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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:39:03 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:39:03 -0700 |
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diff --git a/28654-h/28654-h.htm b/28654-h/28654-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e563788 --- /dev/null +++ b/28654-h/28654-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9361 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dave Porter and the Runaways, by Edward Stratemeyer. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.2em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + hr.p10 {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width:10%} + p.tp {font-size:1em;margin-top:0em;margin-bottom:0em;text-align:center;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.4em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Dave Porter and the Runaways, by Edward Stratemeyer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dave Porter and the Runaways + Last Days at Oak Hall + +Author: Edward Stratemeyer + +Illustrator: H. Richard Boehm + +Release Date: May 1, 2009 [EBook #28654] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +<img src='images/illus-001.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 320px; height: 498px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 320px;'> +<span style='font-variant:small-caps'>He saw an arm and a head come up.</span>—<i>Page 240.</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;font-size:1.2em;'>Dave Porter Series</p> +<hr class='p10' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:2.2em;margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:10px;'>DAVE PORTER<br />AND THE RUNAWAYS</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;font-size:smaller;'>OR</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:20px;'>LAST DAYS AT OAK HALL</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;margin-bottom:10px;'>BY</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;font-size:1.2em;'>EDWARD STRATEMEYER</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:15px;font-size:smaller;'>Author of “Dave Porter at Oak Hall,” “The Lakeport Series,”<br /> +“Old Glory Series,” “Pan-American Series,” etc.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;margin-bottom:30px;'>ILLUSTRATED BY H. RICHARD BOEHM</p> + +<div style='margin:10px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-emb.png' /> +</div> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:30px;letter-spacing:0.2em;'>BOSTON</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>LOTHROP LEE & SHEPARD CO.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='font-size:smaller;'> +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px;'>Published, March, 1913</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-variant:small-caps;'>Copyright, 1913, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.</p> +<hr class='p10' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;'>All Rights Reserved</p> +<hr class='p10' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-variant:small-caps;letter-spacing:0.2em;margin-bottom:20px;'>Dave Porter and the Runaways</p> +<p class='tp' style=''>Norwood Press</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-variant:small-caps;'>Berwick & Smith Co.</p> +<p class='tp' style=''>Norwood, Mass.</p> +<p class='tp' style=''>U.S.A.</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_iii' name='page_iii'></a>iii</span></div> +<h3>PREFACE</h3> +<p>“<span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Dave Porter and the Runaways</span>” is a +complete story in itself, but forms the ninth +volume of a line issued under the general title of +“Dave Porter Series.”</p> +<p>In the first volume of this series, entitled +“Dave Porter at Oak Hall,” the reader was introduced +to a typical American lad, and the particulars +were given of his doings at an up-to-date +boarding school.</p> +<p>There was a cloud over Dave’s parentage, and +in order to solve the mystery of his identity he +took a long voyage over the ocean, as related in +the second volume, called “Dave Porter in the +South Seas.” Then he came back to his schoolmates, +as told of in “Dave Porter’s Return to +School,” and then took a long trip to Norway, to +hunt up his father, the particulars of which are +given in “Dave Porter in the Far North.”</p> +<p>Having settled the matter of his identity to his +satisfaction, our hero came back to Oak Hall and +had a number of strenuous contests, related in +detail in “Dave Porter and His Classmates.” +Following this came the summer vacation, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_iv' name='page_iv'></a>iv</span> +the youth made a trip West, the happenings of +which are set down in “Dave Porter at Star +Ranch.”</p> +<p>When Dave returned to Oak Hall once more +he found the school rivalries as bitter as ever, and +what these led to has been related in “Dave +Porter and His Rivals.” His enemies tried hard +to do our hero much injury, but he exposed them +and they were forced to flee, to escape the consequences +of their actions.</p> +<p>The winter holidays found Dave homeward +bound. He had anticipated some jolly times +among his relatives and friends, but a robbery +upset all his plans, and, almost before he knew +it, he found himself bound southward, as related +in “Dave Porter on Cave Island.” On the +island he had many adventures out of the ordinary, +and he came home more of a hero than +ever, having saved Mr. Wadsworth, his benefactor, +from ruin.</p> +<p>In the present story Dave is back once again +at school. There are some queer happenings, +and then some lads run away. How Dave +proved his common sense, and brought the runaways +back, I leave for the pages which follow +to tell. I trust the reading of this volume will +do all my young friends good.</p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:right'><span style='margin-right: 1.5625em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Edward Stratemeyer</span>.</span><br /></p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:left'><span style='margin-left: 0.78125em;'><i>February</i> 1, 1913.</span><br /></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Dave and His Chums</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_DAVE_AND_HIS_CHUMS'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Glimpse at the Past</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_A_GLIMPSE_AT_THE_PAST'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Talk of the Future</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_A_TALK_OF_THE_FUTURE'>21</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Mr. Job Haskers’s Doings</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_MR_JOB_HASKERSS_DOINGS'>31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>At Oak Hall Once More</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V_AT_OAK_HALL_ONCE_MORE'>41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Phil Shows His Stubbornness</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI_PHIL_SHOWS_HIS_STUBBORNNESS'>52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Phil and Ben Make a Move</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII_PHIL_AND_BEN_MAKE_A_MOVE'>62</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>An Unusual Compact</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII_AN_UNUSUAL_COMPACT'>72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The King of Sumatra</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX_THE_KING_OF_SUMATRA'>82</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Nat Poole Wants to Know</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X_NAT_POOLE_WANTS_TO_KNOW'>91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Bonfire Night at the Hall</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI_BONFIRE_NIGHT_AT_THE_HALL'>101</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Plans for a Spread</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII_PLANS_FOR_A_SPREAD'>111</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Cabin on the Island</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII_THE_CABIN_ON_THE_ISLAND'>121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Bandanna Handkerchief</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV_THE_BANDANNA_HANDKERCHIEF'>131</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>At the Hotel</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV_AT_THE_HOTEL'>141</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Blowing up of the Bridge</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI_THE_BLOWING_UP_OF_THE_BRIDGE'>151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Serious Accusation</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII_A_SERIOUS_ACCUSATION'>161</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Meeting on the Road</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_MEETING_ON_THE_ROAD'>171</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Looking for the Runaways</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX_LOOKING_FOR_THE_RUNAWAYS'>181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Wild Man Again</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XX_THE_WILD_MAN_AGAIN'>190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Something of a Clew</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI_SOMETHING_OF_A_CLEW'>200</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>After the Runaways</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXII_AFTER_THE_RUNAWAYS'>210</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>At the Camp</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIII_AT_THE_CAMP'>220</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Out in the Storm</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIV_OUT_IN_THE_STORM'>230</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Perils of the Flood</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXV_PERILS_OF_THE_FLOOD'>239</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Back to the School</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVI_BACK_TO_THE_SCHOOL'>249</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Trail Through the Woods</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVII_THE_TRAIL_THROUGH_THE_WOODS'>259</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Capture of the Wild Man</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_CAPTURE_OF_THE_WILD_MAN'>268</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Bit of Evidence</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIX_A_BIT_OF_EVIDENCE'>278</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Exposure—Good-By to Oak Hall</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXX_THE_EXPOSUREGOODBY_TO_OAK_HALL'>287</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div> +<p style='font-size:1.3em; text-align:center; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em;'>DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS</p> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_DAVE_AND_HIS_CHUMS' id='CHAPTER_I_DAVE_AND_HIS_CHUMS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>DAVE AND HIS CHUMS</h3> +</div> +<p>“I say, Dave, here’s an odd piece of news.”</p> +<p>“An odd piece of news, Roger? What +about?”</p> +<p>“A wild man in the woods back of Oak Hall,” +answered Roger Morr, who held a letter in his +hand. “Queerest thing you ever heard of.”</p> +<p>“I should say it was, if it’s about a wild man,” +returned Dave Porter. “Who sent that letter?”</p> +<p>“Shadow Hamilton.”</p> +<p>“Maybe it’s another one of Shadow’s innumerable +yarns,” suggested Dave, with a faint smile. +“If he can’t tell them by word of mouth, he writes +them down.”</p> +<p>“What has Shadow got to say about the wild +man?” asked Phil Lawrence, looking up from +the suit-case he was packing. “Has he been trying +to clean out Oak Hall, or anything like that?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span></p> +<p>“No, not exactly,” returned Roger, turning +back to the letter, which he had not yet finished. +“He keeps in the woods, so Shadow says, and +scares everybody who comes that way.”</p> +<p>“How does he scare them?” asked Dave, pausing +in the act of stowing a suit of clothing in a +trunk.</p> +<p>“Shadow writes that he and Lazy were out +walking one day and the wild man came after +them with a big club. He wears long hair and +a long beard, and his clothes are in tatters.”</p> +<p>“What did they do?” questioned Phil.</p> +<p>“They ran back towards the school. The wild +man followed ’em as far as the bridge over the +brook, and then jumped into the bushes and disappeared.”</p> +<p>“Humph!” muttered Phil. “Is that all?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no! The day before that, Chip Macklin +and two other of the smaller boys went out, along +the river, and the wild man came after them and +shoved Chip into the water. He yelled to them +never to come near him again. The other fellows +ran away, and as soon as Chip could get out of +the water he went after ’em. Then, three days +later, Doctor Clay sent out Mr. Dale and Horsehair, +the driver, to look into the matter, and the +wild man met them at the bridge and threw mud +balls at ’em. One mud ball hit the teacher in the +arm, and one struck Horsehair in the nose and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +made it bleed. Horsehair was afraid to go on, +because the wild man jumped around and shouted +so furiously. Mr. Dale tried to catch him, but +he ran away.”</p> +<p>“Poor chap! He must be crazy,” was Dave’s +comment. “He ought to be taken care of by the +authorities.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but they can’t catch him,” continued +Roger. “They have tried half a dozen ways, but +he slips ’em every time.”</p> +<p>“Who is he?” asked Dave, as he continued to +pack his trunk.</p> +<p>“Nobody has the least idea, so Shadow +writes.”</p> +<p>“Say, that will give us something to do—when +we get back to Oak Hall!” cried Phil. “We’ll +organize a posse to round up the wild man!”</p> +<p>“I think we’ll have plenty of other things to +do when we get to school, Phil,” remarked Dave. +“Just remember that we have lost a lot of time +from our lessons, and if we want to make up +what we have missed, and graduate from Oak +Hall with honor, we’ve got to buckle down and +study.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I know that,” answered Phil, and gave a +little sigh. “Just the same, I’m going to have a +try at the wild man—if he comes my way.”</p> +<p>“So am I,” cried Roger. “And Dave will try +with us; won’t you, old man?” And Roger +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span> +caught his chum affectionately by the shoulder. +“You are the fellow to solve mysteries!”</p> +<p>Dave was about to answer when there came a +knock on the bedroom door. He opened it to +find himself confronted by a middle-aged lady, +who was smiling but anxious.</p> +<p>“How are you getting along, boys?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“First-rate, Mrs. Wadsworth,” answered +Roger. “We’ll soon be finished now.”</p> +<p>“Are the girls getting anxious?” questioned +Dave.</p> +<p>“Say, what do you think?” burst out Phil. +“We are going back to Oak Hall to capture a +wild man who––”</p> +<p>“Phil!” burst out both Dave and Roger, +and the other youth stopped short in confusion.</p> +<p>“A wild man?” cried the lady of the house, in +consternation. “Oh, Dave, I hope––”</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t let him worry you, Mrs. Wadsworth,” +responded Dave, quickly. “There is a +wild man up there, but I don’t think he will bother +us any, and we’ve got too much to do to hunt for +him.” And the lad gave his chum a look that said +as plainly as words: “What did you want to +mention it for?”</p> +<p>“Oh—I—er—I was only fooling,” stammered +Phil. “Of course, if there is a wild man he won’t +come near us. Tell the girls we’ll be ready in five +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span> +minutes—at least I will,” he added, and resumed +his packing.</p> +<p>“Can I do anything for you?” asked the lady.</p> +<p>“You might try to find my striped cap,” answered +Dave. “I can’t seem to locate it.”</p> +<p>“It is in the library—I saw it a while ago, +Dave.”</p> +<p>“And my baseball bat—the new one with the +black handle.”</p> +<p>“That is in the back hall, in a corner. How +about your books?”</p> +<p>“I’ve got all of them. Send Laura with the bat +and cap, will you, please?”</p> +<p>“Yes;” and Mrs. Wadsworth hurried off, +anxious to be of all the assistance possible.</p> +<p>“Say, that was a bad break for me,” murmured +Phil, as the door closed, and before Dave or +Roger could speak. “I didn’t want to worry her, +Dave. I’m sorry I mentioned the wild man.”</p> +<p>“And the man may be caught before we get +back to Oak Hall,” said Roger. He crossed the +room and peered into a closet. “Has anybody +seen my baseball shoes?”</p> +<p>“You left those at the Hall, Roger,” answered +Dave.</p> +<p>“Did I? All right, then. I came away in such +a hurry I can’t remember what I took and what I +didn’t.”</p> +<p>“I guess we’ve got about everything now,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +resumed Dave, looking around the bedroom. +He glanced at his watch. “Ten minutes to twelve. +We are to have lunch at a quarter past, and start +at one, sharp.”</p> +<p>“Provided the auto is ready,” interposed Phil.</p> +<p>“It will be—trust my Uncle Dunston for that,” +answered Dave. “My, but isn’t it jolly to think +we are going back to school in the auto instead of +by train!”</p> +<p>“Yes, and to think that the girls and your uncle +are going with us!” added Roger.</p> +<p>“Dave, look out for Roger, he’s got his eye on +Laura!” said Phil, slyly.</p> +<p>“Oh, you give us a rest, Phil Lawrence!” +burst out Roger, growing red. “I guess you’ve +got an eye on her yourself.”</p> +<p>“Poor me! Poor me!” murmured Phil, as if +talking to himself. “Roger will talk to nobody +but Laura, and Dave will see and hear and think +of nobody but Jessie, and I’ll be left in the cold! +Oh, what a cruel world this is! If only—wow!” +and Phil’s pretended musings came to a sudden +end, as Dave shied a pair of rolled-up socks at +him and Roger followed with a pillow. In another +instant a mimic battle was on, with pillows +and various articles of clothing for ammunition. +Then came another knock on the door and Laura +Porter appeared, with a baseball bat in one hand +and her brother’s cap in the other. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span></p> +<p>“Oh dear me!” she cried, and then stopped +short, for a red sweater, thrown by Roger at Phil, +had missed its aim and landed on her head.</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon, Laura, really I do!” +gasped Roger, as he sprang forward and took +the sweater from its resting-place. “I—I didn’t +mean that for you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Roger, of course you did!” cried Phil, +with a twinkle in his eye. “That’s the way he +salutes girls always, Laura.”</p> +<p>“Is this the way you are packing up?” demanded +Dave’s sister, with a little smile, while +poor Roger grew redder than ever.</p> +<p>“Oh, we were only waiting for you to bring +my things, Laura,” answered her brother, coolly. +“We’ll be ready in three minutes and a half by +the factory whistles.”</p> +<p>“Say, what is this I hear about a wild man?” +continued Laura, as she sat down on a chair +Roger shoved towards her. “You’ve made Mrs. +Wadsworth and Jessie all excited over it.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it isn’t anything,” burst out Phil, quickly. +“I made a mistake even to mention it.”</p> +<p>“She came down and told Jessie and me that +she was afraid you’d have more trouble, when you +got back to school. As if you haven’t had troubles +enough already!” And Laura looked affectionately +at her brother, and then at his chums.</p> +<p>“Oh, this won’t amount to anything, Laura,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +said Dave. “So tell Mrs. Wadsworth and Jessie +not to worry about it.”</p> +<p>“But I want to know what it means?” demanded +the sister; and in the end Dave and his +chums had to relate what they knew about the +wild man. As they finished the girl shook her +head doubtfully.</p> +<p>“I don’t like that a bit,” she said. “I am sure +you’ll get mixed up with that wild man somehow. +Why, he might attack you and try to kill +you!”</p> +<p>“We’ll be on our guard—when we go near the +woods,” answered Roger.</p> +<p>“You had better not go alone,” insisted the +girl.</p> +<p>“We seldom travel alone,” said her brother. +“Generally Roger, Phil, and I are together, and +very often some of the other fellows are with us. +But don’t you worry, Laura, and tell Jessie and +her mother it will be all right.”</p> +<p>“And there is another thing to be careful +about, Dave,” went on Laura, as she prepared to +leave.</p> +<p>“What is that?”</p> +<p>“Be careful of how you treat Nat Poole.”</p> +<p>“Why, what do you mean?” cried Dave, and +then he added quickly, as he saw that his sister +had something on her mind: “What has happened +now?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></p> +<p>“I don’t know exactly, Dave. But I got word +through Ben Basswood’s cousin that Nat had +told Ben he wasn’t going to let you ride over +him this term. I think Nat is jealous because +you were so successful in that trip to Cave +Island.”</p> +<p>“Did you learn of anything Nat intended to +do?” questioned Roger, curiously.</p> +<p>“No, excepting that he said he wasn’t going +to play second fiddle to your crowd any longer. +He tried to get into a quarrel with Ben, but Ben +would have nothing to do with him.”</p> +<p>“Did Nat go back to the Hall when it +opened?” asked Phil.</p> +<p>“Yes, the same day Ben went back.”</p> +<p>“I am not afraid of Nat Poole,” declared +Dave, stoutly. “He is a bully, always was, and +I suppose he always will be. I tried to do him a +favor the last time I saw him—but he doesn’t +seem to have appreciated it.”</p> +<p>“Laura!” called a musical voice, from the +stair landing.</p> +<p>“Coming, Jessie!” answered Laura. “Now +you boys, hurry—lunch will be served in a few +minutes;” and she left the room.</p> +<p>“So Nat Poole wants to make more trouble, +eh?” mused Dave, as he resumed packing. +“What a chap he is! Why can’t he be decent and +mind his own business?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span></p> +<p>“Because he isn’t that breed, that’s why,” answered +Phil. “He hates to see another fellow +become popular. Dave, you take my advice and +watch him, when we get back to school.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do it,” answered Dave, thoughtfully.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_A_GLIMPSE_AT_THE_PAST' id='CHAPTER_II_A_GLIMPSE_AT_THE_PAST'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>A GLIMPSE AT THE PAST</h3> +</div> +<p>“Everything ready?”</p> +<p>“Yes, so far as I know.”</p> +<p>“Then we are off! Good-by, everybody!”</p> +<p>“Good-by! Take care of yourself, Dave!”</p> +<p>“I will!”</p> +<p>There was a tooting of an automobile horn, a +chorus of cries and cheers, a waving of caps, and +then the big touring car that had been drawn up +in front of the Wadsworth mansion rolled from +the piazza steps through the spacious grounds; +and Dave Porter and his chums were once more +on their way to boarding school.</p> +<p>To those who have read the previous volumes +of this line of stories Dave Porter will need no +special introduction. For the benefit of new readers +allow me to state that Dave was a wideawake +American lad, now well along in his school years.</p> +<p>When a small child our hero had been found +one day, walking along the railroad tracks near +the town of Crumville. He could tell nothing +about himself, and as nobody came to claim him, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +he was taken to the local poorhouse, where he +remained a number of years. Then he was bound +out to a broken-down college professor named +Caspar Potts, who was farming for his health. +The professor did what he could for the lad, but +soon got into difficulties with a mean money-lender +named Aaron Poole, and would have lost his farm +had it not been for something out of the ordinary +happening.</p> +<p>On the outskirts of the town lived a wealthy +jewelry manufacturer, Oliver Wadsworth. Mr. +Wadsworth had a daughter named Jessie, and +one day, through an explosion of an automobile +tank, the little miss was in danger of being burned +to death, when Dave came to her assistance. This +so pleased the Wadsworths that they came not +only to the boy’s aid but also helped Caspar Potts.</p> +<p>“The lad shall go to boarding school and get +a good education,” said Oliver Wadsworth. And +how Dave was sent off has already been related +in the first book of this series, entitled “Dave +Porter at Oak Hall.” At the school he made +many warm friends, including Roger Morr, the +son of a United States senator; Phil Lawrence, +the offspring of a wealthy shipowner; Buster +Beggs, who was fat as he was jolly, and Maurice, +otherwise “Shadow” Hamilton, who would +rather spin yarns than eat. He also made some +enemies, not the least of whom were Gus Plum, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +a great bully, and Nat Poole, son of the money-lender +already mentioned. Plum had since reformed, +but Nat was as overbearing and dictatorial +as ever.</p> +<p>The great cloud resting over Dave in those days +was the question of his identity, and when some of +his enemies spoke of him as “that poorhouse nobody” +he resolved to find out who he really was. +Getting a strange clew, he set forth on his travels, +as described in “Dave Porter in the South Seas,” +where he found his uncle, Dunston Porter. Then +he came back to Oak Hall, as told of in “Dave +Porter’s Return to School,” and next went to the +Land of the Midnight Sun, as set forth in “Dave +Porter in the Far North,” where he was gladdened +by a long-hoped-for meeting with his father.</p> +<p>“They can’t say I’m a poorhouse nobody now,” +he told himself, and went back to Oak Hall once +again, as set forth in “Dave Porter and His +Classmates.” Here he made more friends than +ever, but he likewise made enemies, the most bitter +of the latter being one Link Merwell, the son +of a ranch-owner of the West. Merwell did his +best to get Dave into trouble, but in the end was +exposed and had to leave the school.</p> +<p>Vacation time was now at hand, and through +Laura Porter, our hero’s newly-found sister, +Dave and his chums were invited to visit some of +Laura’s friends in the Far West. Laura Porter +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +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.</p> +<p>“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.</p> +<p>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 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>“Let him go,” said Dave. “He acts as if he +wanted to turn over a new leaf.”</p> +<p>“I am glad it wasn’t Jasniff,” returned Phil. +“He is the worse of the pair.”</p> +<p>“Right you are,” agreed Roger.</p> +<p>The senator’s son and Phil had accompanied +Dave to Crumville, and all had received a warm +reception at the hands of those who were waiting +for them. Mr. Wadsworth was delighted to get +back the jewels, and thanked Dave over and over +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +again for what he had done. Dave’s father and +his uncle were also happy, and as for Laura, she +had to hug her brother over and over again. Jessie +wanted to hug him, too, but her maidenly +modesty prevented this, but she gave Dave a look +and a hand squeeze that meant a good deal, for +our hero was her hero, too, and always had been.</p> +<p>The boys knew they had to go back to Oak +Hall, but the older folks had insisted that they +rest up a bit, after their traveling. So they +“rested” by going skating and sleigh-riding for +the last time that season, taking the girls along.</p> +<p>“I’ve got an idea,” said Dave’s uncle, one +morning, after the snow had cleared away. “The +roads are so fine just now, what is to prevent my +taking you to Oak Hall in the touring car? We +can make it in a day, I think.”</p> +<p>“Grand!” shouted Dave.</p> +<p>“Just the thing!” added Phil.</p> +<p>“Couldn’t be better,” supplemented Roger.</p> +<p>“You can ship your baggage on by express,” +went on Dunston Porter, “and then we’ll have +room enough to take Laura and Jessie, if they +want to go along.”</p> +<p>“Fine!” burst out Roger, so quickly that it +made Phil wink, and then the senator’s son grew +red. “Isn’t it all right?” he demanded.