashion.
"Look out, Dave, he'll throw you!"
"He'll kick you to death if he gets a chance!"
"Remember, he's a vicious beast!" ”

“ They made Dave shiver as if with ague, and, all in a blaze he could not curb, he sprang towards Link Merwell. Out shot first one fist and then the other, the blows landing on the eye and chin of the tall youth. They made him stagger back against the ice-boat. Then came a third blow, and Merwell gave a gasp, swayed from side to side, and would have fallen had not Nat Poole caught him as he was going down. ”

“ Dost thou agree?"
"Speak on what?"
"Here is the subject," said Dave, in a disguised voice that was thin and piping: 'If a Pail Lets Out Water When it Leaks, Why Doesn't a Boat Do the Same Thing?'" And a snicker went round at this question.
"Thou hast heard the subject. Art prepared to discourse?" asked one of the Gee Eyes.
"Sure thing," answered Gus Plum, after a moment of thought. He struck an attitude. "My subject is a most profound one, first broached by Cicero to Henry Clay, during the first trip of the beloved pair to Coney Island."
"Hurrah! Hooroo!" came from one of the club members. ”

“ The light from the camp-fire shone in their eyes and on their white fangs. They were growing desperate, and hoped by sheer force of numbers to lay their human prey low.
"Fire three shots, Dave, and I will do the same," said Mr. Porter, in a low tone. "Aim as carefully as you can, my boy."
The various shots rang out in rapid succession. How much damage was done they could not tell, although they saw two wolves go down and lie still. The others retreated, some limping, and the entire pack went back to the shelter of the brushwood. ”

“ Englishman to the driver. "Otherwise we may all take a tumble."
He had hardly spoken when a sleigh ran up on a rock on one side and plunged into a hollow on the other. In a twinkling the turnout was upset. Dave felt himself pitched out and rolled over and over before he could stop himself. Then he went down and down, he knew not whither. His hand touched that of Roger, and instinctively the two chums clung to each other. The snow filled their eyes, ears, and noses, and almost smothered them. They saw a little light, and then suddenly all became pitch-dark around them. ”

“ Porter, fervently.
"Oh, we must get away!" added Dave, impulsively.
"All we can do is to fight to the last, Dave."
"Yes."
Both knew only too well what to expect should the wolves get the better of the contest. "As cruel as a wolf" is a true saying. They would be torn limb from limb and only their bones would be left to tell to some later traveler the story of their fate. They decided, with set faces and shut teeth, to fight to the very last. ”

“ Throughout this world so wide,
To let the people know that we
Elect to here abide!"
This was sung with great gusto and immediately following came the well-known Hall rally:
"Baseball!
Football!
Oak Hall!
Has the call!
Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!"
"That's the way to do it!" sang out Dave, and then, as the sleigh drew up to the front door of the academy, he started some doggerel also sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne" and just then becoming popular:
"We're here because we're here because
We're here because we're here!
We're here because we're here because
We're here because we're here! ”

“ There were a few evergreens scattered about, but not many, and these hung low with their weight of snow. All was intensely silent.
"This ought to be lonely enough to suit anybody," observed Henshaw. He turned to Roger. "How would you like to come out here some dark night all alone?" [Pg 88]
"None of that for me," was the quick answer.
"Might meet a ghost," said Dave, with a smile.
"Talking of ghosts puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow. "A boy once had to go through a dark woods all alone——"
"Shadow wants to get us scared," interrupted Dave. ”

“ He was growing uneasy.
"He isn't going to pay you a cent."
"What's that?" came quickly from Blodgett.
"I say he isn't going to pay you a cent, Mr. Blodgett. Is that plain enough for you to understand?" answered Dave, sharply.
"Who are you, I'd like to know, to interfere with our dealings!" cried Jack Blodgett.
"Perhaps I'll tell you who I am later on. I found out about this just in time, it seems. You came from Hartford, but you have been in Albany lately. While you were in Albany you swindled a man named Dodsworth Sadler out of a large sum of money—at least twelve or fifteen hundred dollars." ”

“ The man he mentioned was a farmer, living in the Oakdale district. Marcy was a close-fisted fellow who never wanted the schoolboys to have any of his fruit, and Dave, through no fault of his own, had once had considerable trouble with the fellow.
"I think Shadow is right," said Dave. "I saw that mule around Marcy's place. If he ran away we ought to take him back to where he belongs."
"Perhaps you'd have some fun trying to ride him," suggested Henshaw.
"Oh, pshaw! anybody could ride that mule," declared Roger. "Why, riding a mule is as easy as riding a horse. All mules don't love to kick." ”

