ra Porter and Jessie Wadsworth
went along; and what a grand time the young folks had can be realized
by reading "Dave Porter at Star Ranch." The boys went hunting and
fishing, and learned to do some broncho-riding, and they likewise fell
in with Link Merwell again and showed that bully up in his true
colors.

"Back to the grind now!" said Dave, after the vacation was over, and
back he did go, to Oak Hall, as told of in "Dave Porter and His
Rivals." That term was a lively one, for some lads came there from
another school, and they, led by Nat Poole, tried to run matters to
suit themselves. But when the newcomers lost an important football
contest, Oak Hall woke up to the true condition of affairs, and Dave
and his chums quickly regained their places on the eleven, and then
won a grand victory. During this time Link Merwell, in company with
another bad boy named Nick Jasniff, became a student at Rockville
Military Academy, a rival institution of learning. Both bullies did
their best to make trouble for our hero, but, as before, he exposed
them, and this time they had to flee to escape arrest.

When the Christmas holidays came around Dave went back to Crumville,
where he and his family and old Caspar Potts now lived with the
Wadsworths. At that time Mr. Wadsworth had at his jewelry works some
rare diamonds, waiting to be reset. Directly after Christmas came a
startling robbery. The diamonds were gone, and it was learned by Dave
that if they were not recovered, not only would Mr. Wadsworth be
ruined, but that his own father and his uncle would be seriously
crippled financially, as they had gone on a bond for the return of the
gems.

At first, clews to the robbers were scarce, but soon Dave made a queer
discovery, and followed this up by another, as set forth in the volume
preceding this, entitled, "Dave Porter on Cave Island." He and his
chums became satisfied that Link Merwell and Nick Jasniff had
committed the theft, and they followed the evil pair, first to Florida
and then to Cave Island, so named because of the numerous caverns it
contained. The evil-doers were caught and the diamonds recovered, but,
at the last moment, Link Merwell managed to escape.

"Let him go," said Dave. "He acts as if he wanted to turn over a new
leaf."

"I am glad it wasn't Jasniff," returned Phil. "He is the worse of the
pair."

"Right you are," agreed Roger.

The senator's son and Phil had accompanied Dave to Crumville, and all
had