</p> +<p>“Sure thing,” responded the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>The matter was talked over; and that night it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +was arranged that the two girls should go along +on the trip, returning later to Crumville with Mr. +Porter. Not to tire Laura and Jessie too much, +it was decided to leave after lunch the next day, +stopping over night at Ryeport, and finishing the +trip to Oak Hall the morning following.</p> +<p>“If only the good weather holds out,” said +Roger, wistfully. And then he added suddenly: +“Who is going to sit in front with your uncle, +Dave?”</p> +<p>“Why, you are, of course,” broke in Phil, with +a grin.</p> +<p>“Why—er—I––” stammered the senator’s +son.</p> +<p>“Now, Phil, you know you said you’d like that +seat,” broke in Dave. “He’s only fooling you, +Roger.” And then Roger looked quite satisfied, +for, it might as well be confessed, Roger and +Laura were very friendly and liked greatly to be +in each other’s company. The senator’s son had +a manly regard for Dave’s sister—the same kind +of a feeling that our hero had for dear little +Jessie.</p> +<p>The trunks and suit-cases had been shipped off, +and the big six-cylinder car—a new machine belonging +to the Porters—had been brought around, +with Dunston Porter at the wheel, for the old +hunter and traveler had taken a strong liking to +autoing. The girls and boys had piled in, after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +much handshaking and some kisses, and now the +car was rolling out of the grounds, leaving Mr. +and Mrs. Wadsworth, Dave’s father, and old +Caspar Potts standing on the piazza, waving the +travelers adieu.</p> +<p>“Take care of yourself, my boy!” shouted Mr. +Porter.</p> +<p>“I will, Dad!” called back Dave. “You take +it easy till I get back,” he added, for he knew that +his parent had been working hard of late.</p> +<p>“I hate to see Dave go—he is so full of life and +good cheer,” murmured Mrs. Wadsworth, with a +sigh.</p> +<p>“Best lad in the world,” added her husband.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes! The very best!” came in a quavering +voice from old Caspar Potts, and the tears +stood in his glistening eyes.</p> +<p>“I trust he comes through this year at Oak +Hall all right,” resumed Mr. Porter, as, the automobile +having disappeared, those left behind reentered +the house. “He wishes to graduate, you +know.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you think he’ll come through?” asked +the manufacturer, quickly.</p> +<p>“I’m not sure about it. He has lost so much +time—on that trip he and the others took—you +know.”</p> +<p>“That is true.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Davy will come through, never fear!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +cried Caspar Potts. “I know the lad. If he +makes up his mind—well, it’s as good as done,” +and he nodded his whitened head several times. +To the old college professor who knew him so +well, there was no youth quite so clever and manly +as Dave Porter.</p> +<p>In the meantime the big touring car was leaving +Crumville rapidly behind. On the front seat, beside +Mr. Porter, sat Phil, waving an Oak Hall +banner and cracking all kinds of jokes. In the +back were the two girls with Dave and Roger. +All were well bundled up, for the air, though clear, +was still cold.</p> +<p>“Here is where we make fifty miles an hour!” +cried the shipowner’s son, gayly.</p> +<p>“Oh, Phil!” burst out Laura. “Fifty miles +an hour! Uncle Dunston, don’t you dare––”</p> +<p>“Phil is fooling,” interrupted her uncle.</p> +<p>“That’s it—I made a mistake—we are to go at +sixty miles an hour, just as soon as we pass the +next chicken coop. We won’t dare do it before, +for fear of blowing the coop over. We––”</p> +<p>“Why not make it seventy-five miles while you +are at it,” broke in Dave. “Nothing like going +the limit.” And at this there was a general laugh.</p> +<p>“There is a bad turn ahead,” said Dunston +Porter, a minute later. “They have torn up part +of the road around the hill. We’ll have to take it +pretty slowly.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>The touring car crept up the hill, past several +heaps of dirt, and then started to come down on +the other side. Here there was a sharp curve, +with heavy bushes on both sides. Mr. Porter +blew the horn loud and long, to warn anybody +ahead that he was coming.</p> +<p>“Look out!” yelled Phil, suddenly. But the +warning was not necessary, for Dunston Porter +saw the danger and so did the others. A horse +and buggy were just ahead on the torn-up highway, +going in the same direction as themselves. The +horse was prancing and rearing and the driver +was sawing at the lines in an effort to quiet the +steed. It looked as if there might be a collision.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_A_TALK_OF_THE_FUTURE' id='CHAPTER_III_A_TALK_OF_THE_FUTURE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>A TALK OF THE FUTURE</h3> +</div> +<p>The girls screamed and the boys uttered various +cries and words of advice. Dave leaned forward, +to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle +was ahead of him in the action. The foot-brake +was already down, and from the rear wheels came +a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs. +But the hill was a steep one and the big touring +car, well laden, continued to move downward, +although but slowly.</p> +<p>“Keep over! Keep over to the right!” yelled +Dunston Porter, to the driver of the buggy. But +the man was fully as excited as his horse, and he +continued to saw on the reins, until the turnout +occupied the very center of the narrow and +torn-up highway.</p> +<p>It was a time of peril, and a man less used to +critical moments than Dunston Porter might have +lost his head completely. But this old traveler +and hunter, who had faced grizzly bears in the +West and lions in Africa, managed to keep cool. +He saw a chance to pass on the right of the turnout +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +ahead, and like a flash he let go on the two +brakes and turned on a little power. Forward +bounded the big car, the right wheels on the very +edge of a water-gully. The left mud-guards +scraped the buggy, and the man driving it uttered +a yell of fright. Then the touring car went on, to +come to a halt at the bottom of the hill, a short +distance away.</p> +<p>“Hello!” exclaimed Dave, as he looked back +at the turnout that had caused the trouble. “It’s +Mr. Poole!”</p> +<p>“You mean Nat’s father?” queried Phil.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Hi, you! What do you mean by running into +me?” stormed the money-lender, savagely, as +he presently managed to get his steed under control +and came down beside the touring car.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by blocking the road, Mr. +Poole?” returned Dunston Porter, coldly.</p> +<p>“I didn’t block the road!”</p> +<p>“You certainly did. If we had run into you, +it would have been your fault.”</p> +<p>“Nonsense! You passed me on the wrong +side.”</p> +<p>“Because you didn’t give me room to pass on +the other side.”</p> +<p>“And your horn scared my horse.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how that is my fault. Your horse +ought to be used to auto-horns by this time.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span></p> +<p>“You’ve scraped all the paint off my carriage, +and I had it painted only last week,” went on +the money-lender, warming up. “It’s an outrage +how you auto fellows think you own the whole +road!”</p> +<p>“I won’t discuss the matter now, Mr. Poole,” +answered Dunston Porter, stiffly. “I think it was +your fault entirely. But if you think otherwise, +come and see me when I get back from this trip, +which will be in four days.” And without waiting +for more words, Dave’s uncle started up the +touring car, and Aaron Poole was soon left far +behind.</p> +<p>“If he isn’t a peach!” murmured Roger, slangily. +“It’s easy to see where Nat gets his meanness +from. He is simply a chip off the old block.”</p> +<p>“He’s a pretty big chip,” returned Phil, dryly.</p> +<p>“I don’t see how he can blame us,” said Dave. +“We simply couldn’t pass him on the left. If we +had tried, we’d have gone in the ditch sure. And +the scraping we did to his buggy amounts to next +to nothing.”</p> +<p>“I am not afraid of what he’ll do,” said Dunston +Porter. “A couple of dollars will fix up +those scratches, and if he is so close-fisted I’ll foot +the bill. But I’ll give him a piece of my mind for +blocking the road.”</p> +<p>“But his horse was frightened, Uncle Dunston,” +said Laura. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span></p> +<p>“A little, yes, but if Poole hadn’t got scared +himself he might have drawn closer to the side of +the road. I think he was more frightened than +the horse.”</p> +<p>“He certainly was,” declared Phil. “When +we scraped the buggy his face got as white as +chalk, and he almost dropped the lines.”</p> +<p>“He’ll hate all of us worse than ever for this,” +was Dave’s comment.</p> +<p>“I am not afraid of him,” answered the uncle.</p> +<p>On and on sped the big touring car, and soon +the stirring incident on the road was, for the time +being, forgotten. Crumville had been left far behind, +and now they passed through one pretty +village after another. On the broad, level +stretches Dunston Porter allowed the boys to +“spell” him at the wheel, for each knew how to +run an automobile.</p> +<p>“Twenty miles more to Ryeport!” cried Dave, +as they came to a crossroads and read a signboard.</p> +<p>“And it’s just half-past five,” added the senator’s +son, consulting his watch. “We’ll get there +in plenty of time to wash up and have a fine +dinner.”</p> +<p>“And, say, maybe we won’t do a thing to that +table!” murmured Phil, smacking his lips.</p> +<p>“Oh, you boys are always hungry,” was Jessie’s +comment. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></p> +<p>“Well, you know, we’ve got to grow,” answered +Phil, with a grin.</p> +<p>“I think I’ll enjoy eating after such a long +ride,” said Laura. “The fresh air certainly does +give one an appetite.”</p> +<p>“I think I’ll order bread and milk for all +hands,” remarked Dunston Porter, with a sly +smile.</p> +<p>“Bread and milk!” murmured Jessie, in dismay.</p> +<p>“Sure. It’s famous for your complexion.”</p> +<p>“A juicy steak for mine!” cried Dave. +“Steak, and vegetables, and salad, and pudding or +pie.”</p> +<p>“Well, I guess that will do for me, too,” said +his uncle, simply. “You see, I suppose I’ll have to +eat to keep you company,” and he smiled again.</p> +<p>“Uncle Dunston, what a tease you are!” murmured +Laura. “Your appetite is just as good as +that of any of the boys.”</p> +<p>Dave was at the wheel, and he sent the touring +car along the smooth highway at a speed of +twenty miles an hour. He would have liked to +drive faster, but his uncle would not permit this.</p> +<p>“The law says twenty miles an hour, and I believe +in obeying the law,” said Dunston Porter. +“Besides, you can never tell what may happen, +and it is best to have your car under control.”</p> +<p>The truth of the latter remark was demonstrated +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +less than five minutes later, when they +came to another crossroads. Without warning of +any kind, a racing car came rushing swiftly from +one direction and a coach from the other. Dave +could not cross ahead of the racing car, and the +approach of the coach from the opposite direction +cut him off from turning with the car. So +all that was left to do was to jam on both brakes, +which he did, and then, as the racing car shot past, +he released the wheels and went on, just ahead +of the coach. But it was a narrow escape all +around, and the girls and Roger leaped to their +feet in alarm.</p> +<p>“Phew! see them streak along!” was Phil’s +comment, gazing after the racing car, which was +fast disappearing in a cloud of dust.</p> +<p>“They ought to be arrested!” was Laura’s +comment. “Why, we might have been smashed +up!”</p> +<p>“Good work, Davy!” cried Dunston Porter. +“You did just the right thing.”</p> +<p>“Even if that coach driver is shaking his fist +at us, eh?” answered Dave, and he bobbed his +head in the direction of the coach, which had +hauled up but was now going on.</p> +<p>“If you had been going a little faster it would +have been all up with us,” said Phil, with a grave +shake of his head.</p> +<p>“Let me take the wheel now,” said Dunston +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +Porter, quietly, and Dave slid out of the driving-seat +willingly enough, for the excitement had left +him somewhat limp.</p> +<p>Half-past six found them in Ryeport, and a +few minutes later they rolled up to the National +Hotel, and the girls and boys got out, while Mr. +Porter took the car around to the garage. They +had sent word ahead for rooms, and all soon felt +at home. The girls had a fine apartment on the +second floor, front, with Dunston Porter next to +them, and the three boys in a big room across the +hallway.</p> +<p>When the young people assembled in the dining-room, +after brushing and washing up, a surprise +awaited them. They had a table to themselves, +ordered by Dunston Porter, and decorated with a +big bouquet of roses and carnations. A full course +dinner was served.</p> +<p>“Oh, this is lovely!” cried Jessie, as she caught +sight of the flowers.</p> +<p>“Just grand, Uncle Dunston!” added Laura. +And then she added, in a lower voice: “If there +wasn’t such a crowd, I’d give you a big hug for +this!”</p> +<p>“And so would I,” added Jessie.</p> +<p>“All right, that’s one you owe me, girls, remember +that,” answered the old hunter and +traveler.</p> +<p>They spent over an hour at the table, enjoying +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +the bountiful spread provided, and telling stories +and jokes. The boys were in their element, and +kept the girls laughing almost constantly.</p> +<p>“We’ll be back to the grind day after to-morrow, +so we had better make the best of it,” +was the way Dave expressed himself.</p> +<p>After the meal, Dunston Porter went out to +give directions concerning the touring car, and +Phil accompanied him. This left our hero and +Roger alone with the two girls. They sought out +the hotel parlor, which they found deserted, and +Dave and Jessie walked to the far end, where +there was an alcove, while Roger and Laura went +to the piano.</p> +<p>“Dave, won’t it be hard work to go back to the +grind, as you call it?” questioned Jessie, as both +stood looking out of the window.</p> +<p>“In a way, yes, but it’s what a fellow has got +to expect, Jessie,” he returned. “A chap can’t +get an education without working for it.”</p> +<p>“I trust you pass with high honors,” the girl +went on, with a hopeful look into his face.</p> +<p>“I’ll try my best. Of course, I’ve lost some +time—going to Cave Island and all that. Maybe +I’ll flunk.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Dave, that would be—be––” Jessie +could not go on.</p> +<p>“As soon as I get back I’m going to buckle +down, and get to be a regular greasy grind, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +they call ’em. I’ve made up my mind to one +thing I’m afraid the others won’t like.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?”</p> +<p>“I’m going to cut the baseball nine, if I can. +It takes too much time from our studies.”</p> +<p>“Won’t that be easy?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I made quite a record, you +know. Maybe the crowd will insist on it that I +play. Of course, I don’t want to see Oak Hall +lose any games. But I guess they’ll have players +enough—with all the new students coming +in.”</p> +<p>“And if you do graduate, Dave, what then?” +asked Jessie, after a pause. This question had +been on her mind a long time, but she had hesitated +about asking it.</p> +<p>“To tell the honest truth, Jessie, I don’t know,” +answered Dave, very slowly. “I’ve thought and +thought, but I can’t seem to hit the right thing. +Your father and Professor Potts seem to think +I ought to go to college, and I rather incline that +way myself. But then I think of going to some +technical institution, and of taking up civil engineering, +or mining, or something like that. Uncle +Dunston knew a young fellow who became a civil +engineer and went to South America and laid out +a railroad across the Andes Mountains, and he +knew another young fellow who took up mining +and made a big thing of a mine in Montana. That +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +sort of thing appeals to me, and it appeals to +Dad, too.”</p> +<p>“But it would take you so far from home, +Dave!” and Jessie caught hold of his arm as she +spoke, as if afraid he was going to leave that +minute.</p> +<p>“I know it, but—er—but—would you care, +Jessie?” he stammered.</p> +<p>“Care? Of course, I’d care!” she replied, and +suddenly began to blush. “We’d all care.”</p> +<p>“But would you care very much?” he insisted, +lowering his voice. “Because, if you would, I’d +tell you something.”</p> +<p>“What would you tell me?” she asked.</p> +<p>“The young fellow who went to South America +as a civil engineer took his wife with him.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Dave!” and for the moment Jessie +turned her head away.</p> +<p>“If I went so far off, I’d want somebody with +me, Jessie. A fellow would be awfully lonely +otherwise.”</p> +<p>“I—I suppose that would be so.”</p> +<p>“If you thought enough of a fellow, would you +go to South America, or Montana, or Africa with +him?” And Dave looked Jessie full in the face.</p> +<p>“I’d go to the end of the world with him,” she +answered, with sudden boldness.</p> +<p>Then Mr. Porter and Phil came back, and the +conversation became general.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_MR_JOB_HASKERSS_DOINGS' id='CHAPTER_IV_MR_JOB_HASKERSS_DOINGS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>MR. JOB HASKERS’S DOINGS</h3> +</div> +<p>“And now for Oak Hall!”</p> +<p>It was Dave who uttered the words, the next +morning, after a good night’s rest and an early +breakfast. The big touring car had been brought +around by Dunston Porter, and the young folks +had climbed in and stowed away the limited baggage +they carried. All felt in excellent spirits, +and Dave was particularly gay. What Jessie had +said the evening before, and the way she had said +it, still hung in his mind. She was a splendid girl, +and if it was in him to do it, he was going to make +himself worthy of her. He was still young, so +he did not dwell long over these things, but his +regard for her was entirely proper, and likely to +make him do his best in his endeavors.</p> +<p>Phil had asked for permission to run the car +for a while and took the wheel as soon as Ryeport +was left behind. The shipowner’s son knew +how to handle an automobile almost as well as +any of them, but he had one fault, which was, that +he did not steer out of the way of sharp stones +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +and like things calculated to bring on punctures +and blow-outs.</p> +<p>“My, what a glorious morning!” exclaimed +Laura, as they bowled along over the smooth +roads.</p> +<p>“Couldn’t be better,” answered Roger. +“Wish we were going on all day!” he added.</p> +<p>“So do I,” added Dave. They expected to +reach Oakdale by noon, get dinner there, and +then run up to the school.</p> +<p>“Not too fast, Phil,” warned Mr. Porter, as +the shipowner’s son “let her out a bit,” as he expressed +it. “You don’t know what sort of a +road you’ve got beyond the turn.”</p> +<p>“We’ll soon be coming to some roads we +know,” answered Phil. “Those we used to travel +on our bicycles.”</p> +<p>They passed through several towns and villages. +Then they reached a crossroads, and here +some men and a steam roller were at work, and +the road was closed. One of the workmen motioned +for them to take the road on the left.</p> +<p>“Must be a road around,” said Dunston Porter. +“It doesn’t look very good, but you can try +it. Shall I take the wheel?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I can run the car easily enough,” answered +Phil.</p> +<p>For half a mile they went on without trouble, +through a rolling country where the scenery was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +very fine. Then they reached a point where the +road was full of loose stones.</p> +<p>“Be careful!” cried Mr. Porter.</p> +<p>They rolled on, past a pretty farmhouse and +some barns. They were just on the point of making +another turn when there came a sudden bang! +from under the car, and the turnout swayed to one +side of the road. Phil threw out the clutch and +put on the brakes, and they came to a standstill. +Then the driver shut off the engine.</p> +<p>“What is the matter?” queried Jessie.</p> +<p>“A blow-out, I guess,” answered Dave. +“We’ll soon see.”</p> +<p>Dunston Porter and the boys got down to the +ground and made an examination. The shoe of +the rear left wheel had been badly cut by the +sharp stones and the inner tube had been blown out +through the cut.</p> +<p>“We’ll have to put on one of the other shoes,” +said Mr. Porter. They carried two with them, +besides half a dozen inner tubes.</p> +<p>“All right, here is where we get to work!” +cried Dave. “Somebody time us, please,” and he +started in by getting off his coat and cuffs and donning +a working jumper. His uncle quickly followed +suit, while Phil and Roger got out +the lifting-jack and some tools.</p> +<p>The girls stood watching the proceedings for +a while and then strolled back towards the farmhouse. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +The boys and Mr. Porter became so engrossed +in putting on a new inner tube and a shoe +that they did not notice their absence. The new +shoe fitted the rim of the wheel rather tightly +and they had all they could do to get it into +place.</p> +<p>“Phew! this is work and no mistake!” murmured +Roger. “I wonder why they can’t get +tires that won’t blow out or go down.”</p> +<p>“Maybe some day they will have them,” answered +Dunston Porter.</p> +<p>“I reckon this is all my fault,” put in Phil, +ruefully. “I must have gone over some extra +sharp stone, and it cut like a knife.”</p> +<p>“Oh, such accidents are liable to happen to +anybody,” answered Dave. He looked at his +watch. “Twenty-five minutes, and we haven’t +blown it up yet! No record job this time.”</p> +<p>“Thank fortune we’ve got a patent pump to do +the pumping for us,” remarked his uncle. Pumping +tires by hand he found a very disagreeable +task.</p> +<p>At last the shoe and tube were in place and +the pump was set in motion. Dave watched the +gauge, and when it was high enough he shut +off the air. The tools were put away, and they +were ready to go on again.</p> +<p>“The girls went back to that farmhouse,” said +the senator’s son, pointing to a small cottage. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></p> +<p>“Let us run back and pick them up, and wash our +hands at the well.”</p> +<p>Once in front of the house, Dunston Porter, +who was at the wheel, sounded the horn. At the +same time the boys made for the well, which +stood between the house and one of the barns.</p> +<p>“Maybe the girls went inside,” remarked Dave, +as he looked in vain for them.</p> +<p>“Must be somewhere around,” returned Phil.</p> +<p>All washed up, using soap and towels carried +in the car. Then Dave went to the door of the +farmhouse and knocked. In answer to the summons +Laura appeared.</p> +<p>“Oh, Dave, come in!” she cried. “I want +you to meet the lady here.”</p> +<p>Wondering what his sister wanted, our hero +stepped into the sitting-room, which was small and +plainly but neatly furnished. In a rocking-chair +sat an elderly woman, pale and careworn.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Breen, this is my brother,” said Laura. +“And these are his school chums,” she added, +nodding towards Phil and Roger.</p> +<p>“How do you do, boys?” said the woman, in a +thin, trembling voice.</p> +<p>“We just told her we were bound for Oak +Hall,” said Jessie, who was also present. “And +she says she knows somebody there.”</p> +<p>“She knows Mr. Job Haskers,” finished Laura.</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers!” repeated Dave, mentioning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +the name of one of the teachers—a dictatorial individual +nobody liked, and who was allowed to +keep his position mainly because of his abilities as +an instructor. The chums had had more than one +dispute with Job Haskers, and all wished that he +would leave the school.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes, I know him,” answered Mrs. Breen, +nodding her head gravely and thoughtfully. “He +is a great scholar—a very great scholar,” and she +nodded again. She was not well and her mind +did not appear to be overly bright. She lived +alone in the cottage, a neighboring farmer taking +care of her few acres of ground for her.</p> +<p>“Dave, come here,” whispered Laura, and led +her brother to a corner of the room. “Mrs. +Breen tells me that Mr. Haskers owes her money—that +he used to board with her and that he borrowed +some—and she says he writes that he can’t +pay her because he gets so little salary, and +that sometimes he has to wait a long while himself.”</p> +<p>“How much is it?” asked Dave, with interest. +He remembered how close-fisted Job Haskers +had been on more than one occasion.</p> +<p>“Nearly two hundred dollars, so she says.”</p> +<p>“He ought to be able to pay that, Laura. I +think he gets a fair salary—in fact, I am sure of +it—and I am also pretty sure that Doctor Clay +doesn’t keep him waiting for his money.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></p> +<p>“It is too bad! She looks so helpless and so +much in need,” murmured the girl.</p> +<p>“I’ll find out about this,” answered Dave.</p> +<p>He sat down, as did the others, and soon had +the elderly lady telling her story in detail. It was +not very long. Job Haskers had boarded with +her one summer, just before obtaining his position +at Oak Hall, and he owed her sixty dollars +for this. During the time he had spent with her +he had spoken of a school-book he was going to +publish that would bring him in much money, and +she had loaned him a hundred and twenty-five +dollars for this. But she had never seen the +school-book, nor had he ever paid back a cent. +His plea, when she had written to him, had been +that his pay was poor and that he had to wait +a long time to get money, and that his publishers +had not yet gotten around to selling his +book.</p> +<p>“I never heard of any book he got out,” said +Roger. “And I think I would hear if there was +such a book.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” added Phil. “Old Haskers +would be so proud of it he would want everybody +to know.”</p> +<p>“It is certainly a shame he doesn’t pay this lady, +if he has the money,” was Dunston Porter’s comment. +“Did he give you a note?” he asked of +Mrs. Breen. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></p> +<p>“He wrote out some kind of a paper and was +going to give it to me. But I never got it.”</p> +<p>“He’s a swindler, that’s what he is!” murmured +Phil, wrathfully.</p> +<p>“It looks that way,” answered Dave, in an +equally low tone.</p> +<p>“He knows this lady is next to helpless and he +intends to do her out of the money!”</p> +<p>“He ought to be sued,” exclaimed Roger.</p> +<p>“You have no note, or other writing about +the money?” questioned Mr. Porter.</p> +<p>“I have his letters,” answered the elderly lady. +“They are in the bureau yonder.” And she +pointed to an ancient chest of drawers.</p> +<p>“Shall I get them?” asked Jessie, for she saw +that it was a task for the old lady to move around.</p> +<p>“If you will, my dear. I am so stiff it is hard +to get up.”</p> +<p>Both girls went to the chest of drawers and +brought out a small box of letters. Mrs. Breen +put on her glasses and fumbled them over and +brought forth three communications which were, +as the boys recognized, in Job Haskers’s well-known +jerky handwriting. She passed them over +to be read, and all present perused them with +interest.</p> +<p>The contents, however, were disappointing, +especially to the boys and Dunston Porter, who +had hoped to find something by which legally to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +hold the school-teacher. Not once did Job Haskers +mention that he owed Mrs. Breen any money. +He simply stated that he regretted he could do +nothing for her, that times were hard, and that +his income was limited and hard to get. He said +as little as possible, and the tone of the communications +showed that he hoped he would hear no +more from the old lady who had done what she +could to aid him.