“ They were going steadily upward and to the north of Norway, and they could feel the air growing colder. Only the firs stood out against the sky; all else was snow and ice. [Pg 233]
"This is winter weather, and no mistake," remarked Roger. "I don't know that I want to go much further north."
"How desolate it is!" said Dave. "Not a sign of a house or hut anywhere! It's as bad as being in the far West of our country in mid-winter."
"Hark! I hear bells!" cried Granbury Lapham. "Can another sleigh be coming?" ”

“ I know you! Last spring I was on the train with a lot of college boys, and they tried to run things to suit themselves. But we fixed 'em, we did. And we'll fix you, too, if you try to run matters here," and with a savage shake of his head the stout man passed down the aisle and dropped heavily into the first vacant seat he reached.
"Isn't he a peach?" murmured Sam Day to Dave. "Meekest man I ever saw, and ought to have a monument for politeness."
"I hope all his eggs are smashed," said Shadow Hamilton. "He certainly deserves it." ”

“ With ears on the alert, the boy followed up the sounds and quickly came in sight of a man, wrapped up in a fur overcoat and crouched in a heap between two rocks at the base of the cliff. He held a pistol in his hand, but the weapon was empty.
For the instant man and boy faced each other—the former too weak to speak and the latter too [Pg 258] agitated to do so. Dave's heart was beating like a trip-hammer and for the time being his surroundings were completely forgotten.
"Are you—are you——" he began. "Are you David Porter?" ”

“ At that moment the car lurched around a curve and Isaac Pludding bumped against Dave harder than ever. Thoroughly angry, the youth arose and faced the stout man.
"If you do that again, I'll have you put off the train," he said.
"That's right, Dave, don't let him walk over you," added Roger.
"If he doesn't know his place, teach it to him," was Phil's comment. [Pg 25]
"Have me put off the train?" cried Isaac Pludding. "I'd like to see you do it! I want you to know I am a stockholder of this line." ”

“ And he smiled broadly.
"I am much obliged to you for what you did," [Pg 178] answered Dave, smiling back. "A fellow is at a disadvantage when he can't speak the language."
"That's true, lad. What part of our country do you come from?"
"I come from the United States, and so does my friend here," and the young American introduced himself and Roger.
"Well now, isn't that strange!" exclaimed the newcomer. "And I took you to be English lads sure. Well, next to being English I'd prefer to be an American. My name is Granbury Lapham."
"Granbury Lapham!" cried Dave, quickly. ”

“ Philip Chesterfield."
"I am, and I am a great-uncle to Nicholas." The old man lowered his cane. "What do you know of Nicholas?" he questioned, curiously.
"I know a great deal, Mr. Chesterfield. If you care to hear the story I will tell it to you."
"Don't you listen to him, Uncle Phil," stormed Nick Jasniff, in increasing fear. "He'll tell you nothing but a bundle of lies."
"I can prove every statement I make," answered Dave.
"Dave will tell you nothing but the truth," added Roger.
"Who are you, young man?"
"My name is Roger Morr."
"He is the son of United States Senator Morr," added Dave. ”

“ Porter and Dave were raised up to the ledge above.
"There come the wolves again!" cried the youth, as he reached the ledge. "Have you a shotgun with you?"
"Yes," said Philip Lapham. [Pg 280] "Please lend it to me."
The weapon was passed over, and Dave blazed away twice in rapid succession. A wild snarling and yelping followed, and then the wolves disappeared; and that was the last seen of them.
"We are well out of that," murmured Mr. Porter. "And I am glad of it." ”

“ Saturday noon it began to snow, so that the majority of the students remained indoors or spent the time over at the gymnasium. Dave excused himself to his chums and met Gus Plum at a spot agreed upon, and both set off for Oakdale on foot.
"I suppose I might have asked the doctor for a cutter," said Plum. "But I was afraid he might ask embarrassing questions."
"We can walk it easily enough," answered Dave. "The road is well-broken."
"Dave, you are putting yourself out a good deal for me," answered Plum, gratefully. "Somehow, I'd hate to meet those men alone." ”

“ And so they sat down and waited, after Dave had brought in the brushwood he had previously broken off. A roaring fire cheered them greatly, and once more each related his experiences. Mr. Porter told how he had traveled in many parts of the world, and said that Dave must some day do the same. He asked the youth about his education, and when Dave related how he had won the medal of honor at Oak Hall his face beamed with pleasure.
"I certainly owe Professor Potts and Mr. Wadsworth a good deal," he said. "And I shall not forget them. You could not have fallen among better friends." ”

