EDWARD STRATEMEYER’S BOOKS
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UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.
A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.
FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.
UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.
UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.
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THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE.
REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY.
TRUE TO HIMSELF.
RICHARD DARE’S VENTURE.
OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH.
TO ALASKA FOR GOLD.
THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.
BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN.
SHORTHAND TOM, THE REPORTER.
FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN.
Soldiers of Fortune Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
ON TO PEKIN.
AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.
UNDER THE MIKADO’S FLAG.
WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.
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AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.
AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
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WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.
MARCHING ON NIAGARA.
AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.
THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS.
ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.
TRAIL AND TRADING POST.
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LOST ON THE ORINOCO.
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YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.
YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.
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TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN. _Price $1.25._
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[Illustration: BEFORE THE OTHER COULD INTERFERE, OLIVER WAS ON THE RAIL
AND OVER THE SIDE.]
OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH
OR
_The Mystery of a Mine_
BY
EDWARD STRATEMEYER
AUTHOR OF “UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA,” “A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA,”
“FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS,” “RICHARD DARE’S VENTURE,”
“TO ALASKA FOR GOLD,” ETC., ETC.
_ILLUSTRATED_
BOSTON:
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
COPYRIGHT, 1895,
BY THE MERRIAM COMPANY.
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY LEE AND SHEPARD.
_All Rights Reserved._
OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH.
Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing & Co.――Berwick & Smith
Norwood Mass. U.S.A.
PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
“OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH,” the second volume of the “Bound to Succeed”
Series, relates the adventures of a manly American youth who goes West
to locate a mine in which his invalid father owns a large interest.
Oliver is just out of school, and has but little experience in
travelling, yet he does not hesitate to take the trip to California, by
way of the Isthmus of Panama, and thence into the interior on horseback.
Oliver is, in every respect, an up-to-date boy; one who will stand
no nonsense when dealing with those who would defraud his father out
of his lawful property; yet the boy’s moral principles are of a high
order, and he is not unmerciful when the object of his long search has
been gained.
It was hoped, when the book was first issued, that the story would
stand well beside “Richard Dare’s Venture,” which had preceded it. It
has been even more successful than the other volume named, and once
more the author must thank the readers and critics who have taken such
an interest in what he has written.
In conclusion, the author would say a word in regard to the scenes
in the mining districts of California. These were drawn very largely
from the narratives of a close and dear relative who spent much time
out there, going as an Argonaut of ’49, and to whom the vicinity of
Sutter’s Mill and the Mokelumne River became as an open book, not only
then but later on. To write down these descriptions was, therefore, not
only a work of interest, but of love.
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
NEWARK, N.J.,
April 1, 1899.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. AN UNEXPECTED DISCLOSURE 5
II. THE STORY OF THE AURORA MINE 12
III. MR. BRIGHT’S RESOLVE 19
IV. AN ACCIDENT 25
V. LEAVING HOME 32
VI. AT THE STEAMSHIP OFFICE 39
VII. A CONVERSATION OF IMPORTANCE 45
VIII. A NIGHT IN NEW YORK 52
IX. ON THE STEAMER 58
X. THE STORM OFF CAPE HATTERAS 65
XI. MR. WHYLAND 73
XII. ARRIVAL AT ASPINWALL 79
XIII. MR. WHYLAND’S STORY 86
XIV. IN THE WILDS OF THE ISTHMUS 94
XV. AN ADVENTURE ON THE ISTHMUS 101
XVI. A CHANGE OF PLAN 108
XVII. A STARTLING CRY 114
XVIII. OLIVER’S HEROISM 120
XIX. GUS HAS AN ADVENTURE 127
XX. A FLYING GLANCE 134
XXI. AN UNSUCCESSFUL PURSUIT 141
XXII. FELIX COTTLE 148
XXIII. OFF FOR THE MINES 155
XXIV. IN THE MOUNTAINS 162
XXV. A STORM IN THE MOUNTAINS 169
XXVI. THE AURORA MINE AT LAST 175
XXVII. AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION 182
XXVIII. COLONEL MENDIX IS ASTONISHED 188
XXIX. IN THE AURORA MINE 195
XXX. A PERILOUS SITUATION 202
XXXI. SEEKING DELIVERANCE 208
XXXII. A VALUABLE FIND 213
XXXIII. BROUGHT TO BOOK 221
XXXIV. CONCLUSION 238
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FACING
PAGE
Before the other could interfere, Oliver was on
the rail and over the side _Frontispiece_
Yes, Oliver, alas! I am ruined 10
The next instant his body disappeared over the edge! 160
There is the Cortez mine, and just below it is the
Aurora. 180
OLIVER BRIGHT’S SEARCH.