</p> +<p>“I think this is the limit!” said Dave to his +uncle. “Don’t you think he ought to be sued?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know about suing him, Dave; but I +think this ought to be put in a lawyer’s hands.”</p> +<p>“He makes money enough to pay this lady,” +said Phil. “Say, I’ve a good mind to give him +a piece of my mind!” he added, hotly.</p> +<p>“I’ll look into this when I come back this way,” +said Dunston Porter, after a little more talk. +“Perhaps I can get one of our lawyers to prod +this Haskers a little, and also state the case to +Doctor Clay.”</p> +<p>“Oh, will you do that, Uncle Dunston?” cried +Laura, brightening, for she, as well as all of the +others, felt sorry for Mrs. Breen, who seemed so +poor, old, and lonesome.</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ll do it. And now we had better be +on our way,—if we want to reach Oakdale by +noon,” went on Mr. Porter.</p> +<p>The boys went out, followed by Jessie. Laura +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +lingered, to whisper something in her uncle’s ear. +Dunston Porter nodded, and then Laura joined +the others.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Breen, I will be back in a day or two, +to see you about this money affair,” said Mr. +Porter, when he and the old lady were alone. +“In the meantime, as you were so kind as to take +the young ladies in while we were mending our +machine, allow me to make you a little present,” +and as he finished he placed a five-dollar bill in +her lap.</p> +<p>“Oh!” she cried, taking up the banknote. +“Why, it’s five dollars! I—I can’t really take all +that money!”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, you can,” said Mr. Porter, smiling. +“Use it as you see fit, and remember that I’ll be +back, and we’ll do what we can to get that money +from Mr. Haskers.”</p> +<p>“You are very, very kind!” murmured the old +lady, and tears stood in her eyes. The past winter +had been a severe one for her, and she had had a +hard struggle to get along.</p> +<p>“Good-by!” shouted the girls and boys to her, +and she waved her hand to them. Then the +automobile started off once more, in the direction +of Oakdale.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_AT_OAK_HALL_ONCE_MORE' id='CHAPTER_V_AT_OAK_HALL_ONCE_MORE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>AT OAK HALL ONCE MORE</h3> +</div> +<p>“Hurrah! here we are at Oakdale at +last!”</p> +<p>“Old town looks natural, doesn’t it?”</p> +<p>“So it does, Roger. See any of the fellows?”</p> +<p>“Not yet, Dave. But we are sure to meet +somebody, even if it is a school-day,” went on the +senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Uncle Dunston, let me take the auto around +to the hotel,” said our hero. “I know the streets +better than you do. We have to make several +turns.”</p> +<p>“All right, Dave,” was the ready answer, and +Dunston Porter arose and allowed his nephew +to crowd into the driver’s seat.</p> +<p>The run to the town in the vicinity of which +Oak Hall was located had been made without +further incident. On the way the party had talked +over Mrs. Breen’s affairs, and Dunston Porter +had promised to take the matter up, through his +lawyer.</p> +<p>“I think it best that our names don’t appear +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +in the case,” said he. “Otherwise, Mr. Haskers +might not treat you so well during the term.”</p> +<p>“He never treats us well, anyway,” grumbled +Phil. “But you are right, don’t mention our +names.”</p> +<p>On this late winter day the town looked rather +dreary, but the young folks were in high spirits, +and Dave, with a grand flourish, ran the car up +to one of the best hotels the place afforded. As +before, word had been sent ahead that they were +coming, and the host of the resort came out to +meet them.</p> +<p>“We’ll have dinner ready inside of quarter of +an hour,” he said. “Come in and make yourselves +at home.”</p> +<p>The repast was fully as good as the dinner +served at Ryeport, and everybody enjoyed it +greatly.</p> +<p>“And now for the Hall!” cried Dave.</p> +<p>“Glad to leave us?” asked Jessie, half-reproachfully.</p> +<p>“You know better than to ask such a question,” +he replied. “But if we have got to get +back to the grind, why, we might as well do it.”</p> +<p>“And I’m a bit anxious to see how the old +place looks,” added the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Dave, you can run the car to the Hall, if +you wish,” said Mr. Porter, feeling sure the youth +would like to do that very thing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span></p> +<p>“All right.”</p> +<p>The touring automobile was brought around, +and they were just getting in when there came a +sudden hail from across the way.</p> +<p>“Hello, there, everybody!”</p> +<p>“It’s Dave Porter, and Roger, and Phil!” +said somebody else.</p> +<p>“Why, how are you, Shadow!” cried our hero. +“And how are you, Buster?” he added, as +Maurice Hamilton and Buster Beggs came across +the road to greet them.</p> +<p>“Fine!” puffed Buster, who was very fat and +jolly. “Only Shadow has been walking the feet +off of me!” And then the stout youth shook +hands all around.</p> +<p>“Now, just to hear that!” cried Shadow, as he, +too, shook hands. “Why, all we did was to walk +from the Hall to here.”</p> +<p>“And up one street and down another for half +an hour,” burst in Buster.</p> +<p>“Say, that puts me in mind of a story!” cried +Shadow, who was noted for his yarn-spinning +weakness. “Once two men started to walk––”</p> +<p>“Stow it!” came from three of the other lads +in concert.</p> +<p>“It’s too early yet to tell stories, Shadow,” +said Dave, with a smile. “You can tell them to-night. +Tell us now, is there anything new at the +Hall?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span></p> +<p>“There sure is.”</p> +<p>“What?” asked Phil and Roger.</p> +<p>“The wild man.”</p> +<p>“Oh, has he turned up again?” asked the girls, +with interest.</p> +<p>“Twice—yesterday morning and this morning,” +said Buster.</p> +<p>“He didn’t turn up at all, Buster,” interposed +Shadow. “When you start to tell a story, why +don’t you tell it straight?”</p> +<p>“Oh, you tell it,” grumbled the fat boy. +“You have that sort of thing down to a science.”</p> +<p>“There isn’t very much to tell,” went on +Shadow Hamilton. “He left his mark, that’s +all.”</p> +<p>“Left his mark?” queried Dave.</p> +<p>“That’s it—wide, blue marks. He must have +about a ton of blue chalk.”</p> +<p>“Say, Shadow, you are talking in riddles,” +burst out the shipowner’s son. “Give it to us +in plain United States, can’t you?”</p> +<p>“Sure I can. Well, this wild man visited the +school yesterday morning and this morning, before +anybody was up. The first time he went into +the big classroom and took some books, and the +next time he visited the kitchen and pantry and +took some grub—I beg the ladies’ pardon—I +should have said food—a ham, a chicken, and +some doughnuts.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span></p> +<p>“And the blue chalk––?” queried Mr. +Porter.</p> +<p>“I was coming to that. In the classroom he +left his mark—a big circle, with a cross inside, +in blue chalk.”</p> +<p>“And how do you know that is the mark of +the wild man?” asked Laura.</p> +<p>“Oh, we found that out some time ago,” answered +Shadow. “He seems to have a mania for +blue chalk, and even puts it on his face sometimes, +and he chalks down that circle with the cross +wherever he goes.”</p> +<p>“Then, if he does that, why can’t they trail +him down?” asked Dave.</p> +<p>“Because he is like a flea—when you try to +put your hands on him he isn’t there,” answered +Shadow. “And say, that puts me in mind of another +story. Once three boys were––”</p> +<p>“That will do, Shadow!” cried Roger. +“About the wild man is enough for the present.”</p> +<p>“Have they any idea who he is?” asked Dunston +Porter.</p> +<p>“Not the slightest,” answered Buster. “And +they don’t know where he keeps himself, although +it must be in the woods near the school.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Dave, I hope he doesn’t harm anybody!” +cried Jessie, with a shiver.</p> +<p>“Are you boys ready to go back to the Hall?” +asked Dunston Porter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span></p> +<p>“I am,” responded Buster, readily.</p> +<p>“So am I,” added the story-teller of the +school.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll take you along, provided you +don’t mind being crowded.”</p> +<p>“We won’t mind, if the young ladies won’t,” returned +the fat youth.</p> +<p>“Oh, come in by all means!” cried Laura.</p> +<p>“We’ll make room somehow,” added Jessie.</p> +<p>A minute later the big car started on the way +to Oak Hall, with Dave at the wheel and his +uncle beside him.</p> +<p>“Looks familiar, doesn’t it?” called out Roger, +as they spun along the turnpike.</p> +<p>“It certainly does!” answered Roger, and then +he added, “What do you say to the old school +song?”</p> +<p>“Fine!” came back the answer, and then the +senator’s son commenced a song they all knew well, +which was sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne.” +The girls knew the song, too, and readily joined +in.</p> +<table style='margin: auto' summary=''><tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;'> +“Oak Hall we never shall forget,<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>No matter where we roam;</span><br /> +It is the very best of schools,<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>To us it’s just like home!</span><br /> +Then give three cheers, and let them ring<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Throughout this world so wide,</span><br /> +To let the people know that we<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Elect to here abide!”</span></p> +</td></tr></table> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span></div> +<p>Loud and clear over the cool air sounded the +song, and it was sung several times. Then, just +as the car rolled into the grounds of the school, +the boys gave one of the Hall yells, and Dave +honked the horn of the automobile loud and +long.</p> +<p>“Hello! It’s the Porter crowd!”</p> +<p>“Welcome to our city!”</p> +<p>“How about Cave Island, Dave! Did you +bring it with you?”</p> +<p>“Heard you caught Jasniff and Merwell, +Roger. Good for you!”</p> +<p>“Say, Phil, you’re as sunburnt as if you’d been +to the seashore for a summer.”</p> +<p>So the talk ran on as half a dozen students +flocked up to the car. The afternoon session was +over, and despite the chilliness many lads were out +on the campus. Many knew the girls—having +met them at some athletic games and at a commencement—and +those that did not were glad of +a chance for an introduction.</p> +<p>“I am real glad to see you back, boys,” said +Doctor Hasmer Clay, the head of the institution, +as he appeared and shook hands. “Glad to see +you, Mr. Porter, and also the young ladies,” he +added. “So you came all the way by automobile, +eh? It must have been a delightful +trip.”</p> +<p>“It was,” answered Dave’s uncle. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p> +<p>All went inside, and the visitors were permitted +to accompany Dave and his chums to their dormitory. +The boys’ baggage had already arrived, so +it did not take the lads long to settle down.</p> +<p>“And now we’ll have to start back,” said Dunston +Porter, a little later. “Dave, take good +care of yourself, and make a good record.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do my best, Uncle Dunston.”</p> +<p>“And don’t let that wild man get you,” added +Jessie, as she took his hand and allowed him to +hold her own, perhaps longer than was necessary.</p> +<p>“And don’t forget to write,” put in his sister.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll not forget that!” answered Dave, +with a smile, both to his sister and to the girl +whom he regarded so warmly.</p> +<p>It was a trying moment—this parting—but it +was soon over, and, with Dunston Porter at the +wheel, and the girls and boys waving their hands, +the touring car left the Oak Hall grounds, on its +return journey to Crumville.</p> +<p>“Well, here we are, as the pug dog said to the +looking-glass, when he walked behind it to look +for himself,” remarked Phil, dropping into a +chair.</p> +<p>“I suppose it will take us a few days to get +settled down,” answered Dave, resting on the top +of a table. “I don’t feel much like unpacking +yet, do you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></p> +<p>“No, let us wait until to-night or to-morrow,” +returned Roger, dropping on one of the beds. +He was still thinking of how clear and deep +Laura’s eyes had appeared when she had said +good-by to him.</p> +<p>“I really hope you will not be homesick,” said +a girlish voice, and Bertram Vane, one of the +students, appeared from the next room and sat +down on a chair. “Homesickness is such an +awfully cruel thing, don’t you know.”</p> +<p>“No homesickness here, Polly,” answered +Dave. “I guess we are just tired out, that’s all. +We’ve done a lot of traveling since we left Oak +Hall.”</p> +<p>“So I understand. Wasn’t it dreadful that +Jasniff and Merwell should prove such villains!” +went on the girlish student. “Weren’t you really +afraid to—er—to touch them?”</p> +<p>“Not much!” cried Phil. “I am only sorry +Merwell got away.”</p> +<p>“But you got the diamonds, I heard?” put in +Sam Day, who was another of the chums.</p> +<p>“We did.”</p> +<p>At that moment came musical sounds from another +room near by—the sounds of somebody +strumming on a guitar.</p> +<p>“Hello, there’s Luke Watson!” cried Roger. +“Hi, come in with that guitar and give us a tune, +Luke!” he called out. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span></p> +<p>“Thought I might cheer you up,” said Luke, +appearing. “How would you like me to play +‘The Girl I Left Behind Me,’ or something like +that?”</p> +<p>“Make it ‘Oh, Those Eyes So Tender!’” +suggested Buster.</p> +<p>“Or else that beautiful ditty called, ‘He +Loved, But Had to Leave Her,’” suggested +Shadow. “Say, that puts me in mind of a +story,” he went on. “This is true, too, though +you may not believe it. A young man went to +call on his best girl and took a bouquet of flowers +along. The bouquet was done up in several thicknesses +of tissue paper. Some of his friends +who were jokers got hold of that bouquet +and fixed it up for him. He gave it to the girl, +and when she took off the tissue paper what +do you suppose she found? A bunch of celery +and some soup greens! He was so fussed +up he didn’t know what to say, and he got out in +a hurry.”</p> +<p>“Hurrah for the chaps who fixed up the +bouquet!” cried Phil. “But start up, Luke. +Something in which we can all join.”</p> +<p>“But not too loud,” cautioned Roger. “Old +Haskers might not like––”</p> +<p>“Oh, hang old Haskers!” interrupted Phil. +“He can’t––”</p> +<p>“Sh-sh!” came from Dave, suddenly, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +silence fell on the group of boys. All turned +towards the doorway leading to the hall. There, +on the threshold, stood the instructor just mentioned, +Mr. Job Haskers.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_PHIL_SHOWS_HIS_STUBBORNNESS' id='CHAPTER_VI_PHIL_SHOWS_HIS_STUBBORNNESS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>PHIL SHOWS HIS STUBBORNNESS</h3> +</div> +<p>Not one of the boys knew how to act or what +to say. All wondered if Job Haskers had heard +his name mentioned.</p> +<p>If the ill-natured instructor had heard, he made +no mention of it. He looked sharply about the +apartment and waved his hand to Luke.</p> +<p>“Watson, how many times have I told you that +you make too much noise with your musical instruments?” +he said, harshly. “You disturb the +students who wish to study.”</p> +<p>“I thought this was the recreation hour, Mr. +Haskers,” answered the lad, who loved to play +the guitar and banjo.</p> +<p>“True, but I think we get altogether too much +of your music,” growled the instructor. He +turned to Dave, Roger, and Phil. “So you are +back at last. It is high time, if you wish to go on +with your regular classes.”</p> +<p>“We told Doctor Clay that we would make up +what we have missed, Mr. Haskers,” answered +Dave, in a gentle tone, for he knew how easy it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +was to start a quarrel with the man before him. +As Phil had once said, Job Haskers was always +walking around “with a chip on his shoulder.”</p> +<p>“And how soon will you make up the lessons +in my class?” demanded the instructor.</p> +<p>“I think I can do it inside of ten days or two +weeks.”</p> +<p>“That won’t suit me, Porter. You’ll have to +do better. I’ll give each of you just a week—one +week, understand? If you can’t make the lessons +up in that time I’ll have to drop you to the +next lower class.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Mr. Haskers!” burst out Roger. He +knew what that meant only too well. They would +not have a chance to graduate that coming +June.</p> +<p>“I’ll not argue the point, Morr. I’ll give you +a week, starting to-morrow. When you come to +the classroom I will show you just what you have +to make up.” Job Haskers looked around the +room. “Now, then, remember, I want less noise +here.” And so speaking, he turned on his heel and +walked away.</p> +<p>For a moment there was silence, as the boys +looked at each other and listened to the sounds +of Mr. Haskers’s retreating footsteps. Then +Phil made a face and punched one of the bed pillows, +savagely.</p> +<p>“Now, wouldn’t that make a saint turn in his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +grave?” he remarked. “Isn’t he the real, kind, +generous soul!”</p> +<p>“He ought to be ducked in the river!” was +Buster’s comment. “Why, how can anybody +make up the lessons you’ve missed in a week? +It’s absurd! Say, do you know what I’d do if +I were you? I’d complain to the doctor.”</p> +<p>“So would I,” added Sam Day. “Two weeks +would be short enough.”</p> +<p>“I’ll not complain to the doctor,” returned +Phil. “But I know what I will do,” he added, +quickly, as though struck by a sudden idea.</p> +<p>“What?” came from several.</p> +<p>“Never mind what. But I’ll wager he’ll give +us more time.”</p> +<p>“I guess I know what you think of doing,” said +Dave. “But take my advice and don’t, Phil.”</p> +<p>“Humph! I’ll see about it, Dave. He isn’t +going to run such a thing as this up my back without +a kick,” grumbled the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“Well, wait first and see if he doesn’t change +his mind, or if we can’t get through in the week,” +cautioned Dave.</p> +<p>“What was Phil going to do?” questioned +Luke, strumming lowly over the strings of his +guitar.</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t let’s talk about it,” cried Dave, before +Roger could speak. He did not wish the +Mrs. Breen affair to become public property. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +“Tell us about the wild man, and all the other +things that have happened here since we went +away.”</p> +<p>“And you tell us all about Cave Island and +those stolen jewels,” said Buster.</p> +<p>Thereafter the conversation became general, +Dave and his chums telling of their quest of the +Carwith diamonds, and the other students relating +the particulars of a feast they had had in +one of the dormitories, and of various efforts +made to catch the so-called wild man.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe he is what one would call a +wild man,” said Ben Basswood, Dave’s old chum +from home, who had just come in from some experiments +in the school laboratory. “He is simple-minded +and very shy. He gets excited once +in a while, like when he threw those mud-balls.”</p> +<p>“Well, you ought to know,” remarked Buster. +“Ben is the only fellow here who has talked to +the man,” he explained.</p> +<p>“When was that, Ben?” questioned Dave.</p> +<p>“That was when the man first appeared,” answered +the Crumville lad. “I didn’t find out +until yesterday that he was the wild man, and then +it was because of that blue chalk he uses. I met +him in the woods when I was out during that last +snow, looking for rabbits with my shotgun. I +came across him, sitting on a rock, looking at an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +old newspaper. He had some of the blue chalk +in his hand and had marked a circle with a cross +on the rock. He asked me where I was going, +and told me to look out and not shoot a star, and +then he asked me if I used chalk for powder, and +said he could supply a superior brand of chalk +cheap. I thought at first that he was merely joking, +but I didn’t like the look in his eyes, and then +I made up my mind he was not right in his head, +and I left him. When I came back that way, an +hour later, he was gone, and I have never seen +him since.”</p> +<p>“Where was this, Ben?”</p> +<p>“Up in the woods, where the brook branches off +by the two big rocks.”</p> +<p>“I know the spot!” cried Roger. “Say, maybe +he hangs out around there.”</p> +<p>“No, we hunted around there yesterday, but +he wasn’t to be seen. I don’t believe he has any +settled place of abode, but just roams through the +woods.”</p> +<p>“Poor fellow! Somebody ought to catch him +and place him in a sanitarium,” was Dave’s comment.</p> +<p>Various matters were talked over until the +supper hour, and then the boys filed down to the +dining-hall. Here our hero met more of his +school chums, including Gus Plum, who had once +been his enemy but who was now quite friendly, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +and little Chip Macklin, who in days gone by had +been Plum’s toady.</p> +<p>“Very glad to see you back, Dave!” cried Gus. +“And, say, you’ve certainly made a hero of yourself,” +he added, warmly.</p> +<p>“It was great, what you and Roger and Phil +did,” added Chip, in deep admiration.</p> +<p>Everybody was glad to see Dave back, and +after supper it was all he could do to get away +from many of his friends. But he managed it at +last, and he, Roger, and Phil went upstairs, to +put away their things and get out their schoolbooks.</p> +<p>“We have got to study and that is all there +is to it,” said Dave, firmly. “Fun is one thing +and getting ready to graduate is another. We +have got to get down to the grind, boys.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” answered the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“But don’t forget what old Haskers said,” +grumbled Phil. “He’ll make us sweat, just you +wait and see!”</p> +<p>“‘Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof,’” +quoted Dave. “I think we can get through if we +buckle down hard.”</p> +<p>“Supposing Mr. Dale and the other teachers +pin us down as old Haskers did?” demanded +Phil.</p> +<p>“They won’t do it,” declared our hero. “Take +my word for it, Mr. Dale will give us a month, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +if we want it. I know him. And the others +will do the same.”</p> +<p>“Well, maybe we can get through, if that’s the +case,” said the shipowner’s son, slowly. “Just +the same, I think old Haskers the meanest man +alive.”</p> +<p>The following morning, after a good night’s +rest, the boys went to their various classes. As +Dave had predicted, Mr. Dale, the head teacher, +treated them with all possible consideration, +for he loved boys and understood them thoroughly. +The other teachers were likewise very +lenient.</p> +<p>“Old Haskers is the one stumbling-block,” +said Roger. “Dave, maybe we had better see +Doctor Clay about him.”</p> +<p>“Not much!” cried Phil. “We’ve got a club +we can use on Haskers. Why not use it?”</p> +<p>“You mean, go to him and tell him we know +about that Mrs. Breen affair, and that we will +expose him if he doesn’t let up on us, Phil?” said +Dave.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Do you think that is a—well, a gentlemanly +thing to do?”</p> +<p>“It’s what old Haskers would do, if he was in +our place.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps. But I’d rather not do it. Let my +uncle’s lawyer try to collect that money without +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +our appearing in the case. We have had trouble +enough in the past with Haskers. Let us buckle in +and study up. I am sure we can get through,” +added Dave, earnestly.</p> +<p>“All right,” growled Phil; but his manner +showed that he was not satisfied.</p> +<p>Two days went by, and the boys settled down to +the regular routine of the school. The lessons to +be made up were exceedingly hard, and Dave +found he had to study almost constantly to do +what was required of him.</p> +<p>“But I am going to make it!” he murmured, +setting his teeth hard. “I am not going to disappoint +the folks at home.”</p> +<p>One afternoon the three chums had a very hard +lesson in Latin to do. It was a clear, sunshiny +day and they had one of the windows wide open +to let in the fresh air. Dave and Roger were +bending over their books when they heard a sudden +exclamation from Phil.</p> +<p>“I’ll be hanged if I’m going to do it!”</p> +<p>And then of a sudden a Latin book was hurled +across the room, to land on a bureau, just missing +the glass.</p> +<p>“Hello!” cried Dave, raising his head. +“What’s wrong now?”</p> +<p>“I’m not going to do it!” cried Phil, stretching +himself. “It’s an outrage and I won’t submit +to it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></p> +<p>“You mean this boning away for Haskers?” +queried Roger.</p> +<p>“Just that,” answered the shipowner’s son. +“Why can’t he treat us as fairly as the other +teachers did? It wouldn’t hurt him a bit to give +us more time.”</p> +<p>“Phil, what’s the use of talking it over again?” +asked Dave. “I thought we had settled it once +for all.”</p> +<p>“No, I won’t stand it, I tell you,” cried Phil, +stubbornly. “He can’t make a pack-mule of me.”</p> +<p>“Well, then, speak to the doctor about it,” +advised Roger.</p> +<p>“I don’t have to speak to the doctor,” stormed +Phil; and walking over to a rack, he caught up his +cap and marched from the room.</p> +<p>“He is certainly in a bad humor,” was Dave’s +comment. “I am afraid he’ll put his foot into it, +Roger.”</p> +<p>“So am I. He’s been aching to get back at old +Haskers ever since he put all this studying up to +us.”</p> +<p>“Do you know, Ben is just as angry at Haskers +as Phil is?” went on our hero, after a pause, during +which both had hoped that their close chum +would return. But Phil had stalked down the +stairs and out of the building.</p> +<p>“Ben?”</p> +<p>“Yes, so he told me this noon.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></p> +<p>“What about?”</p> +<p>“Oh, Ben talked in class and old Haskers +penalized him heavily—gave him a lot of extra +Latin to do. It nearly broke Ben up.”</p> +<p>“You told Ben about that Breen affair, didn’t +you?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Maybe he and Phil will both go to Haskers +about it.”</p> +<p>“I hope not, Roger. I don’t think it is just +the right thing to do—to use that as a club over +Haskers to get him to let us off. I don’t like +that kind of dealing.”</p> +<p>“Neither do I. But it’s just what such a mean-spirited +fellow as Haskers deserves. He has +never treated us squarely since we came here. I +think this school would be a good deal better off +without him, even if he is well educated.”</p> +<p>Dave heaved a deep sigh. He was on the point +of replying, but changed his mind. He took up +his book again, and soon was trying his best to +study. Roger followed his example.</p> +<p>But both boys made slow progress. Each was +thinking about Phil. What would be the outcome +of their headstrong chum’s actions?</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_PHIL_AND_BEN_MAKE_A_MOVE' id='CHAPTER_VII_PHIL_AND_BEN_MAKE_A_MOVE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>PHIL AND BEN MAKE A MOVE</h3> +</div> +<p>So far Dave and Nat Poole had not met face +to face. Our hero had seen the money-lender’s +son a number of times, but Nat had always been +with some of his cronies and had, apparently, not +taken any notice.</p> +<p>But on the morning following the conversation +just recorded, the pair came face to face in one +of the narrow hallways.</p> +<p>“Good-morning, Nat,” said Dave, pleasantly.</p> +<p>“Morning,” grumbled the other student. He +was about to pass Dave, but suddenly changed his +mind. “So you got back, eh?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ve been back several days.”</p> +<p>“I heard that Link Merwell got away from +you?”</p> +<p>“That is true.”</p> +<p>“Humph! If I had the chance to nab him +that you had, I’d not let him get away.”</p> +<p>“We held Jasniff.”</p> +<p>“Maybe you let Merwell go on purpose,” continued +the money-lender’s son, shrewdly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p> +<p>“Not at all, Nat. He gave us the slip, clean +and clear.”