“ The Englishman looked at the Norwegian and gave a grunt of disgust. "Can't you let the lad alone?" he demanded, in Norwegian. "He's not hurting you any, is he? What's the use of acting as if you owned the whole coach?"
The burgomaster attempted to answer, but the Englishman would scarcely listen. He liked Dave's looks, while he could readily see that the Norwegian was nothing but a bully. He said he didn't care if the man was a burgomaster, if Dave wasn't doing anything wrong he must be let alone, and a good deal more to the same effect. ”

“ A day later they were seated around the fire discussing the situation when Roger gave a cry.
"Well, I never!"
"What's up now?" asked Dave.
"Why, we've gotten into a new year and nobody ever noticed it!"
"By Jove, that's so!" answered Granbury Lapham. "Well, here's a Happy New Year to all of you."
"A poor beginning makes a good ending, they say," said Dave. "Let us hope that proves true in this instance." He was sorry he had not been in a position to send New Year greetings to those at home, and especially to Jessie. ”

“ Dave entered the stateroom, which was dark.
"Roger, where have you been?" he demanded.
"So you knew I went out, did you?" asked the senator's son, in a voice that showed he was vexed. "I thought I went out and came back without your knowing it. I thought you were still in your berth." [Pg 165]
"I got up, made a light, and found you gone—and the berth made up as if you hadn't used it." Dave paused and looked at his chum, who had just lit up.
"Well—er—I might as well tell you. I must have been walking in my sleep," stammered Roger, and got red. "I'm as bad as Shadow Hamilton." ”

“ For, turning swiftly, Blodgett had rushed from the depot. Volney followed him.
"They are running away!" cried Gus Plum. He could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses.
"Let us give them a good scare while we are at it," answered Dave, and he ran outside and after the swindlers, who cut across the tracks and made for the freight-house. Here a freight-train was just starting out, and the men hopped aboard and were soon out of sight. ”

“ He tried to hold the horse back, but could not, and in a twinkling he was dragged over the dashboard and landed head first in the snow of the road. Then the horse, no doubt startled at the unusual proceedings, started off on a trot, dragging the teacher after him.
"Whoa, I say! Whoa there!" spluttered Job Haskers. "Whoa!" and he tried to regain his feet, only to plunge down once more, this time on his face. Then he let go the reins and the horse trotted off, coming to a halt near the campus gateway.
If ever there was an angry man that individual was Job Haskers. ”

“ They had to walk, for it was all the double team could do to drag the turnout over the rough rocks and through the snow. Once Dave slipped, bumped against the Englishman, and both rolled downward a distance of several yards.
"Excuse me!" panted the young American. "My feet went up before I was aware."
"Don't mention it, my lad," was the gasped-out answer. "I fancy we're all doing the best we can."
Presently, through the driving snow, came the sight of a high, rocky wall. The sleigh driver halted and warned the others to do likewise. ”

“ The Englishman had visited Norway a number of times and spoke Danish and Norwegian very well. He led the way to a tavern, where all enjoyed a smoking-hot meal, with some steaming coffee.
"In the parts of Norway where there are no railroads the stage and sleigh lines, so called, are under the control of the government. The drivers are allowed to charge just so much for driving a person from one place to another, and the road-houses along the way are also subject to official control, and you can always get your meals for a stated price."
"I suppose a fellow can get extras," suggested Roger. ”

“ The match was ignited and the boys gazed around the hollow. Dave found some bits of projecting rocks and pulled himself up, and Roger came behind, the match burning itself out in the meanwhile. Then they pushed on, until they presently came to an opening through which the snow came down.
"Out at last!" murmured Dave. "I am thankful for that!"
"We have reached the open air, but we are not out of our difficulty," returned the senator's son. "I can't see anything of the road, can you?" ”

“ He had reached a spot where the snow was only a few inches deep, and here the footprints of a man were plainly to be seen. They led through the belt of firs and then towards the jagged rocks at the base of a high cliff.
Again that suspicious growl reached him, and now Dave saw a dark object just as it disappeared around a corner of rock close to some brushwood.
"Was that a beast or a man crawling in the snow?" he asked himself. "That sound came from an animal, but the thing didn't look like a beast." ”

“ The train was coming to a halt at a place called Raytown. They were now but eight miles from Oakdale, and the students began to wonder if anybody would be at that station to meet them.
"If Horsehair comes down with the carryall, he'll have all he can do to get through the snow," said Dave.
"Perhaps he'll come down with four horses," suggested Roger.
"One thing is certain, Doctor Clay will see to it that we get to Oak Hall somehow," said Ben.
"What a rickety old railroad this side line is!" declared Phil, as the car gave several lurches. "It's a wonder they don't fix the track." ”