CHAPTER I.
AN UNEXPECTED DISCLOSURE.
“If you please, Master Oliver, your father wishes to see you at once,”
said Donald, the man of all work, as he entered the summer-house where
Oliver Bright sat poring over a volume of travels.
“What does he want of me?” asked the youth, as he reluctantly closed
the book.
“He didn’t say; but he wants you to come at once.”
“Very well, Donald; where is he?”
“In the library.”
Oliver rose to his feet somewhat slowly. He was in no humor just then
to face his respected sire. A few words will explain why.
Oliver was afraid he was in for a lecture, and perhaps worse. He
was not a boy of bad disposition, but for once the combination of
circumstances had led him into serious difficulty.
Oliver was a student at the Rockvale Academy, also catcher for the
local baseball nine. Two days before, on the very afternoon that the
nine was to play an important game with the club from Elmport, Oliver
had been kept in by Dr. Tangus for a supposed fault of which he was
not guilty. This had angered Oliver, and as his particular chum, Gus
Gregory, was kept in at the same time, the two planned to “get square,”
as they termed it.
Their plan of action was simple and harmless enough, but it bore
grievous results. Gus proposed to take the doctor’s pet calf from her
pasture and lead her into the schoolroom, and Oliver agreed that if
this was done he would make the old cow follow.
At dead of night the two boys started to carry out their plan. But
both the calf and the cow made such a noise that the doctor’s whole
household was aroused, and the two boys had to run for it.
In making their escape Gus Gregory had stumbled over a hothouse bed,
smashing a dozen panes of glass or more, thus provoking a shot from the
doctor’s hired man, who imagined burglars were around.
When Oliver reached home he found he had quite a severe cut upon his
left hand, obtained in his effort to help Gus out of the hotbed frame.
In the morning the wound, despite the fact that he had bathed it
in arnica, appeared as bad as ever. But Oliver did not dare to ask
permission to remain at home, and so set out for the academy in
anything but a cheerful mood.
Gus Gregory met him at the gate with a long-drawn face; and small
wonder.
Dr. Tangus had found them out. Gus had dropped his note-book in the
hotbed and the gardener had picked it up. In a terrible rage, the
doctor soon after called at the Gregory home, and forced a full
confession from Gus. Mr. Gregory had promised to pay his full share of
the damage done, and to bring his son to account, and the doctor left
saying he would call on Oliver’s father later.
When Oliver entered the academy he was at once called aside by the
doctor. But little was said; Dr. Tangus merely stating what he had
discovered, and declaring his intention to settle the matter outside of
the school.
This had happened Friday morning. It was now Saturday, and Oliver
firmly believed that the hour of retribution had come. He took all the
time possible to walk up the gravel path and through the broad hall,
and hesitated several seconds before turning the handle of the library
door.
When he entered the room he found his father seated at the desk, his
forehead resting on his hand. Mr. Bright was a man well past the middle
age of life, and somewhat broken down in health.
He was tall and slender, with brown hair and eyes. His manner as a
general rule was gentle, and as Oliver gazed at his parent, his heart
smote him for the trouble he had brought about.
“You sent for me, father,” he said, as he stopped by the door.
Mr. Bright started up from the revery into which he had fallen.