</p> +<p>“Humph!” Nat paused for a moment. “I +got word from my dad that you almost smashed +him up on the road with your auto.”</p> +<p>“Hardly as bad as that.”</p> +<p>“He is going to make your uncle pay for the +damage done.”</p> +<p>“It wasn’t much.”</p> +<p>“It was enough. You want to be more careful +with your car after this. You auto fellows +seem to think you own the whole road.”</p> +<p>“What about your motor-boat, Nat?” asked +Dave. He remembered how the money-lender’s +son had played more than one mean trick while +running the craft.</p> +<p>“Oh, my boat is all right, Dave Porter!” +sniffed Nat; and then he moved on, with a scowl +on his face.</p> +<p>“The same old Nat,” soliloquized our hero. +“Too bad that he can’t make himself a bit more +agreeable.”</p> +<p>That day was a particularly trying one in the +classroom. The lessons were unusually hard, +and Dave had all he could do to pass, especially +in those studies presided over by Professor Haskers. +Roger made one miss in his Latin and +poor Phil made several, while Ben Basswood’s +recitation was a complete failure. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span></p> +<p>As was usual with him, Job Haskers was exceedingly +dictatorial, and said some cutting things that +brought the blood to Dave’s face.</p> +<p>“You must do much better than this, Porter +and Morr,” said the professor. “Otherwise I +shall have to place you in the next lower class. +You, Lawrence and Basswood, have failed so utterly +that I will have to take your cases under +immediate consideration. The class is dismissed.”</p> +<p>“The old bear!” growled Ben, under his +breath.</p> +<p>He looked inquiringly at Phil, and the latter +nodded knowingly.</p> +<p>Dave did not know what to do. He did not +wish Phil and Ben to get into further trouble, yet +he did not know how to interfere. Besides, he +was suffering himself and hardly knew what to do +on his own account.</p> +<p>“This is the worst yet,” cried Roger, as he and +our hero came out of the classroom side by side.</p> +<p>“There go Phil and Ben,” returned Dave. +“Roger, they have got some plan up their sleeve.”</p> +<p>“I believe you, Dave. I wish I knew what to +do. Shall we go to Doctor Clay?”</p> +<p>“I’ve been thinking of that, Roger. But I +hate to do it. I’d rather fight my own battles.”</p> +<p>“So would I.”</p> +<p>“Let us wait until to-morrow and see if things +don’t take a turn for the better.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span></p> +<p>“All right, just as you say. But it’s a shame, +the way old Haskers treats us,” grumbled the +senator’s son.</p> +<p>In the meantime Phil and Ben had gone on +ahead. Both were exceeding angry and consequently +not in a frame of mind to use their best +judgment.</p> +<p>“It’s an outrage!” burst out the shipowner’s +son. “An outrage, Ben! I am not going to stand +for it!”</p> +<p>“Well, I am with you, Phil,” returned Ben. +“But what can we do?”</p> +<p>“You know what I spoke about last evening?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“How about doing that?”</p> +<p>“I am with you, if you are game.”</p> +<p>“Of course we may make old Haskers tearing +mad.”</p> +<p>“We’ll only face him with the truth, won’t +we?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Then, let us do it. And the sooner the +better.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but we must see him alone.”</p> +<p>“Of course. I think we can manage it just before +supper—when he goes up to his room to fix +up for the evening.”</p> +<p>The two chums talked the affair over for a +long time. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p> +<p>“I don’t suppose Dave will like this,” ventured +Ben, presently. “What do you think?”</p> +<p>“He isn’t hit as hard as we are,” answered +Phil, lamely. “If he was—well, he might look +at things in a different light.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” answered Ben. But deep down +in his heart he was afraid that our hero would +not altogether approve of what he and Phil proposed +to do.</p> +<p>The boys took a walk, and purposely kept out +of the way of Dave and Roger. They did not +return to the Hall until fifteen minutes before the +first bell for supper. Then they came in by a side +entrance and passed swiftly up the stairs and +along the hallway to the room occupied by Job +Haskers.</p> +<p>“Who is it?” asked the teacher, sharply, when +Phil had knocked.</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, it is Phil Lawrence,” was the +reply. “Ben Basswood is with me. We wish to +see you.”</p> +<p>“Ah, indeed!” said the teacher, coldly. “You +come to me at an unusual hour. You may see me +to-morrow, before class.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, we wish very much to see +you now,” put in Ben.</p> +<p>“We have got to see you,” added Phil, warmly.</p> +<p>There was no immediate reply to this. The +boys heard Job Haskers moving around the room +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +and heard him shut a bureau. Then the door was +flung open.</p> +<p>“You insist upon seeing me, eh?” demanded +the professor, harshly.</p> +<p>“We do, Mr. Haskers,” returned Phil, boldly.</p> +<p>“Very well, young gentlemen; step in.” And +Job Haskers glared at the boys as he stood aside +for them to enter.</p> +<p>“We came to see you, sir, about those Latin +lessons,” went on Phil, finding it just then difficult +to speak. He realized that Job Haskers +was in no humor for being lenient.</p> +<p>“Well?” shot out the professor.</p> +<p>“We feel that we are not being treated fairly,” +put in Ben, believing he should not make Phil do +all the talking.</p> +<p>“Not treated fairly? I believe I am the best +judge of that, Basswood.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, I hate to say it, but you are a +hard-hearted man!” cried out Phil, the door being +closed, so that no outsider might hear. “You +are not giving us a fair chance. The other teachers +have given me and Dave Porter and Roger +Morr several weeks in which to make up those lessons +we missed while we were away. You wish +to give us only a week.”</p> +<p>“And you didn’t give me a fair chance to make +up,” added Ben.</p> +<p>“See here, who is master here, you or I?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +demanded Job Haskers, drawing himself up. +“Boys, you are impudent! I will not stand it!”</p> +<p>“Yes, you will stand it,” cried Phil, throwing +caution to the winds. “All we ask is a fair deal, +and you have got to give it to us. We’ll make up +those lessons, if you’ll give us a fair amount of +time. I don’t intend to be put in a lower class for +nothing.”</p> +<p>“And I’m not going to stand it either,” came +from Ben.</p> +<p>“Ha! this to me?” snarled Job Haskers. +“Take care, or I’ll have you dismissed from the +Hall!”</p> +<p>“If you try it, it will be the worst day’s work +you ever did, Mr. Haskers,” warned the shipowner’s +son.</p> +<p>“What, you threaten me?”</p> +<p>“We are going to make you give us a fair +chance, that is all. And if you’ll do that, we’ll give +you a fair chance.”</p> +<p>“Why, why—you—you––” The irate instructor +knew not for the moment how to proceed.</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, I think you had better listen +to me,” pursued Phil.</p> +<p>“I have listened to all I care to hear.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, you haven’t. There is much more—and +you had better listen closely—if you care at +all for your reputation here at Oak Hall.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span></p> +<p>The professor stared at the boy and grew a +trifle pale.</p> +<p>“Wha—what do you—er—mean by that, +Lawrence?”</p> +<p>“I hate very much to bring this subject up, +Mr. Haskers, but you practically compel me to +do it. If you will only promise to give us a fair +chance to make up our lessons, I won’t say a word +about it.”</p> +<p>“Just what do you mean?” faltered the +teacher.</p> +<p>“I know something about your doings in the +past—doings which are of no credit to you. If +you disgrace Ben and me by degrading us in +classes, we’ll disgrace you by telling all we know.”</p> +<p>“And what do you know?” demanded Job +Haskers, hastily.</p> +<p>“We know a good deal,” put in Ben.</p> +<p>“All about your dealing with the poor widow, +Mrs. Breen,” added the shipowner’s son. “How +you still owe her for board, and how you borrowed +money to publish a book that was never issued.”</p> +<p>“Who told you that?” cried Job Haskers, +stepping back in consternation. “Who told you +that I had borrowed money from her, and that I +owed her for board?”</p> +<p>“Never mind who told us,” said Ben. “We +know it is true.”</p> +<p>“And you went to that lawyer, eh?” stormed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +Professor Haskers. “You got him to threaten +a suit, didn’t you? I got his letter only this +afternoon.”</p> +<p>“We went to no lawyer,” answered Phil.</p> +<p>“I know better! I see it all now! You want +to get me into trouble—to disgrace me here!” +Job Haskers began to pace the floor. “It is—er—a +mistake. I meant to pay that lady but it—er—slipped +my mind. And the book has been +issued, but the publishers have not—er—seen fit +to push it, that is why you and the world at large +have not heard of it.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, we haven’t told anybody about +this,” went on Phil, pointedly. “You can settle +with that lawyer, whoever he may be,—and we’ll +not say a word to anybody—that is, providing +you’ll give us a fair chance in our lessons.”</p> +<p>“Ha! maybe you wish me to pass you without +an examination,” cried the teacher, cunningly.</p> +<p>“No, sir!” answered Phil, stoutly.</p> +<p>“We simply ask for more time, that is all,” +added Ben. “We don’t ask any favor. We can +make up the lessons if you will give us as much +time as the other teachers would give us.”</p> +<p>“You have not told anybody of this—this—er—affair +of Mrs. Breen?”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“It is all a mistake, but I should not like it to +get abroad. It would hurt my reputation a great +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +deal. I shall settle the matter in the near future. +I do not owe that lady as much as the lawyer says +I do,—but that is not your affair.” Job Haskers +continued to pace the floor. “Now about your +lessons,” he continued, after a pause. “If I—er—thought +that I had really been too hard on +you––” He paused.</p> +<p>“You certainly have been hard,” said Phil.</p> +<p>“And if you really need more time––”</p> +<p>“Give us two weeks more and we’ll be all +right,” put in Ben.</p> +<p>“And if—er—if I should decide to do that, you +will—er––”</p> +<p>“We’ll make good—and keep our mouths +shut,” finished Phil.</p> +<p>“Very well. I will think it over, young gentlemen, +and let you know to-morrow morning, +before class. And in the meantime––”</p> +<p>“We won’t say a word to anybody,” said Ben, +with a little grin.</p> +<p>“So be it;” and Job Haskers bowed. “There +is the supper-bell. You may go now. Come to +me just before class to-morrow,” he added; and +then the two students passed out of the room, and +the teacher shut the door after them.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_AN_UNUSUAL_COMPACT' id='CHAPTER_VIII_AN_UNUSUAL_COMPACT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>AN UNUSUAL COMPACT</h3> +</div> +<p>“He’ll do it—he is bound to do it!” cried +Ben, as he and Phil hurried down to the dining-room.</p> +<p>“I think so myself, Ben,” answered the shipowner’s +son. But, for some reason, he did not +seem as joyful over the outcome of the interview +as might have been expected.</p> +<p>“He won’t dare let this news become public +property,” went on the other student. “He is +too afraid of public opinion.”</p> +<p>“Ben, he thinks we got that lawyer to take +the case up.”</p> +<p>“You told him we hadn’t.”</p> +<p>“But he didn’t believe it—I could tell that by +his manner. And, Ben, do you know, after all, +this looks to me as if we had, somehow, bribed +him to be easy on us,” continued Phil, with added +concern.</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t bother your head about that, Phil. +We only asked for what is fair, didn’t we?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but––” And then the shipowner’s son +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +did not finish, because he did not know what to +say. In some manner, Phil’s conscience troubled +him, and he wondered what Dave and Roger +would say when they heard of what had occurred.</p> +<p>During the meal that followed but little was +said by any of the boys. Once or twice our hero +looked at Phil, but the latter avoided his gaze. As +soon as the repast was over, Phil rushed outside, +followed by Ben; and that was the last seen of +the pair until it was time to go to bed.</p> +<p>“They have been up to something, that is certain,” +was the comment of the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Well, we can only wait and see what turns +up,” answered Dave, thoughtfully. “I don’t +think I care to ask them.”</p> +<p>In the morning, when Dave got up he looked +over to where Phil was in the habit of sleeping. +The bed was empty, and the shipowner’s son was +gone.</p> +<p>“Dressed half an hour ago,” said another of +the dormitory inmates.</p> +<p>“Went off again with Ben, I’ll wager,” murmured +Roger. Ben was in another room, across +the hallway, that term.</p> +<p>Dave and Roger had been hard at work the +evening before, doing their best to make up the +lessons they had missed while away from the +school. They doubted if Phil and Ben had studied +at all. With considerable curiosity they awaited +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +the opening of the morning classes, to see what +might happen. They felt that something was “in +the air.”</p> +<p>Just before the last bell rang Phil and Ben appeared, +their faces wreathed in smiles.</p> +<p>“It’s all right, fellows!” cried the shipowner’s +son, merrily. “It’s all right!”</p> +<p>“Now we can take our time making up those +missed lessons,” added Ben.</p> +<p>“You went to old Haskers?” queried Roger.</p> +<p>“We sure did,” answered the shipowner’s +son.</p> +<p>“And told him about––” began our hero.</p> +<p>“Never mind what we told him, Dave,” interrupted +Phil. “We did tell him that we wanted +to make up the lessons but couldn’t do it in the +time he had allotted. He argued it, at first, but +now he has agreed to give us the same time Mr. +Dale did, three weeks.”</p> +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Roger.</p> +<p>“You, or all of us?” asked our hero.</p> +<p>“All of us. I think he’ll speak to you at +recess—he said he would.”</p> +<p>“What did he say when you—when you mentioned +Mrs. Breen?” asked Roger.</p> +<p>“Hush, somebody might hear you!” returned +Phil, in a whisper. “We have promised to keep +that quiet.”</p> +<p>“But the poor woman––” began Dave. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span></p> +<p>“Will get her money, never fear. A lawyer +has already written about it, and old Haskers +says he will pay up. He claims it is all a mistake. +But he doesn’t want anybody at Oak Hall to +get wind of it.”</p> +<p>There was no time to say more, and evidently +neither Phil nor Ben felt in the humor to discuss +the affair. The early morning lesson proceeded +as usual, but it was noticed that Professor Haskers +was much subdued in his manner towards +the students.</p> +<p>“Porter and Morr, I wish to speak to you at +recess,” said he, coming down to where the two +lads sat. “Kindly remain here.”</p> +<p>When the other students had left the classroom +the instructor came to our hero and his +chum and motioned for them to follow him to +a private room close by.</p> +<p>“I wish to speak to you about the lessons you +are to make up,” said Job Haskers, after clearing +his throat several times. “I understand that you +want more time.”</p> +<p>“We would like to have more time, yes,” answered +Dave, briefly, and looking the teacher full +in the face.</p> +<p>“Can you do the lessons in three weeks?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Mr. Haskers,” said Dave, and Roger +nodded his head.</p> +<p>“Then you can take that much time. But, remember, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +I shall expect you to—to—er—to make +up the lessons.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” came from both students.</p> +<p>“If you need more time—or any assistance—possibly +I can arrange it,” went on Job Haskers, +eagerly.</p> +<p>“Thank you, if you give me three weeks I am +sure I can make up the lessons to your satisfaction, +Mr. Haskers,” came from our hero.</p> +<p>“And so can I,” added the senator’s son. +“Anyway, I’ll try my level best.”</p> +<p>“Very well, then, we will let it stand that way.” +There was a pause and the instructor bit his lip +several times. “By the way, I—er—understand +that there is a very unpleasant rumor going around +concerning me,” he proceeded. “It is all a mistake +which I shall try to clear up without delay. +I trust that you will not attempt to—er—to circulate +that rumor any further.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, do you mean about that affair +with Mrs. Breen?” demanded Dave, bluntly.</p> +<p>“Yes. I have already explained to Lawrence +and Basswood that it is a mistake, and that the +widow will be paid all that is due her. But if +this should—er—be mentioned here––” The +teacher stopped short and looked sharply at Dave +and Roger.</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, let us understand each other,” +answered Dave, quickly. “I have no desire whatever +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +to get you or anybody else into trouble. Nor +do I want to ask you for any favors. I think +we are justly entitled to more time in which to +make up those lessons, and now that you have +granted that time, I shall do my best to make good. +As for that Mrs. Breen affair, I think that poor +old lady ought to have her money. I understand +some lawyer is going to try to collect it for her. +Well, if you settle the matter I shall feel very +glad; and you can rest assured that I will not say +a word about the matter to anybody in this school, +or anywhere else.”</p> +<p>“You—er—you give me your word on that, +Porter?” demanded the instructor, eagerly.</p> +<p>“I do.”</p> +<p>“And you, Morr?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Who else is there who knows about this—er—unpleasant +affair?”</p> +<p>“Phil Lawrence and Ben Basswood,” answered +Roger.</p> +<p>“No other students?”</p> +<p>“Not that I know of.”</p> +<p>“Very well, then.” Job Haskers drew a breath +of relief. “See that you keep your word. And +about the lessons—if three weeks are not long +enough, I may—er—be able to give you a little +more time.”</p> +<p>“That time will be enough,” replied Dave. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span></p> +<p>“We’ll make it with ease,” added Roger.</p> +<p>“Then that is settled, and you may go,” and +so speaking, Job Haskers left the room. The two +boys followed him, and went out on the campus.</p> +<p>“How did you make out?” questioned Phil, as +he ran up to them.</p> +<p>“We got our time,” answered Roger.</p> +<p>“But let me tell you one thing,” said Dave. +“After this Haskers is going to hate us worse +than ever.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see why,” declared the shipowner’s +son. “I think we are letting him off mighty +easy.”</p> +<p>“He feels as if he had been forced into doing +what we want,” went on Dave. “I think he looks +at it as if you had used that Mrs. Breen incident +as a club over him.”</p> +<p>“Well, it was a club in one sense, Dave.”</p> +<p>“I know it, Phil, and, although I am glad we +have won out and gotten that extra time, still I am +sorry that you and Ben went to him as you did.”</p> +<p>“Humph! did you think I was going to sit still +and be put back into a lower class?”</p> +<p>“Maybe it might have been better if you had +gone to Doctor Clay.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think so,” replied Phil, shortly; and +then the school-bell rang again and all the boys +had to go to their next classes.</p> +<p>In spite of the cloud that thus hung over the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +affair, every one of the chums was glad of the +extra time in which to make up the lost lessons. +Not one of them had to grind away as hard as before, +and Dave took a little time off, in which +to send a letter to his father and another to +Jessie.</p> +<p>The next day was warm and pleasant and, after +school-hours, Roger proposed to Dave that they +take a walk up the woods road back of the school.</p> +<p>“All right, a walk in the woods will do us +good,” was the answer. “Shall we ask some of +the others?”</p> +<p>“If you wish,” and in the end Phil went along, +and also Buster Beggs and Gus Plum.</p> +<p>“My, but I had a run-in with old Haskers +this afternoon,” said the stout youth. “I came +close to carrying the matter to the doctor.”</p> +<p>“What was it about?” questioned Dave.</p> +<p>“Oh, nothing at all, to my way of thinking. I +went to the library to get a book and he accused +me of wasting my class time. He was very ugly. +I won’t stand for much more of it,” grumbled +Buster.</p> +<p>Dave said no more, but he and Roger exchanged +glances. Evidently the irate instructor +was going to “take it out of somebody,” as the +saying goes.</p> +<p>The boys walked on and on, along the road, +until Oak Hall was left far behind. Soon Buster +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +forgot his troubles, and the crowd were chatting +gayly of many things.</p> +<p>“Call for candidates for the baseball team +next Saturday,” announced Gus Plum. “I hope +we get up a team this year that knocks the spots +out of Rockville Military Academy and all the +other institutions we cross bats with.”</p> +<p>“Are you going to try for the nine this term, +Gus?” questioned Dave.</p> +<p>“Sure! Why not? You’ll try, won’t you?” +went on the big youth, in surprise.</p> +<p>“No, I’ve decided not to go into athletics this +term, Gus. I want to give all my time to my +studies.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but the nine needs you, Dave!” put in +Buster. “I heard some of the fellows talking +about it only yesterday. They had you slated +for your old position.”</p> +<p>“Well, if Gus wants to play, he can fill the +box,” answered Dave.</p> +<p>“But we need more than one pitcher,” insisted +Buster.</p> +<p>“There are plenty of new students coming +along. I hear Thomas is a good one, and so is +Ennis.”</p> +<p>“I’m not going to play, either,” said Roger. +“I want to graduate with all the honors possible.”</p> +<p>“How about you, Phil?”</p> +<p>“I—I think I’ll play,” answered the shipowner’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +son, rather lamely. “I’ll see about it +later.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t want to neglect my studies,” +said Gus Plum. “But I have done some hard +work this winter and so I am pretty well ahead. +I didn’t lose time going to Cave Island, you +know,” he added, with a smile.</p> +<p>“Well, it was worth it—losing that time,” answered +Dave. “It saved Mr. Wadsworth from +ruin, and that’s a good deal.”</p> +<p>“If the baseball nine––” commenced Buster, +and then broke off short. “What was that?” +he demanded, as a cry from a distance broke on +the ears of all.</p> +<p>“It’s a woman’s voice!” cried Dave, quickly. +“She is calling for help! Come on and see what +is the matter!” And he started off on a run, +with his school chums at his heels.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_THE_KING_OF_SUMATRA' id='CHAPTER_IX_THE_KING_OF_SUMATRA'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>THE KING OF SUMATRA</h3> +</div> +<p>The boys had been traveling along a broad +highway that ran to a town on the other side of +the woods. The trees were thick and so were the +bushes, with here and there a big rock, covered +with the dead vines of the summer previous.</p> +<p>At one point some distance ahead was an old +stone house, standing where another road ran in +the direction of the river. This house had not +been inhabited for years, and the doors and windows +were gone, and the falling of the chimney +had smashed in a large portion of the sloping +roof.</p> +<p>It was from in front of the old house that +the cries for assistance came, and now the boys +heard two voices, both somewhat girlish in +tones.</p> +<p>“Oh, let me go! Please, let me go!” came, +wildly.</p> +<p>“You have no right to touch us!” was added, +in another voice.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” called out Dave, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +loudly as he could. But in his mind there had +already flashed an inkling of what was going on. +For some time past the wild man of that locality +had not shown himself. Now, perhaps, he was +again at his old tricks.</p> +<p>“Oh, make him go away!” screamed a girlish +voice, and then, as our hero made a turn of +the road, he caught sight of two girls standing +near the old stone house. Back of them was another +figure, that of a tall, powerful man, but +this figure disappeared as if by magic, behind the +ancient building.</p> +<p>“Why, Miss Rockwell!” exclaimed Dave, as +he recognized a young lady from town whom he +knew well. “And you, too, Miss Feversham! +What is the matter?”</p> +<p>“That man—the wild man!” panted Vera +Rockwell. “He—he—stopped us!”</p> +<p>“He wanted our purses!” added Mary Feversham, +the other young lady.</p> +<p>“Where is he?” asked Roger and Phil, in a +breath.</p> +<p>“He just ran behind the house—I saw him,” +answered Dave. “Did he hurt you any?” he +went on, anxiously, for he and Vera and Mary +were good friends.</p> +<p>“No, but he—he scared us so!”</p> +<p>“Let us go after him!” put in Phil, quickly. +He had taken Mary Feversham out a number of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +times and the two were well acquainted. “Come +on!” and he started around the house.</p> +<p>All of the others were not slow to follow. Behind +the building they came upon a mass of weeds +and bushes and in their midst the remains of an +old well, long since caved in. What had once +been a path led to the side road before mentioned.</p> +<p>“That’s the way he must have gone—down the +side road!” cried the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“Supposing we see if we can catch him?” +suggested Dave. “But somebody ought to go +back, and stay with the girls,” he added thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“I’ll go back,” answered Phil. He was only +too glad of a chance to talk to Mary, not having +seen her for a long time.</p> +<p>“If that fellow comes back, whistle for us,” +advised Roger.</p> +<p>Dave was already on the side road with Buster +and Gus beside him, and the senator’s son quickly +followed.</p> +<p>“Don’t go too fast or I—I can’t ke—keep up +with you!” panted Buster.</p> +<p>“Do you see anything of him, Dave?” queried +Roger.</p> +<p>“Not yet, but there is a turn just ahead. When +we make that we’ll be able to see almost to the +river.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>All of the students sped on, the stout lad doing +his best to keep up with the others. They +reached the turn with Dave a step or two in +advance.</p> +<p>“There he is!”</p> +<p>“I see him! Say, he’s wild-looking enough!”</p> +<p>“He is making for the river!”</p> +<p>“We ought to be able to catch him. We are +four to one.”</p> +<p>Dave and Roger pressed forward with increased +speed and poor Buster fell somewhat behind.</p> +<p>“I’m coming as fa—fast as I ca—can!” +blurted out the fat youth. “Go on—I’ll get there +sooner or later!”</p> +<p>“Pick up a stick, if you see one,” cried Dave, +to Roger and Gus. “We may have a hot fight on +our hands. That man ought to be in jail, or in +an asylum.”</p> +<p>As they sped along, the three kept their eyes +open and each presently armed himself with a fair-sized +club. The wild man was running like a deer, +pausing occasionally to turn and brandish his long +arms at them savagely. They could see that his +clothing was in tatters and that his hair and beard +were long and unkempt.</p> +<p>“Hi! stop!” called out Dave, although he had +but little hope of causing the man to halt. “We +want to talk to you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span></p> +<p>“Go back! Beware! Go back, or it will be +the worse for you!” called the wild man. “Leave +the King of Sumatra alone!”</p> +<p>“The King of Sumatra?” repeated Roger. +“Say, he’s crazy sure enough, to imagine himself +that!”