The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

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      "I am glad to hear it. You say you have no idea where she is now?"

      "Not exactly. There was an American family named Endicott over here. They came from somewhere out West. They had a daughter about Laura's age, and the two were chums. I think your sister sailed with the Endicotts for the States."

      "Did they write to my uncle?"

      "I don't know, but I think not, for they thought your uncle was still knocking around the South Sea Islands."

      "And you wouldn't tell them a word!" cried Dave, bitterly. "Jasniff, I never supposed any fellow could be so cruel and hard-hearted."

      "Humph! I haven't forgotten what I had to suffer," muttered the runaway.

      "You brought all that on yourself. You had no business to go in with those two thieves. If you had remained honest there would have been no call for you to run away."

      "Oh, don't preach, Dave Porter."

      "What Dave says is true, Jasniff," said Roger. "If you have suffered, it is all through your own dishonesty."

      "Who says a relative of mine is dishonest!" came a loud, harsh voice from the doorway of the library, and turning quickly Dave and Roger found themselves confronted by an old man, white with sudden rage, and brandishing a heavy cane in his hand.

      CHAPTER XVII

      ON THE NORTH SEA

      Both Dave and his chum were startled by the sudden interruption, and for the moment did not know what to say. They looked at the old man and then at Nick Jasniff. The latter turned pale and seemed thoroughly ill at ease.

      "Who says a relative of mine is dishonest?" repeated the old man, and now he strode up to Dave and raised the cane over the youth's head.

      "If you refer to this boy as your relative, I say he is dishonest," answered Dave, stoutly.

      "And so do I," added the senator's son.

      "Nicholas dishonest! It cannot be! There must be some mistake."

      "I am sorry for you, sir, but there is no mistake," returned Dave.

      "Who are you, sir?"

      "My name is David Porter. I come from the United States. Nicholas and myself and my friend here all attended the same boarding school."

      "The place called Oak Hall?"

      "Yes, sir. I presume you are Mr. 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.

      "Ah, indeed!" The fact that Roger's father occupied a high political position seemed to have considerable effect on Philip Chesterfield.

      "They are a couple of fakirs!" cried Nick Jasniff. He knew not what else to say.

      "Nicholas, be silent. I will listen to their story, and then you can have your say."

      "If you are going to listen to them, I'll get out," stormed the runaway, and edged for the door.

      "No, you don't; you'll stay here!" exclaimed Dave, and blocked the way. "I came all the way from America to catch you, and you are not going until I get through with you."

      A brief war of words followed, which came to an end when the old gentleman locked the door. Then he had Dave and Roger tell their tale in full, after which he asked a number of questions. Nick Jasniff wanted to break into the conversation a number of times, but was not permitted to do so.

      "Nicholas, if this is true, you are a young scoundrel, and I do not want you in my house another day!" exclaimed Philip Chesterfield. "I shall send a telegram to your father at once, asking him to come on."

      "Where is Mr. Jasniff?" asked Dave.

      "In Italy--he went there for his wife's health."

      "Did Nicholas tell you anything about my folks?" went on Dave.

      "Nothing excepting that he had met a Mr. Porter and his daughter, and that the father had sailed for Norway and the daughter for the States."

      "Then that news must be true," said Roger. "Dave, the best thing you can do is to go to Christiania at once."

      "Exactly my way of thinking, Roger."

      "And about Nick----?"

      "You shan't do anything to me!" roared the runaway. "I won't stand for it."

      "I shall notify the authorities in America where you are," answered Dave. "Then they can do as they please in the affair."

      A little later Dave and Roger left the mansion, Philip Chesterfield bidding them a formal good-bye. Nick Jasniff was sullen and looked as if he wanted to kill both boys.

      "He'll get back at us some day, if he can," observed the senator's son, as they drove back to Siddingate.

      Arriving at the town, the two youths took the first train back to London proper. Here they found that to get to Christiania they would have to take a train to Hull and from there try to obtain passage on some vessel bound for the Norwegian capital.

      "It's only a four hours' ride to Hull," said Dave, consulting a time-table. "I can get there to-night, if I wish."

      "All right, let us take the first train."

      "Do you want to go to Hull to see me off, Roger?"

      "I am not going to see you off, Dave."

      "What do you mean?"

      "I am going with you--if you'll have me."

      "To Norway?"

      "Sure--anywhere."

      "But what will your СКАЧАТЬ