“Yes, Oliver,” he replied. “Come in and sit down. I want to have a talk
with you.”
The boy did as requested, taking a chair that stood in the bay-window
at the farther end of the room. He could not help but look at his
father closely. Surely he did not appear to be much provoked over what
had occurred.
“Come closer, Oliver; here, take this chair by my side,” went on Mr.
Bright. “I do not wish any one to overhear what I have to say.”
The boy took the seat indicated. Then for the first time he noticed how
careworn his father appeared. There were numerous wrinkles upon Mr.
Bright’s brow and his eyes were sunken and troubled.
“You are nearly seventeen years old, I believe,” began Mr. Bright after
a moment of silence.
“I’ll be seventeen next May,” replied the boy, relieved at being asked
such an ordinary question.
“And your term at the academy closes next month, I believe?”
“Yes, sir; three weeks from yesterday.”
“And when you have finished your course there have you thought of what
was to be done next?”
“Why I thought I was to go to college,” said Oliver, somewhat
astonished at the question. “Of course you didn’t say I was to go; but
all the others were going, and――”
“It was my full intention to have you go, Oliver. But circumstances
will make a change necessary. I hate to disappoint you, but I am afraid
it cannot be helped.” And Mr. Bright turned away his face.
Oliver’s heart grew cold in an instant. Give up going to college! Give
it up after having anticipated it so long, after having talked it over
so many times with the other boys! Surely his father intended to punish
him too severely altogether.
“Oh, don’t say that, father!” he cried. “I will try to do better in the
future! I did not mean to do so wrong! I――I did not stop to think.”
Mr. Bright straightened up and looked at his son curiously.
“What are you talking about, Oliver?” he asked. “I am not finding fault
with the way you have conducted yourself at the academy. In fact, I
must congratulate you on the general excellence of the reports Dr.
Tangus sends in. By the last I see that you stood next to the highest
in the class, and that counts for much where there are so many bright
boys. I have no doubt that the doctor is proud of you.”
Oliver was completely mystified by this speech. It was evident that
his father knew nothing concerning what had taken place. The boy gave
an inward groan as he thought of what a change there would be when
exposure came.
“Then Dr. Tangus has not been here?” he asked.
“No. What put that in your head?”
“I thought he had come to report me.”
“No; I have not seen the doctor in a month, though I expect him to call
soon.” Oliver started. “I have had no reasons to find fault with you
for the way in which you conduct yourself. The trouble in this case
comes from an entirely different quarter.”
Mr. Bright paused. Oliver noted that there was a slight quiver in his
father’s voice. Surely something quite out of the ordinary was wrong.
“You are the only one who is left to me, Oliver,” Mr. Bright continued.
“It was always my intention to give you the best education that money
can buy, for I know the value of such, and then give you a first-class
start in whatever professional pursuit you might choose to enter. But
now, my poor boy”――
Mr. Bright broke off short.
“What is the matter, father?” cried Oliver. “Why cannot you do as you
intended? I thought sure I would go to college and then, after
perhaps a year or so of traveling, I would settle down and become a
lawyer――that is, if you thought I was smart enough.”
“That programme would have suited me exactly, Oliver. Your Uncle
William was a lawyer, and you take after him a good deal. But now it
cannot be thought of.”
“Why?”
“Ah, it is a bitter story, my boy, and I do not see how I can tell it
to you. I was very blind and foolish, trusting those that were not
worthy of my confidence, and now both of us must suffer for it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“And perhaps you never will, quite. I was never of a speculative
nature; but this was apparently so easy, and so sure to turn out
profitably, that I entered into it without due consideration.”
“It is money-matters, then, father, that makes you say that I must
change my plans; must give up thinking of going to college, and all
that?” faltered Oliver.
“Yes, Oliver, alas! yes.” Mr. Bright heaved a deep sigh. “I am ruined;
I am not worth a dollar in the world!” he added.
[Illustration: “YES, OLIVER, ALAS! I AM RUINED.”]