</p> +<p>The boys continued after the wild man and +urged him to stop. But instead of heeding them, +he ran on the faster.</p> +<p>“He’s an athlete, when it comes to running,” +remarked Dave, as he tried in vain to get closer +to the man.</p> +<p>“They say crazy people are always strong,” +answered the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“I’ve go—got to gi—give up!” panted Gus, +and came to a halt. “Go—got a pa—pain in my +side!” And he put his hand over his hip.</p> +<p>“All right, we’ll manage alone!” cried Roger. +“I don’t think we can catch that fellow anyway,” +he added, half under his breath.</p> +<p>Another turn of the woodland road brought the +Leming River into plain view, at a point where +the stream was both wide and deep. The wild +man kept sprinting along and it was impossible +for the boys to draw any closer to him.</p> +<p>“Shall we threaten to shoot him if he won’t +stop?” asked Roger. Neither of the lads carried +firearms.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +<img src='images/illus-002.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 319px; height: 500px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 319px;'> +<span style='font-variant:small-caps'>“Stop!” cried Dave.</span>—<i>Page 87.</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“No, he might do some shooting on his own +account,—if he is armed. Come on, he may fall, +or something like that.”</p> +<p>Inside of three minutes more the wild man +gained the shore of the river and disappeared +around a point of rocks and brushwood.</p> +<p>“Be careful, Dave,” warned Roger. “He +may spring out at you with a club.”</p> +<p>“I’ve got my eyes open,” was the ready reply.</p> +<p>Both advanced with caution, and soon came up +to the nearest of the rocks. With clubs ready for +use, the two youths continued to move forward. +Then they came to a sudden halt. The wild man +was no longer in sight. What had become of +him?</p> +<p>“Maybe he ran into the woods,” suggested +Roger.</p> +<p>“Perhaps, but—hark!” And our hero held +up his hand. From a distance came a scraping +sound, like something sliding over a rock.</p> +<p>“Look!” called out the senator’s son. “He’s +got a boat! There he goes!”</p> +<p>Dave turned in the direction pointed out by his +chum. Both saw a small rowboat sweep out from +under some brushwood. In it stood the wild +man, using an oar as a pole on the rocks.</p> +<p>“Stop!” cried Dave. “Stop, or you may be +sorry for it.”</p> +<p>“You can’t catch the King of Sumatra!” +yelled the wild man, and flourished his arms and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +made a hideous face at them. Then he sat down +on the middle seat of the craft, placed the oars in +the rowlocks, and commenced to row rapidly +down the stream.</p> +<p>“Well, that’s the end of the chase,” remarked +Dave, in some disgust.</p> +<p>“That’s right, since we haven’t any boat,” returned +Roger. “Wonder where he got that +craft? I don’t think he bought it.”</p> +<p>“It isn’t likely. Probably he saw it somewhere +along the river and simply appropriated it.” And +this proved to be true.</p> +<p>The boys watched the wild man until a bend of +the stream hid rower and craft from view. Then +they turned back in the direction of the old stone +house.</p> +<p>“Did you get him?” demanded Buster, who +was waiting with Gus at the point where he had +dropped out of the race.</p> +<p>“No,” answered Roger, and told why.</p> +<p>“He sure is a cute one,” went on the stout +youth. “Say, if they don’t catch him soon, he’ll +have this whole neighborhood scared to death.”</p> +<p>The students soon reached the old house. +Here they found the two girls and Phil, the latter +with a heavy stick in his hand, ready for any +emergency. The girls had calmed down a little, +but were still much agitated.</p> +<p>“We were to come home in my uncle’s carriage,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +said Mary Feversham. “But the horse +got a lame foot and so we decided to walk. We +had heard of the wild man, but did not think we +would meet him. Oh, it was dreadful!”</p> +<p>“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” asked Dave.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, but he frightened us so! He danced +around us and caught us by the arms, and he +wanted us to give him money! Oh, it was dreadful!”</p> +<p>“He ought to be in an asylum,” said Dave. +And then he and Roger related how the wild man +had escaped.</p> +<p>“I sha’n’t go out alone again,” said Vera +Rockwell. “That is, not until that man is captured.”</p> +<p>“We’ll take you both home,” said Phil, +promptly, looking at Mary.</p> +<p>“But we don’t want to keep you from what +you were going to do,” said Vera.</p> +<p>“Oh, we were only out for a walk,” replied +Dave. “We’ll walk to town with you. Maybe +we’ll hear something more of this strange fellow.”</p> +<p>All turned back on the road that led close to +Oak Hall, and after discussing the wild man from +various points of view, the conversation turned +to other matters. The girls told of what they had +been doing during the past holidays and asked the +boys about themselves.</p> +<p>“I heard that that horrid Jasniff is under arrest,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +said Vera to Dave. “I am glad of it. It +is a pity that Merwell got away.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” answered our hero. “But, somehow, +I sometimes think that Link Merwell will +turn over a new leaf.”</p> +<p>Vera looked back, to make sure that none of the +others were near.</p> +<p>“Just like Mr. Plum, I suppose you mean,” +she whispered. “Oh, it was splendid, what you +did for him, Dave!”</p> +<p>“Oh, I didn’t do much for Gus.”</p> +<p>“My brother thinks you did. He heard the +whole story. It was brave and noble of you, it +was indeed!” And Vera’s face showed her earnestness.</p> +<p>“Well, Gus has turned out a nice fellow. I +wish Merwell would turn out as good.”</p> +<p>“But he helped to take those jewels.”</p> +<p>“That is true—and that will always be a black +mark against him,” said Dave, soberly.</p> +<p>Soon all reached the outskirts of Oakdale and +there, at one of the corners, the boys left the girls.</p> +<p>“Pretty late!” cried Gus Plum, consulting the +watch he carried. “We’ll have to hike back +lively, if we don’t want to be marked up for +tardiness.”</p> +<p>“We can get an excuse, if we tell about the +wild man,” said Buster. “I’ve hurried all I’m +going to.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></p> +<p>“We’ll certainly have a yarn to spin when we +get back to the school,” was Phil’s comment.</p> +<p>At the entrance to the campus the boys, who +were a little late, met the first assistant to Doctor +Clay. As my old readers know Mr. Dale was +as pleasant as Job Haskers was disagreeable.</p> +<p>“Had a fine walk, boys?” he asked, with a +smile.</p> +<p>“We had an adventure,” answered Dave, and +then he and his chums told what it was.</p> +<p>“Well! well! that wild man again,” mused the +instructor. “This is getting truly serious. I was +hoping he would leave this neighborhood. And +so he calls himself the King of Sumatra? That +is strange.”</p> +<p>“It certainly is strange,” answered Dave.</p> +<p>But how strange, our hero was still to find out.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_NAT_POOLE_WANTS_TO_KNOW' id='CHAPTER_X_NAT_POOLE_WANTS_TO_KNOW'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>NAT POOLE WANTS TO KNOW</h3> +</div> +<p>That evening Dave was on his way to the +school library, to consult a certain work of reference, +when he ran into another student who suddenly +grasped him by the shoulder. It was rather +dark where the pair confronted each other, and +for the instant our hero did not recognize the +fellow.</p> +<p>“What do you want?”</p> +<p>“I want to speak to you for a minute, Dave +Porter,” said the other, in a voice that trembled +a trifle.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s you, Nat,” answered Dave, as he +recognized the son of the Crumville money-lender. +“What do you want?” He rather +imagined that the youth wished to pick another +quarrel with him.</p> +<p>“I—I want to talk in private with you,” returned +Nat, and looked around, to see if anybody +else was near.</p> +<p>“What about?”</p> +<p>“You were out walking this afternoon and met +that wild man, so I heard.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></p> +<p>“That is true.”</p> +<p>“You tried to catch him, didn’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Roger Morr, Buster Beggs, Gus Plum, +and I did our best to collar him, but he was +too fast for us. He ran down to the river, got +into a rowboat, and rowed away.”</p> +<p>“So I heard. And I heard something else,” +continued the boy from Crumville. “When you +called to the man to stop he answered back, didn’t +he?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Will you please tell me what he said?” And +Nat’s voice had an eager ring in it.</p> +<p>“He told us to beware and go back, or we’d +get into trouble.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t he say something more than that?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, a great deal more.”</p> +<p>“He called himself something, didn’t he?”</p> +<p>“Yes. Look here, Nat, what is this to you? +Why are you so interested?” queried Dave, for +he could easily perceive that the other youth was +more than ordinarily anxious to know the particulars +of what had occurred.</p> +<p>“I—I—want to—er—know, that’s all. Did +he call himself anything?”</p> +<p>“Yes; he thinks he is the King of Sumatra.”</p> +<p>“He called himself that?” asked Nat, with increased +excitement. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></p> +<p>“Yes, two or three times. But see here, +Nat––”</p> +<p>“Will you please tell me how he looked? Was +he tall and rather thin?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“And what kind of hair did he have?”</p> +<p>“Brownish-red, as near as I could make out, +and very long. And he had rather a long beard +and a large nose,” went on our hero.</p> +<p>At this brief but accurate description of the +wild man, Nat Poole paled a trifle and uttered +something of a gasp.</p> +<p>“Whe—where did he go?” he faltered.</p> +<p>“He rowed down the river just as fast as he +could. I don’t know how far he went, for the +bend hid him from view,” answered our hero. +“Say, Nat, do you think you know that man?”</p> +<p>“Why—er—know him? Of course I don’t +know him,” was the stammered-out reply. “But +I—I think—maybe—I’ve met him.” And then, +to avoid further questioning, Nat Poole hurried +away. Our hero could do nothing but stare +after him.</p> +<p>“That is mighty queer,” mused Dave, as he +turned into the library to consult the reference +book. “If Nat doesn’t know the man, why was +he so anxious? He acted scared to death when +I said the fellow called himself the King of +Sumatra.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></p> +<p>Dave remained in the school library for a half +an hour and then joined Phil, Roger, and the +others in Dormitory Number Twelve. He found +the students discussing a talk Roger had had with +Nat Poole only a few minutes before.</p> +<p>“Nat called me out in the hallway,” said the +senator’s son. “He wanted to know all about +that wild man, and he wanted to make dead certain +that he had called himself the King of +Sumatra.”</p> +<p>“That is certainly queer—on top of what happened +to me,” said Dave, and told of the interview +he had had.</p> +<p>“Well, this is a puzzle,” declared Phil, slowly. +“What do you make of it, Dave?”</p> +<p>“I think Nat imagines he knows the wild +man.”</p> +<p>“That’s the way it looks to me,” added the +senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Say, you don’t suppose that wild man has +anything to do with the fellows Nat used to +train with—Jasniff, Merwell, and that crowd?” +questioned Buster.</p> +<p>“It’s possible, but I don’t think so,” returned +our hero. “He is surely a crazy individual, and +as nobody around here seems to know him, he +must be a stranger to these parts.”</p> +<p>“But what would make Nat so interested?” +asked little Chip Macklin. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p> +<p>“Give it up,” answered Roger.</p> +<p>“Maybe he has something to tell, but won’t tell +it to us,” ventured Phil. “He may go right to +the doctor.”</p> +<p>But if Nat Poole went to the master of Oak +Hall, or to anybody else at that institution, the +boys did not hear of it. He asked no more questions +about the wild man, and when any of our +friends came near him he immediately walked +away, thus avoiding an interview.</p> +<p>The proposed meeting of the athletic committee +of Oak Hall was held on Saturday afternoon in +the gymnasium and was well attended. An even +twenty names had been put up for the regular +baseball nine of the institution. Of these names, +fifteen belonged to old students and five were +those of newcomers to Oak Hall. As he had said +he would do, Gus Plum had handed in his name, +and so had Sam Day and some of our other +friends. But Dave, Phil, and Roger were conspicuous +by their absence.</p> +<p>“See here, Porter, you’re going to play, aren’t +you?” asked the former manager.</p> +<p>“No,” answered Dave, quietly but firmly.</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>“Well, in the first place, I have too many back +lessons to make up, and in the second place, I hope +to graduate this coming June, and I want to make +a record for myself, if possible.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></p> +<p>“But you can do that and play on the nine, +too,” urged the manager.</p> +<p>“I don’t think so. I’d like to play,” continued +our hero, wistfully, “but I don’t see how I +can.”</p> +<p>“This isn’t fair, Porter. We really need you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it isn’t as bad as that,” returned Dave, +with a faint smile. “You’ve got Gus Plum to +pitch, and some of the others. There are plenty +of good ball-players here this term.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know about that,” answered the manager, +with a grave shake of his head. “I wish +you’d come in.”</p> +<p>“Not this year,” said Dave; and then the two +separated.</p> +<p>Phil and Roger were likewise urged to try for +the nine, but they followed Dave’s example. +Then a tentative nine was formed, with Gus Plum +as pitcher, and also a “scrub” nine, with one of +the newcomers to Oak Hall in the box. Practice +was to start on Wednesday afternoon of the +following week.</p> +<p>“Too bad we couldn’t take part,” sighed the +shipowner’s son. “I’d like to wallop the Rockville +Military Academy fellows just once more!”</p> +<p>“Well, we can’t have everything,” answered +Dave. “I want to graduate with the highest possible +honors, and that means plenty of hard +boning.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p> +<p>“And a fellow can’t bone and play ball, too,” +added Roger.</p> +<p>“We might—if old Haskers would be easy +on us,” murmured the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“Now, see here, Phil,” said Dave, almost +sternly. “Don’t ask Haskers for any more favors. +He has done all that can reasonably be +expected of him.”</p> +<p>“All right, just as you say,” grumbled Phil. +But his manner showed that he was not altogether +satisfied.</p> +<p>A week went by, and Dave and his chums applied +themselves diligently to their studies. During +that time nothing more was heard of the wild +man, and the excitement concerning that strange +individual again died down. But the folks living +in the vicinity of the woods back of Oak Hall +were on their guard, and it was seldom that +women and children went out alone.</p> +<p>The boys were doing very well in their studies, +and Dave received warm words of encouragement +from Andrew Dale. He had made up nearly all +the back lessons imposed upon him by Job Haskers, +and that dictatorial teacher could not help +but be satisfied over the showing made. Roger +was also doing well, and poor Phil was the only +one who was backward, although not enough to +cause alarm.</p> +<p>“I’ll get there, but it comes hard,” said the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +shipowner’s son. “I should have asked old Haskers +for more time.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you do it,” answered Dave. “Come, +I’ll help you all I can.” Which he did.</p> +<p>One day there came a letter to our hero which +gave him great satisfaction. He read it carefully, +and then hastened off to communicate the +news to Phil, Roger, and Ben.</p> +<p>“It’s a letter from my Uncle Dunston,” he +explained to his chums. “If you will remember, +he said he would hire a lawyer to take up +that Mrs. Breen case against Professor Haskers.”</p> +<p>“What does he say?” asked Roger, quickly.</p> +<p>“I will read it to you,” answered Dave, and +read the following:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:1.0em; '>“You will be glad to learn that Mr. Loveland, +one of our lawyers, has gotten a settlement for +Mrs. Breen out of your teacher, Mr. Haskers. +He had quite a time of it, Haskers declaring that +he did not owe as much as the widow said he did. +The lawyer said he would sue for the full amount, +and then Haskers came to see him. Mr. Loveland +says the teacher wanted to learn who had +hired him to stir the matter up, and mentioned +some students’ names. But the lawyer gave him +no satisfaction at all, and at last Haskers paid up +in full, took his receipt, and got out. I instructed +Mr. Loveland to put his charges for services on +our bill, so Mrs. Breen will get the entire amount +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +collected. I am going to take it to her in person, +and see to it that it is wisely invested for her +benefit.”</p> +<p>“Good!” cried the senator’s son. “That will +help the old lady a great deal.”</p> +<p>“Say, I’ll bet old Haskers was sore when he +forked over that money,” was Ben’s comment. +“No wonder he’s been looking like a thundercloud +lately.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and he’d let out on us—if he dared,” +said Phil. “But he doesn’t dare.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be too sure of that, Phil,” said Dave, +seriously. “There is no telling what he will do—later +on, when he thinks this affair has blown +over.”</p> +<p>“Humph! I am not afraid of him,” declared +Phil, recklessly.</p> +<p>“If he tries any of his games we’ll expose him,” +added Ben.</p> +<p>“Better go slow,” advised Roger. He, too, +felt that Job Haskers might become very vindictive.</p> +<p>Spring was now at hand, and a week later came +the first baseball game of the season. It was a +contest with Esmore Academy from Daytonville +and held on the Oak Hall grounds. Quite a +crowd was present, including some of the town +folks. Gus Plum was in the pitcher’s box for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +Hall, and Sam Day was on first base, and Chip +Macklin on third.</p> +<p>“I hope we win!” cried Dave.</p> +<p>“I hope you do,” answered Vera Rockwell, +who was present with some other girls. “But +why are you not playing?” she went on.</p> +<p>“Not this term,” said our hero, with a smile, +and then he spoke of his studies.</p> +<p>“I suppose it is noble of you to give up this +way,” she said. “But—I’d like to see you play.”</p> +<p>The contest proved a well-fought one, and was +won by Oak Hall by a score of eight runs to five. +At the conclusion there was a great cheering for +the victors.</p> +<p>“This means bonfires to-night!” cried Roger, +as the gathering broke up.</p> +<p>“Yes, and a grand good time!” added Buster +Beggs.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_BONFIRE_NIGHT_AT_THE_HALL' id='CHAPTER_XI_BONFIRE_NIGHT_AT_THE_HALL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>BONFIRE NIGHT AT THE HALL</h3> +</div> +<p>It was certainly a night long to be remembered +in the annals of Oak Hall,—and for more +reasons than one.</p> +<p>At the start, several bonfires were lit along the +bank of the river, and around these the students +congregated, to dance and sing songs, and “cut +up” generally. None of the teachers were present, +and it was given out that the lads might +enjoy themselves within reasonable bounds until +ten o’clock.</p> +<p>“Let’s form a grand march!” cried Gus Plum. +“Every man with a torch!”</p> +<p>“Yes, but don’t set anything on fire,” cautioned +Roger.</p> +<p>“Say, that puts me in mind of a story,” came +from Shadow. “A fellow went into a powder +shop to buy some ammunition. He was smoking a +pipe, and the proprietor––”</p> +<p>“Whoop! Hurrah for Shadow!” yelled somebody +from the rear, and the next instant the +story-teller of the Hall found himself up on a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +pile of barrels which had not yet been set on +fire.</p> +<p>“Now then, tell your yarns to everybody!” +came the cry.</p> +<p>“Speak loud, Shadow!”</p> +<p>“Give us all the details.”</p> +<p>“Tell us the story about the old man and the +elephant.”</p> +<p>“No, give us that about the old maid and the +mouse.”</p> +<p>“Let us hear about the fellow who was shipwrecked +on the Rocky Mountains.”</p> +<p>“Or about how the fellow who couldn’t swim +fell into a flour barrel.”</p> +<p>“Say, what do you take me for?” roared +Shadow. “I don’t know any story about the +Rocky Mountains, or a flour barrel either. If you +want to hear––”</p> +<p>“Sure we do!”</p> +<p>“That’s the very yarn we’ve been waiting +for!”</p> +<p>“Say, Shadow, won’t you please tell it into a +phonograph, so I can grind it out to my grandfather +when I get home?”</p> +<p>“Is that the story that starts on a foggy night, +at noon?”</p> +<p>“No, this one starts on a dusty day in the middle +of the Atlantic.”</p> +<p>“Say, if you fellows want me to tell a story, say +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +so!” grumbled Shadow. “Otherwise I’m going +to get down.”</p> +<p>“No! no! Tell your best yarn, Shadow.”</p> +<p>“All right, then. Once two men went into a +shoe store––”</p> +<p>“Wow! That’s fifty years old!”</p> +<p>“I heard that when a child, at my grandson’s +knee.”</p> +<p>“Tell us something about smoke, Shadow!”</p> +<p>“And fire. I love to hear about a fire. It’s +so warm and––”</p> +<p>“Hi! let me get down! Do you want to burn +me up?” yelled the story-teller of the school, +suddenly, as, chancing to glance down, he saw +that the barrels were on fire. “Let me down, I +say!” And he made a leap from the barrels +into the midst of the crowd.</p> +<p>Shadow landed on the shoulders of Nat Poole, +and both went down and rolled over. In a spirit +of play some of the students near by covered the +rolling pair with shavings and straw. Shadow +took this in good part and merely laughed as he +arose, but the money-lender’s son was angry.</p> +<p>“Hi, who threw those dirty shavings all over +me?” he bawled. “I don’t like it.”</p> +<p>“Don’t mind a little bath like that, Nat!” +called one of the students.</p> +<p>“But I do mind it. The shavings are full of +dirt, and so is the straw. The dirt is all over me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></p> +<p>“Never mind, you can have a free bath, Nat,” +said another.</p> +<p>“I’ll lend you a cake of soap,” added a third.</p> +<p>“I don’t want any of your soap!” growled the +money-lender’s son. “Say, the whole crowd of +you make me sick!” he added, and walked off, in +great disgust.</p> +<p>“Phew! but he’s touchy,” was the comment of +one of the students. “I guess he thinks he’s better +than the rest of us.”</p> +<p>“Let’s give him another dose,” came the suggestion, +from the rear of the crowd.</p> +<p>“Shavings?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and straw, too. Put some down his +neck!”</p> +<p>“Right you are!”</p> +<p>Fully a dozen students quickly provided themselves +with shavings and straw, both far from +clean, and made after Nat, who was walking +up the river-front in the direction of the boathouse.</p> +<p>Before the money-lender’s son could do anything +to defend himself, he found himself seized +from behind and hurled to the ground.</p> +<p>“Now then, give it to him good!” cried a +voice, and in a twinkling a shower of shavings, +straw, and dirt descended upon poor Nat, covering +him from head to foot.</p> +<p>“Hi! let up!” spluttered the victim, trying to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +dodge the avalanche. But instead of heeding his +pleadings the other students proceeded to ram a +quantity of the stuff into his ears and down his +collar. Nat squirmed and yelled, but it did little +good.</p> +<p>“Now then, you are initiated into the Order +of Straw and Shavings!” cried one merry student.</p> +<p>“Just you wait, I’ll get square, see if I don’t,” +howled Nat, as he arose. Then he commenced to +twist his neck, to free himself from the ticklish +straw and shavings.</p> +<p>“Come on and have a good time, old sport!” +howled one of his tormentors; and then off the +crowd ran in the direction of the bonfires, leaving +Nat more disgusted than ever.</p> +<p>“I’ll fix them, just wait and see if I don’t!” +stormed the money-lender’s son to himself, and +then hurried to the Hall, to clean up and make +himself comfortable.</p> +<p>In the meantime the march around the campus +had begun, each student carrying a torch of some +kind. There was a great singing.</p> +<p>“Be careful of the fire,” warned Mr. Dale, as +he came out. “Doctor Clay says you must be +careful.”</p> +<p>“We’ll take care!” was the cry.</p> +<p>The marching at an end, some of the boys ran +for the stables and presently returned with Jackson +Lemond, the driver of the school carryall, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +commonly called Horsehair, because of the hairs +which clung to his clothing.</p> +<p>“Come on, Horsehair, join us in having a +good time.”</p> +<p>“Give us a speech, Horsehair!”</p> +<p>“Tell us all you know about the Wars of the +Roses.”</p> +<p>“Or how Hannibal crossed the Delaware and +defeated the Turks at the Alamo.”</p> +<p>“I can’t make no speech,” pleaded the carryall +driver. “Just you let me go, please!”</p> +<p>“If you can’t make a speech, sing,” suggested +another. “Give us Yankee Doodle in the key +of J minor.”</p> +<p>“Or that beautiful lullaby entitled, ‘You +Never Miss Your Purse Until You Have to Walk +Home.’ Give us that in nine flats, will you?”</p> +<p>“I tell you I can’t make a speech and I can’t +sing!” shouted out the driver for the school, desperately.</p> +<p>“How sad! Can’t speechify and can’t sing! +All right, then, let it go, and give us a +dance.”</p> +<p>“That’s the talk! A real Japanese jig in five-quarter +time.”</p> +<p>There was a rush, and in a twinkling poor +Horsehair was boosted to the top of a big packing-case, +that had been hauled to the spot as fuel +for one of the bonfires. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span></p> +<p>“The stage!” announced one of the students, +with a wave of his hand. “The World-Renowned +Horsehairsky will perform his celebrated Dance +of the Hop Scotch. Get your opera glasses +ready.”</p> +<p>“What’s the admission fee?”</p> +<p>“Two pins and a big green apple.”</p> +<p>“I can’t dance—I ain’t never danced in my +life!” pleaded the victim. “You let me go. +I’ve got to take care o’ my hosses.”</p> +<p>While he was speaking Buster Beggs had come +up behind Horsehair and placed something attached +to a dark string on the box, between the +driver’s feet. It was an imitation snake, made of +rubber and colored up to look very natural.</p> +<p>“Oh my, look at the snake!” yelled several, +in pretended alarm.</p> +<p>“Where? where?” yelled Horsehair.</p> +<p>“There, right between your feet! He’s going +to bite you on the leg!”</p> +<p>“Take care, that’s a rattler sure!”</p> +<p>“If he bites you, Horsehair, you’ll be a dead +man!”</p> +<p>“Take him off! Take him off!” bawled the +carryall driver, and in terror he made a wild leap +from the packing-box and landed directly on the +shoulders of two of the students. Then he +dropped to the ground, rolled over, got up, and +ran as fast as his legs could carry him in the direction +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +of the stables. A wild laugh followed him, +but to this he paid no attention.</p> +<p>“Well, we are certainly having a night of it,” +remarked Dave, after the fun had quieted down +for a moment. He spoke to Roger.</p> +<p>“Where is Phil?” asked the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Went off with Ben, I think.”</p> +<p>“Where to?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> +<p>“It’s queer how much they keep together +lately; isn’t it?” continued Roger.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know. Of course that affair +with Haskers may have something to do with it,” +answered our hero, slowly.</p> +<p>“I wish Haskers would leave this school, +Dave.