----------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Dave and His Chums 1 II. A Stray Shot 11 III. An Interview of Interest 21 IV. Caught in the Act 31 V. At Niagara Falls 41 VI. Nat Poole's Little Game 51 VII. In Which Dave is Robbed 61 VIII. The Youth in the Balcony 71 IX. Only a Street Waif 81 X. Off for the Boundless West 91 XI. The Arrival at Star Ranch 101 XII. A Race on Horseback 112 XIII. The Crazy Steer 122 XIV. A Face Puzzles Dave 132 XV. Among the Cowboys 142 XVI. A Meeting on the Trail 152 XVII. In Which Some Horses Are Stolen 162 XVIII. Out in the Wind and Rain 172 XIX. A Fruitless Search 182 XX. Fishing and Hunting 192 XXI. A Wildcat Among the Horses 202 XXII. Cowboy Tricks and "Bronco-Busting" 212 XXIII. Dave on a Bronco 222 XXIV. The Cattle Stampede 232 XXV. The Beginning of the Grand Hunt 242 XXVI. After Deer 253 XXVII. The Mountain Lion 263 XXVIII. Up to the Mountain Top 273 XXIX. Two Elk and a Bear 283 XXX. To the Rescue--Conclusion 292 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH CHAPTER I DAVE AND HIS CHUMS "Why, Dave, what are you going to do with that revolver?" "Phil and Roger and I are going to do some target shooting back of the barn," answered Dave Porter. "If we are going to try ranch life, we want to know how to shoot." "Oh! Well, do be careful!" pleaded Laura Porter, as she glanced affectionately at her brother. "A revolver is such a dangerous thing!" "We know how to handle one. Phil has been painting a big door to represent a black bear, and we are going to see if we can do as well with a revolver as we did with the rifle." "Do you expect to shoot bears on the ranch? I didn't see any when I was out there." "We don't expect to see them around the house, but there must be plenty of game in the mountains." "Oh, I presume that's true. But I shouldn't want to hunt bears--I'd be afraid," and Laura gave a little shiver.