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it won’t make much difference to us, if +we graduate, whether he stays or not.”</p> +<p>“I know that. But, somehow, I don’t think +he is a good man to have here, even if he is a +learned instructor. He never enters into the +school spirit, as Mr. Dale does.”</p> +<p>“Well, we can’t all be alike.”</p> +<p>“Would you keep him, if you were in Doctor +Clay’s shoes?”</p> +<p>“I hardly think so. Certainly not if I could +find another teacher equally good.”</p> +<p>The boys walked on until they found themselves +at the last bonfire of the line, close +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +to where the school grounds came to an end. +Here was a hedge, and beyond were the woods +reaching up from the river.</p> +<p>“Nobody down by this bonfire,” remarked +Dave. “Say, this is careless work,” he added. +“The wind might shift and set the woods on +fire.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t think they’d start a fire so far from +the others,” answered his chum.</p> +<p>“Let us kick it into the water,” suggested our +hero, and this they started to do, when, unexpectedly, +a voice hailed them, and they saw a student +sitting in a tree that grew in the hedge which +separated the campus from the woods.</p> +<p>“Let that fire alone!” the youth called, angrily.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s Nat Poole!” exclaimed Roger, in +a low voice. “Whatever is he doing in that +tree?”</p> +<p>“I am sure I don’t know,” returned Dave.</p> +<p>“Is he alone?”</p> +<p>“He seems to be.”</p> +<p>“Do you hear what I say?” went on the +money-lender’s son. “Leave that fire alone.”</p> +<p>“Did you build it?” asked Dave.</p> +<p>“I did, and I want you to leave it alone.”</p> +<p>“All right, Nat, if you say so,” answered +Roger. “We thought it had been abandoned and +that it might set fire to the woods.”</p> +<p>To this Nat Poole did not reply. Plainly he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +was annoyed at being discovered in his present +position. Dave and Roger looked around, to see +if anybody else was in the vicinity, and then, +turning, walked in the direction of the other bonfires.</p> +<p>“What do you make of that, Dave?” asked +the senator’s son, presently.</p> +<p>“It looked to me as if Nat was waiting or +watching for somebody, Roger.”</p> +<p>“So it did. The question is, Who was it?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. But I’ve got something of an +idea.”</p> +<p>“Some of the students?”</p> +<p>“No. That wild man.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_PLANS_FOR_A_SPREAD' id='CHAPTER_XII_PLANS_FOR_A_SPREAD'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>PLANS FOR A SPREAD</h3> +</div> +<p>“That wild man?” exclaimed the senator’s +son, stopping short to stare at Dave.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“How do you make that out?”</p> +<p>“Because I think Nat is interested in the fellow, +although just how I won’t pretend to say. +But you’ll remember how excited he got when he +found out that the wild man called himself the +King of Sumatra.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I see. You think he knows the fellow +and thought that the bonfire might attract him to +the place.”</p> +<p>“Yes. I’ve heard it said that crazy folks were +sometimes attracted by the sight of fire. Maybe +Nat has heard the same and wants to see if it will +work in the case of this man.”</p> +<p>“Shall we go back and see what happens?” +suggested Roger.</p> +<p>Dave mused for a moment.</p> +<p>“Would it be just right to play the spy, +Roger?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span></p> +<p>“Well, this isn’t playing the spy in the ordinary +sense of the term, Dave. That wild man +ought to be locked up.”</p> +<p>“But it may not be the wild man he is looking +for.”</p> +<p>“Oh, let us go back a little while, anyway,” +urged the senator’s son.</p> +<p>They retraced their steps until within fifty feet +of the bonfire and then walked to the shelter of +the hedge. They thought they had not been seen, +but they were mistaken.</p> +<p>“Humph! so you think you are going to spy +on me, after all!” cried a voice, and Nat Poole +came towards them, with a deep frown on his +face.</p> +<p>“It’s rather queer you are in the tree,” answered +Roger, somewhat sharply.</p> +<p>“It’s my affair, not yours, Roger Morr!” +roared the money-lender’s son. Then, without +another word, he walked to the bonfire, kicked +the blazing sticks into the river, and strode off +in the direction of the Hall.</p> +<p>“He’s good and mad,” was Roger’s comment.</p> +<p>“And we didn’t learn anything, after all,” +added our hero.</p> +<p>Dave and his chum rejoined the merry throng +at the other bonfires. But the celebration in +honor of the baseball victory was practically at +an end, and a little later the students retired, to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +skylark a little in the dormitories, and then settle +down for the night.</p> +<p>A week passed, and Dave stuck to his studies +as persistently as ever. During that time he sent +off several letters, and received a number in return, +including one from Jessie, which he treasured +very highly and which he did not show to his +chums.</p> +<p>“Here is news of Link Merwell,” said Luke +Watson, one day, as he came along with a letter. +“It’s from a friend of mine who knows Merwell. +He says he saw Link in Quebec, Canada, at one +of the little French hotels in the lower town.”</p> +<p>“What was Merwell doing?” questioned +Dave, with interest.</p> +<p>“Nothing much, so my friend writes. He says +Link was dressed in a blue suit and wore blue +glasses, and he thought his hair was dyed.”</p> +<p>“Evidently doing what he could to disguise +himself,” was Phil’s comment.</p> +<p>“My friend writes that he saw Merwell only +one evening. The next day he was missing. He +made inquiries and says he was at the hotel under +the name of V. A. Smith, of Albany, New York.”</p> +<p>“He does not dare to travel around under his +own name,” remarked Shadow. “Say, that puts +me in mind of a story,” he went on, brightening +up. “Once a chap changed his name, because––” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span></p> +<p>“Say, cut it out,” interrupted Phil. “We want +to hear about Merwell.”</p> +<p>“There isn’t any more to tell,” said Luke. +“My friend tried to find out where he had gone +but couldn’t.”</p> +<p>“He must be having a lonely time of it—trying +to keep out of the hands of the law,” murmured +Dave.</p> +<p>“And maybe he hasn’t much money,” said +Buster. “His father may have shut down on +him.”</p> +<p>Gus Plum listened to all this conversation without +saying a word. But down in his heart the +former bully of Oak Hall was glad that he had +cut away from Merwell and Jasniff, and turned +over a new leaf, and he resolved then and there +that, come what might, he would never again turn +aside from the path of right and honor.</p> +<p>“Say, why don’t you listen to my story?” +pleaded Shadow, and then related a somewhat +rambling tale of a man who had changed his +name and, later on, lost some property because +of it.</p> +<p>Another day slipped by and it was one of particular +interest to Dave and Roger, for in the morning +they made up the last of the back lessons +imposed upon them by Job Haskers. They had +done exceedingly well, but the harsh teacher gave +them little credit. Phil and Ben had still three +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +days’ work, but Professor Haskers said nothing +of this.</p> +<p>“He doesn’t dare,” declared the shipowner’s +son.</p> +<p>“That’s right,” chuckled Ben. “We could +give him a good black eye before this whole +school if we wanted to.”</p> +<p>Dave had already finished up the back lessons +for the other teachers, so he was now free to +spend his time on what was ahead of him. He +was as enthusiastic as ever to make a record for +himself, and pitched in with a will, and his enthusiasm +was caught by Roger, who also resolved to +do his best.</p> +<p>“Whoop! hurrah! What do you think of +this?” came from Phil, late one afternoon, after +the mail had been distributed. “Somebody hold +me down! I guess I’m going to fly! Or maybe +I’m only dreaming!” And he began to caper +around gayly.</p> +<p>“What is it all about, Phil?” asked Dave. +“Hit your funny-bone?”</p> +<p>“Money, boys, money! That’s what it is +about,” replied the shipowner’s son. “I’ve got +five thousand dollars, all my own!”</p> +<p>“Five thousand dollars!” gasped Buster.</p> +<p>“All your own?” queried Gus Plum.</p> +<p>“Where did you get it?” asked another.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s this way,” answered Phil, when he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +could calm down a little. “About two years ago +a great-uncle of mine died, leaving considerable +money. He was interested in various enterprises +and his death brought on legal complications and +some litigation. He left his money to a lot of +heirs, including myself. My father and I never +thought we’d get anything—thought the lawyers +and courts would swallow it all. But now it seems +that it has been settled, and yours truly gets five +thousand dollars in cash.”</p> +<p>“When do you get it, Phil, right away?” asked +Buster.</p> +<p>“Well,—er—I, of course, don’t get it until I +am of age. It’s to go in the bank.”</p> +<p>“Oh!”</p> +<p>“Won’t you get any of it until then?” asked +Shadow. “Your dad might let you have a little, +just to celebrate––”</p> +<p>“That’s just it—just what he has done!” cried +Phil. “I’ve got–– But wait,” cried the shipowner’s +son, interrupting himself. “I’ll plan this +thing out. You shall all be my guests later on,” +he added, mysteriously.</p> +<p>“Will you give a spread?” asked Chip +Macklin.</p> +<p>“Don’t ask questions, only wait,” returned +Phil. And that was all he would say on the point, +although he talked freely about his inheritance.</p> +<p>The next morning Phil and Ben were seen in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +earnest conversation, and that afternoon the two +boys left the school as soon as they could get +away, bound on an errand to Oakdale.</p> +<p>“We ought to get a dandy spread for a dollar +or a dollar and a half a head,” said Phil, as they +hurried along. “And twelve at a dollar and a +half will be only eighteen dollars.”</p> +<p>“The music will cost something,” said Ben.</p> +<p>“Yes, I’m counting on two pieces, a harp and +a violin, for ten dollars. That’s the price Professor +Smuller charges.”</p> +<p>The boys were bound for the Oakdale Union +House, a new hotel which had just been opened +by a man named Jason Sparr. It was a nice +resort, without a bar, and catered to the better +class of people, including the students at Oak +Hall and at the Military Academy.</p> +<p>The boys found the hotel proprietor glad to +see them, and willing to set any kind of a spread +that they were able to pay for. Trade was not +yet brisk, and Jason Sparr said he would do his +best to serve them. He was a smooth, oily man, +and a fellow who wanted all that was coming to +him.</p> +<p>“I can set you an elegant table for eighteen +dollars for twelve,” said he. “I’ll give you oysters, +fish, two kinds of meat, several vegetables, +salad, ice-cream, coffee, and also nuts, cake, olives, +celery, and other fixings.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></p> +<p>“That’s the talk!” cried Phil, enthusiastically. +“Just make a nice spread of it, and you can have +all our trade in the future.”</p> +<p>“You’ll be well pleased,” answered Jason +Sparr.</p> +<p>“Can we have a private dining-room?”</p> +<p>“To be sure—the blue room over yonder,” and +the hotel man showed the boys the apartment.</p> +<p>“I want some flowers, too,” said Phil. “You +can put two dollars’ worth of roses on the +table.”</p> +<p>“Very well—that will make an even twenty +dollars.”</p> +<p>“When do you want me to pay?”</p> +<p>“Such spreads are usually paid for in advance,” +answered Jason Sparr, shrewdly. He did +not intend to take any chances with schoolboys.</p> +<p>“All right, here is your money,” answered the +shipowner’s son, and brought forth one of the +two crisp twenty-dollar bills his father had mailed +to him, with the good news of his fortune.</p> +<p>“Tell him about the music,” suggested Ben.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, I thought I’d have Professor +Smuller furnish some music—harp and violin.”</p> +<p>“Fine! They can sit in the alcove, and we’ll +put some of our palms around them,” returned +Jason Sparr.</p> +<p>“Remember, this is for next Saturday night, +seven o’clock sharp,” said Phil. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></p> +<p>“I’ve got it down,” returned the hotel proprietor, +as he wrote in his book.</p> +<p>“And don’t say anything to anybody about it. +I want to surprise my friends.”</p> +<p>“Very well, mum’s the word,” and the hotel +man looked very wise and knowing.</p> +<p>Leaving the place, Phil and Ben sought out the +home of Professor Smuller, a violinist, who, with +a friend who played the harp, often furnished +music for dances and other occasions.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes, I can furnish music,” said the +violinist. “Just tell me what you want.” Business +was slow and he was glad to get any sort of +an engagement.</p> +<p>The matter was explained, and the professor +promised to be on hand and bring the harpist +with him. He said he could play anything the +students desired, including the well-known school +songs. He would fill the engagement for the boys +for eight dollars, although his regular price was +ten. But he would have to have cash in advance.</p> +<p>Again Phil paid out his money, and then, the +business concluded, he and Ben left the professor’s +home and hurried along the road leading to Oak +Hall.</p> +<p>“Have you made up your list yet?” asked +Ben, when nearing the school.</p> +<p>“Not quite. I’ll have Dave and Roger and +Shadow and Buster, of course. I’ll have to leave +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +out some fellows, but that can’t be helped. I +can’t afford a spread for the whole school.”</p> +<p>“Of course you can’t.”</p> +<p>“I think I’ll have Luke and Sam, and maybe +Gus and Chip.”</p> +<p>As the boys drew closer to the school Ben had +to stop to fix his shoe. Both sat down on some +rocks, at a turn in the road. They were about +to go on again when somebody made the turn +of the road, coming from the town. It was Nat +Poole.</p> +<p>“Hello! you been to town?” cried Ben, good-naturedly.</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered the money-lender’s son. +“Haven’t I a right to go if I want to?” he +added, and then hurried on ahead of them.</p> +<p>“Rather peppery,” mused Ben. “Say, Phil, +there is one fellow you won’t invite, and I know it.”</p> +<p>“Right you are, Ben,” was the ready answer. +“All I ask of Nat Poole is, that he leave me +alone.”</p> +<p>But Nat was not to leave Phil alone, as events +were quickly to prove.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_THE_CABIN_ON_THE_ISLAND' id='CHAPTER_XIII_THE_CABIN_ON_THE_ISLAND'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND</h3> +</div> +<p>“Dave, come on out for a row. You haven’t +been on the river this year.”</p> +<p>It was Gus Plum who spoke. He was out in +one of the craft belonging to Oak Hall, and hailed +our hero as the latter was strolling along the +river-bank.</p> +<p>“All right, Gus!” Dave cried, cheerily. “I +don’t know but that a try at the oars will do me +good, after the hard studying I’ve been doing.”</p> +<p>“You are bound to get a high-water mark this +term, aren’t you?” went on Gus Plum, as he +brought the rowboat up to the dock, so that Dave +might get in.</p> +<p>“I’d like to graduate with honor, yes.”</p> +<p>“What are you going to do after you leave +here, Dave?” went on the big youth, as the +two rowed up the river.</p> +<p>“I don’t know yet. Have you made up your +mind?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I think I’ll go into business, but I am not +sure.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p> +<p>“You won’t try for college?”</p> +<p>“No. You see, I don’t make much of a fist at +learning, so what’s the use? But I love business—buying +and selling things.”</p> +<p>The two boys continued at the oars until the +vicinity of Oak Hall was left far behind.</p> +<p>“If we only had a power-boat we might run +up to Squirrel Island,” remarked Gus.</p> +<p>“Perhaps Nat Poole will lend you his motor-boat,” +suggested our hero, with a little grin.</p> +<p>“Humph! I’d not ask him,” returned the big +youth, promptly. “I am done with Nat Poole. +I want to stick to my new friends.” And the +former bully of the school fairly beamed on +Dave, who had done so much to make him reform.</p> +<p>“Have you seen the motor-boat this season, +Gus?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Nat got it out two days ago. I think +he is on the river now.”</p> +<p>The boys rowed on, until they came to a bend +where there was something of a cove. As they +rounded the point they heard the steady put-put! +of a gasoline engine not far off.</p> +<p>“There is Nat’s craft now!” cried our hero, +and pointed ahead.</p> +<p>“He’s all alone,” was Plum’s comment. “He +can’t have many friends these days, or he’d have +some of them along.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></p> +<p>“I’d hate to be without friends, Gus, shouldn’t +you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed! But it’s Nat’s own fault. If +he’d only drop his important airs and be more +sociable, he’d get along all right.”</p> +<p>On and on rowed the two students. It was +a clear, balmy day, and they hated to return to +the school until it was absolutely necessary.</p> +<p>“Let us row around Smith Island,” suggested +our hero, mentioning a small place in the middle +of the stream, so named after a farmer who +owned it. It was a rocky and somewhat barren +spot, and seldom visited by anybody but fishermen.</p> +<p>“All right, but we want to beware of the +rocks,” cautioned the big youth.</p> +<p>The rowboat was headed up the stream, and +soon they came in sight of the island. On one +side were a number of bushes, overhanging the +river.</p> +<p>“Hello! look there!” cried Dave, a few minutes +later, and pointed to the bushes.</p> +<p>“What do you see?”</p> +<p>“A motor-boat. I think it is Nat Poole’s.”</p> +<p>“Is that so? What brought him here?” questioned +Gus, with interest.</p> +<p>“I am sure I don’t know. But it’s his boat, +I am sure of that,” went on Dave, after another +look at the craft. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></p> +<p>“See anything of Nat?”</p> +<p>“No, the boat is empty.”</p> +<p>“Let us row in a little closer and see what he +is doing,” suggested Gus.</p> +<p>“He’ll say we were spying on him.”</p> +<p>“Humph! Haven’t we as much right as he +has to visit the island?”</p> +<p>“Of course.”</p> +<p>“Then what is the use of keeping away? He +may be waiting to play some trick, or something +like that.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I think not, Gus. Probably he just +visited the island out of curiosity. But I’ll go in +if you say so.”</p> +<p>Slowly, so as to avoid the many rocks in that +vicinity, the two students brought the rowboat +close up to the motor-craft. They looked into the +bushes and along the rocks beyond, but saw nothing +of Nat.</p> +<p>“Shall we call to him?” asked Gus.</p> +<p>“What for? I don’t want to see him.”</p> +<p>“Neither do I. His boat is tied good and +fast. He must expect to stay on the island quite +a while.”</p> +<p>The two boys rowed on, past the motor-boat. +Then, as they turned a point of rocks, Dave +gave a start.</p> +<p>“Well, of all things!”</p> +<p>“What is it, Dave?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span></p> +<p>“Look yonder—in between those bushes!”</p> +<p>“Why, it’s a rowboat.”</p> +<p>“Exactly, Gus, and do you see how it is painted, +drab with blue stripes?”</p> +<p>“Of course—a pretty ugly boat, I think.”</p> +<p>“Gus, that is the very rowboat used by that +wild man—the one he was in when he got away +from us that day!”</p> +<p>“Do you really mean it?” gasped the big boy, +staring hard at the craft.</p> +<p>“I certainly do—I’d know that boat in a hundred. +I never saw another just like it.”</p> +<p>“If that’s the case, maybe the wild man is on +the island!”</p> +<p>“Just what I was thinking,” answered Dave. +“And I was thinking, too, that––” He stopped +short.</p> +<p>“What?”</p> +<p>“Don’t you remember how Nat was so anxious +to know all about the wild man? And how upset +he seemed to be when he heard that the fellow +called himself the King of Sumatra?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I remember that. Do you think he +came here to find the man?” demanded Gus, +quickly.</p> +<p>“It looks so to me.”</p> +<p>“My gracious, Dave, I think you are right! +Say, there is something mysterious about all +this!” cried Gus. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span></p> +<p>“Exactly.”</p> +<p>“Let us go ashore by all means and see what +Nat is up to,” urged the big youth.</p> +<p>Dave was more than willing, now that he had +discovered the rowboat used by the wild man. +Perhaps this island was the home of that mysterious +individual. If so, what was the money-lender’s +son doing there? Had he business with +the strange creature?</p> +<p>“Maybe we’d better not make any noise,” suggested +Gus, as the boat was turned in to a convenient +landing-place. To this Dave did not +reply, but they landed as silently as possible. +Then the rowboat was hauled up out of sight +between the bushes.</p> +<p>From the craft used by the wild man a rude +path ran up from the shore to the rocks beyond. +A short distance from the shore the boys saw the +marks of a wet foot, coming from the direction +where lay the motor-boat.</p> +<p>“That was made by Nat—he got his left foot +wet,” said Gus.</p> +<p>“I think so myself,” answered our hero.</p> +<p>They followed the marks left by the wet foot +over the rocks. They headed for the upper end +of the island, where there was a small grove of +straggly cedar trees. Here the marks faded +away completely.</p> +<p>“Well, we know he came this way, anyhow,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +remarked Gus. “He can’t be very far off, for +the island isn’t very big.”</p> +<p>“I see a rude log cabin!” exclaimed Dave, +and pointed through the cedars. “Maybe that is +where the wild man lives.”</p> +<p>“If it is, we want to go slow, Dave. He may +attack us.”</p> +<p>“But what of Nat, if he is there?”</p> +<p>“He may know the man and have some influence +over him.”</p> +<p>“I hardly think anybody could have any influence +over that man. He is as crazy as can be, +and not to be trusted.”</p> +<p>The two youths approached the old log cabin +slowly, keeping as much as possible in the shelter +of the trees. Nobody was in sight, nor did any +sound reach their ears.</p> +<p>Presently the students found themselves within +fifty feet of the cabin, the door of which stood +half open. Each looked at the other.</p> +<p>“I’m going ahead,” said Dave, resolutely. He +and his companion had provided themselves with +sticks, and Gus had also picked up two stones.</p> +<p>“Oh! oh! oh!” came of a sudden, to their +startled ears. “Oh dear me!”</p> +<p>“It’s Nat!” ejaculated Dave. “Something +has happened to him!”</p> +<p>“Maybe the wild man attacked him,” added +Gus. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p> +<p>“We’ll soon see,” cried Dave, and started forward +on a run.</p> +<p>Soon our hero was at the door of the cabin, +which he pushed wide open. Inside all was dark, +for it was growing late, and the rude structure +boasted of but one small window, stuffed with +cedar boughs to keep out the wind.</p> +<p>“Nat, where are you?” cried Dave, as his eyes +sought to pierce the semi-darkness.</p> +<p>“Who—who is that calling me?” came, in surprise, +from the center of the cabin.</p> +<p>“It is I—Dave Porter! Where are you, and +what happened? Where is the wild man?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m caught fast—in a trap!” groaned the +money-lender’s son. “Oh, help me out! My +ankle is almost broken!”</p> +<p>“But the wild man—?” queried Gus, who was +close behind our hero.</p> +<p>“I—I don’t know where he is,” gasped Nat. +“Oh, say, won’t you please help me? My ankle +is fast in a trap! Oh, how it hurts!”</p> +<p>“Wasn’t the wild man here?” asked Dave, as +he got out his match-box to strike a light.</p> +<p>“No—at least, I haven’t seen him.”</p> +<p>Dave soon had a match lit, and with it set +fire to a cedar bough placed in the rude fireplace +of the cabin. By the glare of this light he and +Gus looked around them and at their fellow-student. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>The cabin was unfurnished excepting for a rude +bench and a board placed on some piles of stones +for a table. In the fireplace were a kettle and a +frying-pan, and on the table the remains of a +scanty meal of crackers, eggs, and apples. A tin +pail, half filled with water, was also handy.</p> +<p>When Dave and Gus turned their attention to +Nat Poole they had to stare in wonder. Nat sat +on the floor, nursing a bruised ankle that was +caught fast between the jaws of an old-fashioned +steel animal-trap. The trap was chained to the +floor, and the release chain ran to a corner of +the fireplace, several feet beyond the sufferer’s +reach.</p> +<p>“However did this happen?” asked Gus, although +he and our hero could easily guess the +answer to the question.</p> +<p>“Help me get loose first,” groaned poor Nat. +“This thing is sawing down to the bone.”</p> +<p>Dave saw the release chain, which was held +firm by a hook. Stepping over, he unhooked +it, and then it was an easy matter to pry the jaws +of the steel-trap apart. As soon as this was done, +Nat rose slowly to his feet, making a wry face +as he did so.</p> +<p>“I’ll be lame for life—I know I will!” he +groaned. “Oh dear, how it hurts!”</p> +<p>“You take care that you don’t get blood-poisoning +from it,” warned Gus. “When you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +get home wash it well, and put some peroxide +of hydrogen, or something like that on it.”</p> +<p>“Blood-poisoning! Oh dear!” and Nat gave +another groan.</p> +<p>“Shall we help you back to your boat?” asked +Dave.</p> +<p>“If you will.”</p> +<p>“Where is the wild man?” questioned Gus, +looking around.</p> +<p>“I don’t know, and I don’t care—just now,” +answered Nat Poole.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_BANDANNA_HANDKERCHIEF' id='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_BANDANNA_HANDKERCHIEF'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>THE BANDANNA HANDKERCHIEF</h3> +</div> +<p>Nat Poole could hardly walk on the injured +leg, so Dave and Gus supported him as the three +left the rude cabin and headed for the shore of the +island.</p> +<p>“Do you know where the wild man is?” repeated +Gus, who had not been satisfied by the +reply given to the question before.</p> +<p>“I do not,” snapped the money-lender’s son, +with a touch of his former tartness. “I haven’t +seen him.”</p> +<p>“But you know that cabin is where he lives,” +put in our hero.</p> +<p>“I thought so—but I wasn’t sure of it.”</p> +<p>“Did you see him come ashore, Nat?”</p> +<p>“No—that is, not to-day. I saw him land here +yesterday.”</p> +<p>“And that is what brought you here to-day?” +remarked Gus.</p> +<p>“Yes, if you must know,” was the somewhat +cold answer.</p> +<p>“See here, Nat, do you know this wild man?” +asked Dave, abruptly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></p> +<p>“Me? Know him? How should I know +him?” demanded the money-lender’s son, but his +apparent astonishment did not, somehow, ring +nor look true.</p> +<p>“That is what I wanted to find out.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know him—at least, I don’t think I +do. I’ve never seen him close enough to make +sure. Maybe he’s some fellow who belongs +around here. I wanted to find out about him—just +as everybody else wants to find out, that’s all.”</p> +<p>“Want to have him caught and placed in an +asylum?” asked Gus.</p> +<p>“It’s not my business to place him anywhere,” +cried Nat, hastily. “For all we know, he may +be harmless.”</p> +<p>“Not when he stops young ladies on the road +and catches folks in steel-traps,” answered our +hero, with a faint smile.</p> +<p>“Well, that’s right, too,” grumbled the money-lender’s +son. “Maybe he ought to be in an +asylum.”</p> +<p>“I think he is on this island now,” went on +Dave. “His rowboat is here, anyway.”</p> +<p>“Say, I’ll tell you what we can do!” cried Gus. +“Take his boat with us! Then he can’t get +away, and we can send the authorities over here +to get him.”</p> +<p>“That’s an idea, Gus!” cried Dave. “We’ll +do it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span></p> +<p>“Would that be fair to the man?” asked Nat. +“He—er—he might starve to death—or try to +swim to shore and get drowned.”</p> +<p>“He can’t starve to death in one night, and I +don’t think he’ll drown himself. The authorities +can come over here early in the morning and +round him up, if he is here.”</p> +<p>“I—er—I don’t think much of your plan,” +murmured Nat, and seemed much disturbed.</p> +<p>In about a quarter of an hour the boys reached +the island shore, at the spot where Nat’s motor-boat +was tied up. They helped him get in and +start up the engine. He had been told how +they had come to the island.</p> +<p>“If you want to, you can tie your boat +fast to the stern and ride back with me,” he +said.</p> +<p>“All right, Nat, we’ll do it,” answered Dave. +“It is getting rather late and it’s a pretty stiff +row to the school.”</p> +<p>The motor-craft was started up and sent along +in the direction where the boys had left the Oak +Hall rowboat. Their course took them past the +spot where the wild man’s boat had been tied up.</p> +<p>“Why, look, it’s gone!” cried Gus, standing +up and pointing to the place.</p> +<p>“True enough,” answered our hero. “He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +must have gone off in it while we were up to the +cabin.”</p> +<p>“He can’t be very far away, Dave.”</p> +<p>The boys looked up and down the river, but +could catch no trace of the missing rowboat or +the wild man. In the meantime, the motor-craft +was moving forward, where the other boat had +been beached among the bushes.</p> +<p>“That is gone, too!” ejaculated Dave. “He +has taken our boat!”</p> +<p>“Oh, do you really think so?” asked Gus. +He felt that he was responsible for the craft, as +he had taken it from the school boathouse.</p> +<p>“I certainly do think so,” said Dave. “It +was a neat trick to play.”</p> +<p>“It’s a wonder he didn’t take the motor-boat, +too.”</p> +<p>“Maybe he didn’t know how to run the boat +and it was too heavy to start without the engine.”</p> +<p>“I guess you are right!” came suddenly from +Nat. “Look here!”</p> +<p>He had stooped down to pick something up +from the grating on the motor-boat’s bottom. If +was a torn and dirty bandanna handkerchief.</p> +<p>“The wild man’s!” cried Dave. “I remember +it.”</p> +<p>“I am glad he didn’t get away with my boat,” +returned the money-lender’s son, drawing a deep +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +breath. “I’ll keep this handkerchief to remember +him by.”</p> +<p>“Is it marked in any way?” questioned our +hero. “Perhaps it has his name or initials on +it.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t think so,” returned Nat. “Let +us hurry up and get back to the school. If we +are late, old Haskers will be after us.”</p> +<p>“Go on and run the boat as fast as you please, +Nat,” answered Dave. “But I want to look at +that handkerchief.”</p> +<p>Rather unwillingly, the money-lender’s son +passed the bandanna over. It was now growing +so dark that Dave could see but little.</p> +<p>“Wait, I’ll light a match,” suggested Gus, and +did so, and by the protected but flickering flare +our hero looked the handkerchief over. In one +corner there was a faint stamping.</p> +<p>“Looks like ‘Rossmore Sanitarium’ to me,” +said Dave, slowly. “Or it may be ‘Bossmore’ +or ‘Crossmore.’ The beginning is too faded to +be sure.”</p> +<p>“Bossmore Sanitarium?” queried Nat, and +then he became silent and thoughtful. A little +later he asked for the bandanna and placed it in +his pocket.</p> +<p>The run in the motor-boat to the school dock +did not take long. As soon as Nat’s craft was +properly housed, Dave and Gus assisted the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +money-lender’s son up the walk and across the +campus.</p> +<p>“I suppose I’ve got to report the loss of the +rowboat,” said Gus, ruefully.</p> +<p>“It wasn’t your fault, Gus,” answered Dave. +“I’ll go with you to Doctor Clay.”</p> +<p>“I can’t go with my lame foot,” put in Nat, +and he hobbled up to his dormitory, eyed by several +curious students, who wanted to know how +he had gotten hurt.</p> +<p>The boys found the master of Oak Hall getting +ready for supper. He looked at them inquiringly +as they entered his study, in answer to +his invitation.</p> +<p>“Well! well!” he exclaimed, after listening +to their story. “This is certainly odd! I trust +Poole was not seriously hurt.”</p> +<p>“I think he was more scared than hurt,” answered +Dave. “The trap scratched his ankle, +that’s all. I am sure it is not sprained or broken.”</p> +<p>“But the rowboat––” put in Gus. “I didn’t +mean––”</p> +<p>“Do not worry about that, Plum. It was not +your fault. I am glad the wild man did not harm +you. I think you got off well. After this you +must be careful about how you go out after this remarkable +creature.”</p> +<p>The master of the school then asked for more +particulars of the occurrence, and said he would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +notify the town authorities about the loss of the +rowboat, and ask that a general hunt take place +for the wild man.</p> +<p>“They ought to be able to round him up sooner +or later,” he added.</p> +<p>There was considerable excitement in the school +when it was learned that the wild man had been +heard of again. The boys looked for the strange +individual and so did the town authorities and +many farmers, but nothing came of the search. +Nat was called on to exhibit the bandanna handkerchief +and did so. Nobody could make out the +first part of the name on it, for the handkerchief +showed a small hole where the letters +should be.</p> +<p>“That is queer,” said Dave, to Roger and +Phil, when he heard of this. “That handkerchief +did not have a hole there when I looked at it.”</p> +<p>“Maybe Nat put the hole there,” returned the +senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Why would he do that?” questioned Phil.</p> +<p>“So that nobody would know what the name +of the sanitarium really was. I believe with +Dave that Nat knows the man, or knows about +him, and is trying to keep something a secret.”</p> +<p>“Hum! Maybe you are right,” mused the +shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>Phil had perfected all his arrangements for +his spread at the hotel, and his guests for that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +occasion had been duly invited and all had accepted +the invitation. It had been arranged with +Mr. Dale that the boys should drive to the hotel +in the school carryall, and Horsehair was to have +his supper in town and, later on, bring them +home. No secret was made of the affair, for this +was not necessary.</p> +<p>“I am only sorry for one thing,” said Phil to +Dave. “That is that I can’t have the whole +school there. But that would go beyond my +purse.”</p> +<p>“Well, you’ll have enough, Phil, to insure a +good time,” answered our hero.</p> +<p>The night was clear, with numberless stars glittering +in the heavens, when the carryall drove +around to the Hall door and the boys piled in. +All were in the best of humor, and they left the +campus in a burst of song.</p> +<p>“I’ve been saving up for this!” cried Ben. +“Haven’t eaten a mouthful for two days!”</p> +<p>“Say, that puts me in mind of a story,” cried +Shadow. “Once a poor street-boy was invited +to a Sunday-school picnic. The ladies fed him +all he could hold and then some. At last, when +he couldn’t eat another mouthful, and saw some +cake and pie and ice-cream going to waste, what +do you suppose he said?”</p> +<p>“Give it up, Shadow.”</p> +<p>“He said, ‘Say, missus, please save it fer me, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +won’t yer? I won’t eat fer a week, honest, an’ +then I’ll come an’ finish it all up fer yer!’”</p> +<p>“Good for the street-boy!”</p> +<p>“Say, Phil, you won’t have to save anything +for me! I’ll eat my share right now!”</p> +<p>“I’ve been in training for this feed!”</p> +<p>“Shove the horses along, Horsehair; we don’t +want the soup to get cold.”</p> +<p>“I’m a-shovin’ ’em along,” answered the carryall +driver. “We’ll git there in plenty o’ time.”</p> +<p>“Say, Phil, as far as I am concerned, you can +have this affair pulled off once a month,” remarked +Buster.</p> +<p>“Make it once a week,” piped in Chip Macklin. +And then Luke Watson commenced to sing a +popular negro ditty and all joined lustily in the +chorus.</p> +<p>On and on rattled the carryall until the lights +of Oakdale shone in the distance. The boys +continued to sing, while one or two blew freely on +the tin horns they carried. Here and there somebody +would come rushing to a window, or door, +to learn what was doing.</p> +<p>“It’s them Oak Hall boys!” cried one old +farmer. “My, but they do have high times!”</p> +<p>“So they do,” returned his wife. “But they +are good boys,” she added, for some of them +had once aided her in capturing a runaway bull.</p> +<p>With a grand flourish the carryall swept around +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +the last corner and came to a halt in front of the +hotel. Phil had hoped to see some extra lights +lit and was somewhat disappointed to see only +the regular lantern burning.</p> +<p>“I told him to light up freely and he said he +would,” he whispered to Dave.</p> +<p>“Maybe he thought you meant the dining-room, +Phil.”</p> +<p>The students piled out of the carryall and +waited for Phil, as host, to lead the way into the +hotel. All marched up the steps and into the +broad hallway. There they were confronted by +the hotel proprietor, who came to meet them in +his shirtsleeves. He looked completely bewildered.</p> +<p>“Well, we are here for that supper, Mr. +Sparr!” cried Phil. “I hope you are all ready +for us!”</p> +<p>The hotel man looked at the boys in amazement. +His jaw dropped. Then he gasped out +the words:</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll be jiggered!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV_AT_THE_HOTEL' id='CHAPTER_XV_AT_THE_HOTEL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>AT THE HOTEL</h3> +</div> +<p>At once Dave and all the other students who +had come to the hotel with Phil, expecting a fine +spread, saw that something was wrong. They +looked questioningly at the shipowner’s son and +at the hotel proprietor.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” demanded Phil, +quickly.</p> +<p>“Matter?” repeated Jason Sparr. “That’s +just exactly what I’d like to know.”</p> +<p>“You—you are ready for us, aren’t you?” +went on Phil, with a sudden catch in his voice.</p> +<p>“Why should I be ready, when you called the +whole thing off?” growled the hotel man. “Fine +way to do, I must say,” he continued, with strong +anger in his voice.</p> +<p>“Called the whole thing off?” repeated Phil. +“Me?”</p> +<p>“Yes, you!” shouted Jason Sparr. “And after +we had everything in fine shape, too! Say, don’t +you think my stuff is too good to send to the Old +Ladies’ Home?” he demanded. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span></p> +<p>“There must be some mistake here, Mr. +Sparr,” put in our hero. “Phil didn’t call this +spread off. We are here for it, as you can see.”</p> +<p>“But he did call it off—this noon,” returned +the hotel proprietor. “And he wasn’t a bit nice +about it, either. When I asked him what I should +do with the extras I had ordered he told me +to do as I pleased—send ’em to the Old Ladies’ +Home, or throw ’em away! He didn’t act a bit +nice.”</p> +<p>“Say, you chump, you!” shouted Phil, growing +suddenly angry. “I didn’t send you any +word at all about calling it off. I––”</p> +<p>“Don’t you call me a chump, you young rascal!” +shouted the hotel man, in equal heat. “I +got your message over the telephone––”</p> +<p>“I never sent any,” interrupted Phil.</p> +<p>“It must be a trick,” cried Roger.</p> +<p>“Who played it?” queried another student.</p> +<p>“Maybe this is the work of some of the Military +Academy fellows.”</p> +<p>“Like as not.”</p> +<p>“But how did they learn that Phil was going +to give the spread?”</p> +<p>“Give it up.”</p> +<p>“Maybe some of our own fellows did it—some +who didn’t get an invitation to attend,” suggested +Chip.</p> +<p>“Would any one be so mean?” asked Buster. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></p> +<p>“Some of them might be,” murmured Gus.</p> +<p>“I didn’t send you any word,” went on Phil, +in greater anger than ever.</p> +<p>“Well, I got word, and so did Professor +Smuller. He was mad, too, because he lost another +job taking yours.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you make sure the word was sent +by Mr. Lawrence?” demanded Ben. “You +could have done that easily enough.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t think that was necessary. This fellow +said––”</p> +<p>“I tell you I didn’t send word!” shouted Phil, +growing more angry every instant. “You might +have known it was a trick.”</p> +<p>“Of course, he might have known,” added +Ben. He lowered his voice. “Say, Phil, if he +doesn’t give us the supper make him give your +money back.”</p> +<p>“Sure he’s got to give me the money back,” +cried the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“See here, you can’t bulldoze me!” cried the +hotel proprietor. “I’ve had trouble enough as it +is. I got ready for this spread and then you +called it off, and you were mighty sassy about it, +too. I’ve lost a lot of money.”</p> +<p>A wordy war followed, lasting the best part +of a half an hour. Through this it was learned +that the hotel man had prepared for the spread, +and so had the professor of music. Just after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +noon telephone messages had come in, calling the +whole affair off. Some hot words had passed over +the wire, and the hotel man was considerably +ruffled. The party talking to Jason Sparr had +said that when the spread did come off it would +be held elsewhere—intimating that a better place +than his hotel could be found.</p> +<p>“It’s all some trick, to get my business away +from me!” stormed the hotel man. “I won’t +stand for it!”</p> +<p>“I didn’t send the messages, and I either want +the spread or I want my money back,” declared +Phil, stubbornly. And then more words followed, +until it looked as if there might be a fight. Finally, +in a rage, Jason Sparr ordered the students +from his place.</p> +<p>“All right, we’ll go, but you haven’t heard +the end of this!” cried Phil.</p> +<p>“You’ll catch it, for treating us so meanly,” +added Ben.</p> +<p>“Don’t you threaten me, or I’ll have the law +on you!” roared Jason Sparr.</p> +<p>“Perhaps I’ll call on the law myself,” answered +Phil, and then, unable to control himself, +he shook his fist at the hotel man. Then all the +boys filed out of the place, some bystanders looking +on in wonder.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you think of this!” cried Gus, +when outside. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span></p> +<p>“Phil, I wouldn’t say anything more just now—you +are too excited,” said Dave, catching his +chum by the arm.</p> +<p>“Yes, but that fellow is as mean as—as dirt!” +answered the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“He hasn’t any right to keep Phil’s money,” +said one student.</p> +<p>“Then the feast is called off, is it?” said Buster, +with something like a groan in his voice.</p> +<p>“And somebody is going to have the laugh on +us!” added Shadow. “Say, this puts me in mind +of a story,” he added, brightening. “Once some +boys were going––”</p> +<p>“Oh, stow it, Shadow!”</p> +<p>“This is no time for stories!”</p> +<p>“I’d rather go down to the cemetery and +weep.”</p> +<p>“Nobody is going to have the laugh on me,” +cried Phil. “We’ll get something somewhere.”</p> +<p>“Right you are!” cried Dave. “I’ve got it!” +he added. “Let us drive over to Rockville and +get something at the hotel there. I know the proprietor +and he’s a nice man.”</p> +<p>“Better telephone to him first and make sure,” +suggested Roger.</p> +<p>“I’ll do it,” said Phil.</p> +<p>The carryall was brought around again and all +piled in and drove down to a drug store where +there was a telephone booth. Into the booth went +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +Phil, to communicate with the hotel in Rockville. +He came out smiling.</p> +<p>“It’s all fixed up and I guess we’ll have something +this time,” he said. “But just wait; I’ll fix +that mean Jason Sparr, see if I don’t!”</p> +<p>“It’s quite a drive to Rockville,” protested +Horsehair, when they told the driver what was +wanted.</p> +<p>“Never mind, it will do the horses good,” +cried Roger. “They are getting too fat standing +still.”</p> +<p>“Say, Phil,” whispered Dave. “If you +haven’t got money enough along, I can let you +have some.”</p> +<p>“Good,” was the whispered return. “I was +going to speak of that, as soon as I got a chance.”</p> +<p>The affair at the Oakdale hotel had put something +of a damper on the crowd, and all the talk +was of how Jason Sparr had acted and who had +been mean enough to play such a trick.</p> +<p>“Maybe it was Nat Poole,” said Chip.</p> +<p>“What makes you think that?” asked Phil.</p> +<p>“Oh, he is mean enough for anything.”</p> +<p>“If Nat did this I’ll—I’ll mash him!” cried +Phil, with energy.</p> +<p>“Can’t you find out?” asked Roger.</p> +<p>“I’ll try—but most likely the fellow who did it +took care to cover up his tracks. Sparr didn’t +know where the messages came from.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></p> +<p>On and on rolled the carryall, until the lights +of Rockville appeared in the distance. By this +time all of the students were decidedly hungry. +They rolled up to the little hotel and those with +horns gave a couple of shrill blasts.</p> +<p>This time there was a warm welcome by the +host. He came out, bowing and smiling.</p> +<p>“Did the best I could for you, on such short +notice,” he said, as they entered. “Next time, if +you’ll only give me a little more time––”</p> +<p>“That’s all right, let’s have what you’ve got,” +cried Buster. He was hungry enough to eat anything.</p> +<p>They were ushered into what was usually the +private dining-room of the little hostelry. The +table had been spread out and was tastefully +decorated with paper chrysanthemums, made by +the hotel man’s daughter. A parlor-lamp and +several others shed light on the scene.</p> +<p>“This looks good!” murmured Roger.</p> +<p>“Wait till you see what we get to eat,” answered +Sam. “It may be slim—on such short +notice.”</p> +<p>But he was agreeably mistaken, the spread was +all that could be desired. There were oysters on +the half-shell, tomato soup, fried chicken, mashed +potatoes, lettuce salad, olives, and also coffee, pie, +and various cookies. It was served in home style, +by the hotel man’s daughter and a hired girl. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p> +<p>“Say, this is fine!” cried Buster, smacking his +lips.</p> +<p>“Better, maybe, than if we had stayed at the +other place,” added Dave.</p> +<p>“Only we haven’t got the music,” said Phil. +He was glad that matters had taken such a nice +turn, but still angry over what had gone before.</p> +<p>As they had already lost so much time, the boys +did not dare linger too long over the spread. +Horsehair was given something to eat in another +room, and then they set out on the return. Songs +were sung and jokes cracked, and Shadow was +permitted to tell half a dozen of his best stories. +Yet, with it all, the edge had been taken off the +celebration, and Phil knew this as well as anybody, +and was correspondingly chagrined.</p> +<p>“I’ll make that man square up with me, see +if I don’t,” he said to Dave, as they arrived at +the school. “I’m not going to lose all that +money.”</p> +<p>“Well, be careful of what you do, Phil,” +warned our hero. “Don’t get into a fight.”</p> +<p>The next day the shipowner’s son sent out two +sharp letters, one to Jason Sparr and the other to +Professor Smuller. He stated that he was not +responsible for the trip-up that had taken place, +and demanded his money be returned to him, +otherwise he would put the matter in the hands of +the law. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span></p> +<p>To these letters came speedy replies. The +musical professor said he was sorry a mistake had +been made, and he returned the amount paid to +him, and he further stated that if he could discover +who had played the trick he would make +that party settle up.</p> +<p>“That’s decent of him,” said Phil. “I am +going to send him back five dollars for his trouble.” +And this he did, much to Professor Smuller’s +satisfaction.</p> +<p>The letter from Jason Sparr was entirely different. +He berated Phil for the stand taken, +and stated that he would pay back nothing. He +added that he had learned how the crowd had +gone to Rockville to dine, and said he was satisfied +that it was all a trick to get patronage away +from his hotel. He added that he had had trouble +enough with people from Oak Hall school +and he wanted no more of it.</p> +<p>“I guess I’ll have to sue him,” growled Phil, +on showing the letter to Dave and Roger.</p> +<p>“I don’t think I’d bother,” answered Dave. +“Put it down to Experience, and let it go at +that.”</p> +<p>“If you sued him it would cost as much as +you’d get, and more,” added the senator’s +son.</p> +<p>“Humph! I don’t feel like swallowing it,” +growled Phil. “I’ll get it out of him somehow.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span></p> +<p>“He must have lost something—if he got +ready for the spread,” said Dave.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t think he lost much. He’s a close +one—to my way of thinking,” responded the shipowner’s +son.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI_THE_BLOWING_UP_OF_THE_BRIDGE' id='CHAPTER_XVI_THE_BLOWING_UP_OF_THE_BRIDGE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>THE BLOWING UP OF THE BRIDGE</h3> +</div> +<p>“Say, this is something fierce, Dave!”</p> +<p>“I agree with you, Roger. I don’t see how we +are going to do such a long lesson.”</p> +<p>“Old Haskers is getting worse and worse,” +growled Phil. “I think we ought to report it +to Doctor Clay.”</p> +<p>“Just what I think,” came from Ben. “He +keeps piling it on harder and harder. I think +he is trying to break us.”</p> +<p>“Break us?” queried our hero, looking up +from his book.</p> +<p>“Yes, make us miss entirely, you know.”</p> +<p>“Why should he want us to do that?” asked +Roger.</p> +<p>“Then we wouldn’t be able to graduate this +coming June.”</p> +<p>“Would he be mean enough to do that?” +asked Dave.</p> +<p>“I think he would be mean enough for anything,” +responded Phil. “Oh, I am not going +to stand it!” he cried. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></p> +<p>The boys had just come upstairs, after an extra +hard session in their Latin class. All were +aroused over the treatment received at the hands +of Job Haskers. He had been harsh and dictatorial +to the last degree, and several times it +had looked as if there might be an outbreak.</p> +<p>The next day the outbreak came. Phil sprang +up in class and denounced the unreasonable +teacher, and Ben followed. Then Dave and +Roger took a hand, and so did Buster and several +others.</p> +<p>“Sit down! Sit down!” cried Job Haskers, +growing white in the face. “Sit down, and keep +quiet.”</p> +<p>“I won’t keep quiet,” answered the shipowner’s +son. “You are treating us unfairly, +Mr. Haskers, and I won’t stand for it.”</p> +<p>“Neither will I,” added Ben.</p> +<p>“Sit down, I tell you!” stormed the instructor.</p> +<p>But none of the students obeyed him, and in a +minute more the room was in an uproar. One of +the under-teachers heard it, and quickly sent for +Doctor Clay.</p> +<p>As the master of Oak Hall strode into the +classroom there was a pause. He mounted the +platform and put up his hand, and soon all became +quiet.</p> +<p>“Young gentlemen, be seated,” he said, in his +strict but kindly fashion, and instantly every student +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +sat down. Then he turned to the teacher. +“Mr. Haskers, what is the trouble?” he asked.</p> +<p>“The trouble is that certain students will not +learn their lessons,” answered Job Haskers, +sourly. “I had to take them to task for it.”</p> +<p>“Who are those students?”</p> +<p>“Lawrence, Basswood, Porter, Morr, +Beggs––”</p> +<p>“That will do for the present. Lawrence, +stand up,” ordered Doctor Clay.</p> +<p>Phil did as requested, and the eyes of the entire +class were fastened on the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“Now, Lawrence, what have you to say for +yourself?” went on the doctor.</p> +<p>In a plain, straightforward manner, Phil told +his side of the story. Several times Job Haskers +wanted to interrupt him, but Doctor Clay would +not permit this. Then Ben was questioned, and +after that the master of the school turned to Dave.</p> +<p>“Is your complaint the same, Porter?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> +<p>“And yours, Morr?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> +<p>“What have you to say, Beggs?”</p> +<p>“The same. The lessons lately have been altogether +too hard—we simply can’t get through +them. We never had such long lessons before.”</p> +<p>“I have given them only the regular lessons,” +put in Job Haskers. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></p> +<p>“Ahem! Let us go over them and see what +can be done,” responded the doctor. “If the +students are willing to work we do not want to +overburden them, Mr. Haskers.”</p> +<p>A discussion lasting over a quarter of an hour +followed, and in the end the lessons were cut +down, much to the satisfaction of the whole class, +who felt like cheering the head of the school. +The only person who was not satisfied was Job +Haskers. He was invited to go out with the doctor +to his private office, and came back some time +later, looking anything but happy.</p> +<p>“I’ll wager he got a calling down!” whispered +Phil to Dave. “I hope he did.”</p> +<p>He was right about the “calling down,” as he +expressed it. The master of Oak Hall had +spoken very plainly to the instructor, and given +Job Haskers to understand that he must get along +better with the boys in the future, and treat them +with more consideration, or he would be asked to +resign from the staff of the school.</p> +<p>Several days slipped by and during that time +Dave paid close attention to his lessons. He had +also a theme to write on “The Future of Our +Country,” and he devoted considerable time to +this, hoping it would receive at least honorable +mention, even if it did not win the prize offered +for the best production.</p> +<p>“Come on down to town!” cried Roger, one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +afternoon, as he rushed in, “Big excitement on! +Going to blow the railroad up!”</p> +<p>“Blow the railroad up?” queried our hero. +“What sort of a joke is this, Roger?”</p> +<p>“No joke, at all. You know the old stone +bridge over the creek?”</p> +<p>“Sure.”</p> +<p>“Well, the railroad wants to get rid of it and +do it quickly, so they can build another, so the +contractors are going to blow the old bridge up +with dynamite at half-past four o’clock.”</p> +<p>“Let’s go!” burst out Phil. “It will be a +great sight—to see that old bridge go up.”</p> +<p>“Right you are!” cried Ben.</p> +<p>All the boys were enthusiastic, and in the end +fully fifty students got permission to go down to +Oakdale to see the old stone bridge destroyed.</p> +<p>“None of you must go very close,” warned +Doctor Clay, “for dynamite is powerful stuff—eight +times more powerful than gunpowder.”</p> +<p>“We’ll keep away, don’t fear about that,” answered +several.</p> +<p>“Dynamite isn’t to be fooled with,” added +Dave.</p> +<p>“Say, that puts me in mind of a story!” cried +Shadow. “A Dutch laborer working on the railroad +was much annoyed by the other laborers +coming along and knocking his stiff old derby hat +over his eyes. At last he got good and mad and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +when he saw a chance, he stole a stick of dynamite +from the shanty where it was kept. He stuck +the dynamite in his hat and then went around to +the other laborers. ‘Now, chust hit dot hat vonce +again of you dare!’ he said.”</p> +<p>“And nobody dared,” added Roger, as a general +laugh went up.</p> +<p>“I once saw a fellow take a stick of dynamite +and burn it like a torch,” remarked Ben. “It +gave me a cold chill to see him do it.”</p> +<p>“And it didn’t explode?” queried Roger.</p> +<p>“No. But I heard afterwards that if he had +struck it ever so lightly, it might have blown us +all as high as a kite.”</p> +<p>“It sure is great stuff,” remarked Phil. +“Say,” he went on suddenly, “I wish they were +going to blow up old Sparr’s hotel instead of the +bridge.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” added Ben. “He’s about as mean +as they make ’em.”</p> +<p>“That man ought certainly to have something +done to him,” was Roger’s comment.</p> +<p>“Well, he won’t make a success of his hotel +if he treats everybody as he treated Phil,” said +Dave.</p> +<p>“He doesn’t deserve any success,” growled the +shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>When the students arrived in the vicinity of +the old bridge they found a large crowd assembled, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +including many acquaintances from Rockville +Military Academy, and people from the +town. Red flags had been placed around, and nobody +was allowed to get very close to the old +structure.</p> +<p>“There is where they have the dynamite +stored,” said Phil, pointing to a shanty not far +away. “See the sign?”</p> +<p>“That’s a good spot to steer clear of,” returned +Dave, with a grin.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m not afraid of the stuff,” answered +the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>In the crowd of men and boys the students became +more or less separated. There was a great +thrill when the word was passed that everything +was in readiness for the blowing up of the old +bridge.</p> +<p>“She’s going!” cried Roger to Dave.</p> +<p>Boom! came the dull, heavy roar, and the +boys saw the stones of the old bridge flying upward +in all directions. The ground shook all +around them, and the water from the creek was +splashed on high. A great cloud of smoke and +dust filled the air. Then came silence, followed +by a wild cheering from the younger element.</p> +<p>“Certainly a great sight,” was Dave’s comment.</p> +<p>“Too bad it didn’t last longer,” sighed Buster.</p> +<p>“It wasn’t quite as big as I thought it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +be,” said Luke. “I thought some of the stones +would fly about a mile high.”</p> +<p>“Good enough for a free exhibition,” put in +Gus. “Beats fireworks all hollow.”</p> +<p>The boys walked down to the ruins of the old +bridge and hung around for the best part of a +half an hour. Then, in groups of five or six, they +walked to town, to look around there before returning +to Oak Hall. Dave and his chums passed +Jason Sparr’s hotel. He was on the veranda and +scowled at them, and Phil and some of the others +scowled in return.</p> +<p>“Have you done anything about that Sparr +matter yet, Phil?” asked one of the lads.</p> +<p>“No; but I will soon, you wait and see,” was +the growled-out reply.</p> +<p>On the main street of the town some of the +boys separated, to do a little shopping, and then +some walked to the school, while others got in +the carryall that happened to be at hand. As a +consequence some of the students did not get back +to Oak Hall until some time after the supper +hour.</p> +<p>Dave was alone when he entered the dining-hall +and he was surprised to see that neither Phil +nor Roger was present. Ben was also absent and +likewise Shadow.</p> +<p>“Didn’t some of them come in with you?” he +asked of Buster. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></p> +<p>“Gus and Luke did,” was the reply. “I don’t +know where the others are.”</p> +<p>The meal was almost at an end when Phil, +Ben, and Roger made their appearance. They +had but little to say, but Dave could see that +something was wrong.</p> +<p>“Had another wrangle with Jason Sparr,” explained +Phil, after the meal. “He followed me +to one of the stores, and I told him just what I +thought of him.”</p> +<p>“And he threatened to have Phil arrested for +defamation of character,” added Ben.</p> +<p>“But he didn’t dare to do it,” declared the +shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“Better let him alone,” advised Dave. +“You’ll gain nothing by keeping in hot water +over it, Phil.”</p> +<p>That night all of the boys had to study hard, +and consequently they retired to their dormitories +early. The only exception was Polly Vane, +who had to go to Oakdale to meet a relative who +would stop off but who was going away again on +the midnight train.</p> +<p>The boys studied until ten o’clock and then retired. +Dave was completely tired out and his +head had hardly touched the pillow when he was +sound asleep.</p> +<p>He was awakened about two hours later by +the sounds of excited talking. He opened his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +eyes to behold Polly Vane standing in the dormitory +fully dressed, while Phil was sitting on the +edge of the bed, and Ben and Roger and some +others were just rousing up.</p> +<p>“What’s going on?” Dave asked, sleepily.</p> +<p>“A whole lot, if what Polly says is true,” answered +the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“But it is true, upon my word!” cried the girlish +student. “I heard the explosion myself.”</p> +<p>“What explosion?” asked several.</p> +<p>“An explosion in Oakdale, to-night,” answered +Polly. “Somebody tried to dynamite Jason +Sparr’s hotel!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVII_A_SERIOUS_ACCUSATION' id='CHAPTER_XVII_A_SERIOUS_ACCUSATION'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>A SERIOUS ACCUSATION</h3> +</div> +<p>Instantly there was great excitement in the +dormitory, and all of the students crowded +around Polly, to learn what he might have to +say.</p> +<p>“It was this way, don’t you know,” said the +scholarly youth. “I went to Oakdale to see my +uncle, who stopped off on his trip from Portland +to St. Louis. He wanted to ask me about +some family matters, and he didn’t have time +to come to the Hall. I went down in the +buggy––”</p> +<p>“Oh, never mind that, Polly, tell about the +explosion,” interrupted Roger.</p> +<p>“Well, I had just seen my uncle to the midnight +train and was getting into the buggy to come +back when I heard a low boom! coming from +the direction of Sparr’s hotel. The station-master +and I were the only people around, and +I asked him what the noise meant, but he said he +didn’t know. Then he jumped into the buggy +with me to find out. We drove to the hotel, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +there was excitement enough, I can tell you. The +girls and women folks were screaming wildly +and Mr. Sparr and some men were running +around, not knowing what to do. Soon a crowd +began to collect, and then we found out that a +wing of the building—where the dining-room is—had +been blown up. Some men from the railroad +said it had been done by dynamite—the kind +used for blowing up that old bridge.”</p> +<p>“Was anybody hurt?” asked Dave.</p> +<p>“Nobody but an old man who was sleeping in +the house next to the addition. He got so scared +he jumped from an upper window and sprained +his ankle. Oh, that dining-room is a sight, I can +tell you! One end is completely gone—the wall +away from the main house—and all the tables +and chairs and ornaments smashed! And the roof +is full of holes!”</p> +<p>“How was it done?” questioned Gus.</p> +<p>“The dynamite was placed at the side of the +dining-room foundation, according to the railroad +men, and it was set off by some sort of clockwork,” +answered Polly.</p> +<p>“And who did it?” asked Shadow.</p> +<p>“They don’t know, yet. But Sparr suspects +Phil. That is why I woke him up as soon as I +came in,” continued the girlish student.</p> +<p>“Suspects me!” exclaimed the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“Yes. He says you are the only one who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +would do such a thing—you and the crowd who +have been backing you up.”</p> +<p>“Well, I never!”</p> +<p>“Maybe he means me, too,” murmured Ben.</p> +<p>“He does, and all the others in the crowd, too. +He thinks it’s a plot to get square because he +wouldn’t give Phil his dinner money back.”</p> +<p>“I had nothing to do with it,” declared Phil, +stoutly.</p> +<p>“Nor I,” added Ben.</p> +<p>“Well, I am sure I wasn’t in it,” said Dave. +“I didn’t dream of such a thing.”</p> +<p>“Nor did I,” added Roger and some others.</p> +<p>The news soon spread through several dormitories, +and the boys discussed the startling happening +in whispers. Phil was greatly disturbed.</p> +<p>“I didn’t do it, but I know he’ll try to fasten +it on me,” he told Dave. He did not add that +he had written to his father about the affair of +the feast and his parent had sent a warning letter +back, ordering his son to have nothing more to +do with Jason Sparr.</p> +<p>The next morning the news was all over the +school. Nat Poole heard of it, and he and some +of his cronies declared it as their opinion that +Phil and some others were to blame. This +brought on a fistic encounter between Ben and +the money-lender’s son, and the latter got a black +eye in consequence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></p> +<p>“You sha’n’t say I did it—or had anything +to do with it,” said Ben, when Nat backed away, +having had enough of the battle.</p> +<p>“Humph! just wait till the law has its say!” +retorted Nat. “Then maybe you’ll get what is +coming to you!”</p> +<p>Some of the boys wanted to go to town—to see +the damaged hotel—but Doctor Clay would not +permit this. In the meantime the wreckage was +being cleared away, and the authorities and Jason +Sparr were doing their best to locate the author +or authors of the crime.</p> +<p>Then came a great surprise, in the shape of a +letter delivered in a mysterious way to the hotel-keeper. +He was seated in the hotel office in the +evening, talking to one of the town constables, +when a missive was hurled at him through an +open window. He dodged at first, fearing more +dynamite, but when he saw it was only a letter, he +picked it up and turned it over. It was addressed +to him and marked “Private and Personal.”</p> +<p>“Wonder what this is?” he mused, and walked +over to the light to read the letter. It was written +on a single sheet of paper, in lead pencil, and +evidently in a disguised hand. It contained but +a few lines, as follows:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:1.0em; '>“If you want to catch the fellows who blew up +your hotel have these boys of Oak Hall school arrested +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +at once, Philip Lawrence, Benj. Basswood, +David Porter, Roger Morr, and Joseph Beggs. +They were together when it was done, and one or +more of them surely did it.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:1.0em; text-align:right'>“One Who Knows.”<br /></p> +<p>The hotel-keeper read this letter several times +and then stuffed it into his pocket. Then he went +into the next room and drew from a drawer several +things wrapped up in a newspaper.</p> +<p>“I am going down to see the squire,” he said, +to the constable. “You can come along, if you +want to.”</p> +<p>“What was in the letter?”</p> +<p>“The names of the rascals who blew up my +hotel.”</p> +<p>“What! You don’t mean it, Jason!”</p> +<p>“Yes, I do.”</p> +<p>“Who sent the letter?”</p> +<p>“That’s a secret. But come on, we’ll talk it +over with Squire Thompson. Ain’t no time to +waste.” And then the hotel man went off to interview +the leading legal light of the town.</p> +<p>The conference at the squire’s office lasted the +best part of two hours. At this Jason Sparr produced +the contents of the package, several things +picked up near the hotel at the time of the explosion—a +tan glove, somewhat worn, two iron +rings, an empty paper box marked, “L.” in one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +corner, a whip handle, and a clock-like contrivance +which had been used to set off the dynamite. He +told of his trouble with Phil and his chums, of the +threats made, and produced the letter received +so mysteriously.</p> +<p>“Looks kind of plain to me, Squire,” he said. +“Don’t you think so?”</p> +<p>“It isn’t for me to say,” replied the squire, cautiously. +“But if you want to swear out warrants +for those boys’ arrest––”</p> +<p>“Ain’t I justified?”</p> +<p>“Sure you are,” put in the constable, who happened +to be the squire’s brother-in-law. “I +wouldn’t waste no time on it.” He thought he +saw in this a job for himself, with some fat +fees.</p> +<p>“If you have them arrested, you’ve got to +prove your case,” said Squire Thompson, slowly. +“It’s a serious business, Sparr.”</p> +<p>“But this letter says they are guilty.”</p> +<p>“Lock ’em up and make ’em confess!” broke +in the constable. “Give ’em the third degree!” +he added. He had read something of how city +criminals were occasionally treated and he wished +to air his knowledge.</p> +<p>“I’ll do it!” cried Jason Spar. “I’ll show +’em they can’t insult me and take away my trade +and then try to blow up my hotel! I’ll have ’em +all locked up! Then we can examine ’em one by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +one, and get ’em tangled up and make ’em confess.”</p> +<p>After much trouble, the warrants for the arrest +of Phil, Ben, Dave, Roger, and Buster were made +out. The constable wanted to serve them at +once, but it was decided at the last moment to +wait until the next morning, to see if any new +evidence regarding the crime might be forthcoming.</p> +<p>The constable went home, sworn to secrecy, +but he had to tell his wife and her sister of the +affair, and the news got to the ears of a man who +boarded with them. This fellow, who was named +Andy Prime, chanced to know Dave quite well, +our hero having once done him a favor. Early +in the morning Prime drove past the school, and +seeing Dave on the campus, hailed him.</p> +<p>“Come over here, I want to tell you something, +Porter,” said Prime, mysteriously.</p> +<p>“What do you want?” asked Dave, good-naturedly.</p> +<p>“Ride a bit with me, will you? I don’t want +nobody to hear us,” went on the man, lowering +his voice.</p> +<p>Wondering what was coming, Dave got up on +the seat of the man’s wagon and they drove to +the far end of the Oak Hall grounds. There +Andy Prime told of all he had learned.</p> +<p>“Please don’t say I told ye!” he pleaded. “It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +might git me in trouble. But you did me a good +turn onct an’ I ain’t forgot it.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Prime, I won’t tell who told me,” +answered Dave.</p> +<p>“Thet old skinflint o’ a Sparr deserved to have +his buildin’ blown up.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps. But we didn’t do it, I can assure +you of that. If Mr. Sparr has us arrested, he’ll +get in hot water,” answered our hero; and then +he got out of the wagon and Andy Prime +drove on.</p> +<p>Dave at once carried the news to those immediately +concerned. All were very indignant, and +some were scared.</p> +<p>“Say, I won’t stand for being arrested!” cried +Phil, in horror. “It’s too much of a disgrace!”</p> +<p>“My folks would never get over it,” added +Ben.</p> +<p>“It would just about kill my mother, if I was +locked up,” came from Buster.</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll stand it if I have to,” said Roger. +“But I’ll make that fellow suffer for it later!” +he added, bitterly.</p> +<p>All thoughts of going to school that morning +were abandoned by the five boys. They talked the +situation over, and determined to go down the +road and await the arrival of the constable, Andy +Prime having said that Hickson would come by +ten o’clock. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></p> +<p>“This is awful!” gasped Phil, shaking his +head dolefully. “Say, Dave, I can’t stand it!”</p> +<p>“Wait until we hear what the constable has to +say.”</p> +<p>“He won’t say anything—he’ll just drag us +to the Oakdale lockup!” put in Ben.</p> +<p>“I wonder what my dad will say to that, when +he hears of it?” murmured Roger. “The newspapers +are bound to make a spread of it. ‘Son of +a U. S. Senator Jailed for Blowing Up a Hotel!’ +or something like that. Oh, it makes me sick!”</p> +<p>Plainly the majority of the students were very +nervous. The only one who kept calm was Dave, +and even he was much disturbed. All walked +along the road, keeping a sharp eye out for the +appearance of Paul Hickson.</p> +<p>“Here he comes!” cried Phil, as a covered +wagon came along the road, driven by the keeper +of the Oakdale jail. On the front seat beside the +driver were the constable and Jason Sparr.</p> +<p>“Hi, you boys!” shouted the constable, as the +wagon came closer. “I want to see you!”</p> +<p>“What do you want?” demanded Dave, stepping +to the front.</p> +<p>“We want you, for one!” cried the hotel-keeper. +“Be careful, Hickson, that none of ’em +get away!” he added.</p> +<p>“I don’t know one from tudder,” said the constable, +doubtfully. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></p> +<p>“This is just the bunch we are after, unless I +am mistaken,” went on the hotel man. “That is +Lawrence there, and Basswood, and this is Porter, +and I think that is Morr,” and he pointed to +the various students.</p> +<p>“Good enough. Boys, in the name of the law, +I call on you to halt,” declared the constable, +pompously.</p> +<p>“Mr. Sparr, what does this mean?” demanded +Dave.</p> +<p>“It means that I am going to have the whole +bunch of you arrested!” shouted the hotel man, +harshly. “You blew up my hotel, and I can +prove it! I’ve got the evidence against every +one of you! I am going to have you arrested +right now and sent to prison!” And he shook his +fist at the boys.</p> +<p>“The evidence against us?” faltered Phil.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, the plain, clear evidence,” went on +the hotel-keeper, dramatically. “I’ve got you +just where I want you. I am going to send every +one of you to prison for five or ten years!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_MEETING_ON_THE_ROAD' id='CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_MEETING_ON_THE_ROAD'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>THE MEETING ON THE ROAD</h3> +</div> +<p>There was an intense silence, following the +announcement of Jason Sparr that he intended to +send Dave and his chums to prison for attempting +to blow up the hotel. In the meantime the hotel +man and the constable got down from the seat of +the covered wagon.</p> +<p>“I’ve got the warrants fer the arrest, boys,” +said Constable Hickson, somewhat importantly.</p> +<p>“Mr. Sparr, I’d like a word with you,” said +Dave, as calmly as he could speak under the circumstances.</p> +<p>“I ain’t got no more to say than I’ve said,” +returned Jason Sparr, stubbornly. “You done +it, and I can prove it! The constable is going +to do his duty and arrest you!”</p> +<p>“Dave, I—I won’t stand for it!” whispered +Phil, hoarsely. “It’s terrible! I—I can’t stand +it!” And he began to back away.</p> +<p>“Hi, there! stop!” yelled the hotel man. +“Stop him, Hickson! Don’t let him get away!”</p> +<p>“You sha’n’t arrest me for nothing!” cried the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +shipowner’s son, and like a flash he turned around +and started off on a run.</p> +<p>“Come back here, Phil!” called out Dave. +“Come back! You are making a mistake by running +away!”</p> +<p>But Phil did not hear, nor did Ben and Buster, +who had also taken to their heels. Roger ran a +few steps, then halted, and came back to our hero’s +side.</p> +<p>“You are right, Dave,” he said. “It’s best +to face the music.”</p> +<p>Phil, Ben, and Buster had turned towards Oak +Hall. Phil was in the lead, but the others soon +caught up to him.</p> +<p>“Wha—what are you go—going to d—do?” +panted Ben.</p> +<p>“I’m not going to let them arrest me!” answered +Phil. “I didn’t do it, and I’m not going +to jail.”</p> +<p>“Let us hide until we can get our folks to +help us,” suggested Buster. The thought of going +to a lockup filled him with dread.</p> +<p>“I’m going to notify my folks, too,” said +Ben.</p> +<p>“The trouble is, I don’t know where my folks +are just now,” came from the shipowner’s son. +“My father went on a trip on one of his vessels +and mother is visiting relatives.”</p> +<p>The boys had kept on running on the road. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +But now, as they saw the constable after them, +they turned and dashed into a side-path leading +to the river.</p> +<p>“A motor-boat!” cried Ben, a few seconds +later.</p> +<p>“It’s the Kingsley boat,” added Buster. “I +know Tom will let us use it—he said I could do +it once. Let us go across in it.”</p> +<p>All leaped on board, and Ben started up the +engine while Buster took the wheel. There came +a put! put! as the fly-wheel was turned over, and +the little craft, which belonged to a boy living +on the river-bank, headed out into the Leming +River.</p> +<p>In the meantime, while Constable Hickson was +running after the fugitives, Jason Sparr and the +driver of the covered wagon confronted Dave and +Roger.</p> +<p>“Don’t you try to run!” bawled the hotel-keeper.</p> +<p>“I’m armed,” added the keeper of the town +lockup, suggestively.</p> +<p>“I don’t intend to run, Mr. Sparr,” answered +Dave.</p> +<p>“Why should we run, since we have done nothing +wrong?” added the senator’s son. He tried +to follow Dave’s example and remain calm, but +he was tremendously disturbed.</p> +<p>“Did those three fellows do it alone?” queried +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +the hotel man, eagerly. “If they did, you had +better confess to it, and clear yourselves.”</p> +<p>“None of us are guilty,” answered Dave.</p> +<p>“I know better.”</p> +<p>“You do not. Since we didn’t do it, Mr. Sparr, +I don’t see how you can prove that we did,—unless +you have manufactured some evidence +against us,” went on our hero, pointedly, a new +idea coming into his head.</p> +<p>“I ain’t manufactured no evidence!” bawled +Jason Sparr. “Didn’t that young rascal of a +Lawrence say he’d get square with me, and didn’t +all of you say the same? Wasn’t you down to the +blowing up of the bridge, right where they had +all that dynamite stored? Wasn’t some of the +dynamite sticks stolen? Didn’t you fellows come +right by the hotel afterwards? Wasn’t the +blowing up done by clockwork, made to go +off hours after it was set? You can’t tell +me! You are guilty. Besides, I got other evidence—I +got a letter,” added the hotel-keeper, +shrewdly.</p> +<p>“A letter? About us?”</p> +<p>Jason Sparr nodded.</p> +<p>“Saying we were guilty?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Who wrote it?”</p> +<p>“Never mind that. You’re guilty, and you +know it. Just wait till Hickson comes back with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +them others and I’ll show you a thing or two,” +continued the hotel man, harshly.</p> +<p>“Mr. Sparr, I said I wanted to talk to you, +and I do want to,” said Dave, after a pause. +“You will find it to your advantage to listen +to me. You have got this whole thing settled in +your own mind, but you are dead wrong. You +intend to have us locked up for something we +didn’t do. To have us locked up will blacken our +characters and blacken the reputation of Oak +Hall. My folks are respectable people, and so +are the folks of the other boys. Do you think +they will stand for this sort of thing? And do you +think Doctor Clay will stand for it? If you do, +you are greatly mistaken. If you have us arrested +on this charge, which is absolutely false, I’ll get +my folks to sue you for false imprisonment and +defamation of character, and I know the other +fellows will do the same. And you can rest assured +that the charges against you will be pushed +to the limits of the law.”</p> +<p>At this plain talk Jason Sparr’s jaw dropped. +Several times he was on the point of interrupting, +but thought better of it.</p> +<p>“Well, now—er––” he stammered when +Dave had finished.</p> +<p>“My father is a United States senator,” said +Roger. “You don’t suppose he will let a matter +like this pass unnoticed? If you do anything to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +besmirch our family name, you’ll take the consequences.”</p> +<p>“Your father is a United States senator?” faltered +Jason Sparr.</p> +<p>“He is, and Dave’s father is a rich man, and +so is Phil Lawrence’s father. Of course, our +money has nothing to do with it, excepting that it +will enable us to stand up for our rights in the +courts, and get able lawyers to defend us. We +are innocent of all wrongdoing. If anybody is +in the wrong it is you, for you cheated Phil Lawrence +out of the money he advanced to you for +that spread we were to have at your hotel.”</p> +<p>“Cheated him!” cried the hotel-keeper.</p> +<p>“That is what it amounted to, for you took his +money and gave him nothing in return.”</p> +<p>“He called the spread off––”</p> +<p>“He did not, and we can prove it,” said Dave, +following up what he thought looked like an advantage. +“Why, if he wanted to do it, Phil could +have you locked up for swindling.”</p> +<p>“What, me? Locked up?” cried the hotel +man.</p> +<p>“Certainly. Why not? It’s as reasonable as +your charge against us—more reasonable, in fact, +for you kept his money and gave him nothing in +return,” went on our hero, warmly.</p> +<p>“Well, now what do you know about that?” +grumbled Jason Sparr, turning to the driver of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +the covered wagon. But the lockup man merely +shrugged his shoulders. Privately he was of the +opinion that the boys were not such rascals as had +been pictured.</p> +<p>“If those fellows wasn’t guilty, why did they +run away?” continued Jason Sparr, after an awkward +pause.</p> +<p>“Because you scared them,” responded Roger. +“I would have run away myself if it hadn’t been +for Dave.”</p> +<p>“Humph!”</p> +<p>All looked along the road. Constable Hickson +had disappeared, having followed the runaways +down to the river. Presently he came back, +out of breath from his exertions.</p> +<p>“Did you get ’em?” queried the hotel-keeper, +eagerly.</p> +<p>“No, they got away in a motor-boat.”</p> +<p>“A motor-boat!” repeated Dave and Roger, +and looked at each other in astonishment.</p> +<p>“Yes, went up the river out of sight,” said +Paul Hickson. “Too bad! But we’ve got two of +’em, anyway,” he added, looking at our hero and +the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“I wanted Lawrence more than I did the +others,” grumbled Jason Sparr. He was doing +some deep thinking and his face showed that he +was much disturbed.</p> +<p>“Mr. Sparr, just remember what I said,” remarked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +Dave, pointedly. “If you go ahead, take +my word for it, it will cost you dear.”</p> +<p>“Say, Hickson, we’ll drop this matter for +the present,” said the hotel-keeper, in a low +tone.</p> +<p>“Drop it?” ejaculated the constable. “Ain’t +you goin’ to have these two took up?”</p> +<p>“Not just now. I—er—I want to get more +evidence first, if I can. We can get them any +time we want them.”</p> +<p>“But who is going to pay me for my trouble? +I’ve got them warrants to serve right in my +pocket, and––”</p> +<p>“I’ll fix that up with you,” answered the hotel +man, in a whisper. “Come on. We can come +back later.” And then the hotel man said something +to the driver of the wagon. The latter +merely nodded and got back to his seat. Jason +Sparr climbed up beside him, and the constable +slowly followed.</p> +<p>“I don’t understand––” went on the constable; +but Jason Sparr merely pinched his arm, +and he stopped short.</p> +<p>“Just remember, this ain’t settled yet!” cried +the hotel-keeper, to Dave and Roger. “I’m going +to look into it a bit deeper before I make a move, +that’s all. I know some of you done it, and +I’ll have you in prison for it yet, see if I don’t!” +And he shook his head grimly; and then the covered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +wagon was turned around, and the three +men drove off in the direction of Oakdale.</p> +<p>“Oh, Dave, do you think they’ll come back?” +cried Roger, when the men were out of hearing.</p> +<p>“There is no telling what they will do, Roger. +But you can make up your mind to one thing—Sparr +won’t come back until he has more evidence +than he has at present.”</p> +<p>“But how can he get evidence? Surely you +don’t think Phil and the others guilty, even if they +did run away.”</p> +<p>“No, I think Phil and the others are as innocent +as we are. But I can’t understand some +things. Somebody used that dynamite and somebody +wrote a letter to Sparr about us. The question +is, Who was it?”</p> +<p>“Could it be Nat Poole?”</p> +<p>“I don’t think Nat would be bad enough to +try to blow up a hotel.”</p> +<p>“It certainly was an awful thing to do.” +Roger drew a long breath. “What shall we do +now, go back to school?”</p> +<p>“We might as well. If we don’t, old Haskers +will be after us again.”</p> +<p>“Do you think Phil and the others will come +back?”</p> +<p>“Why not? As soon as they have time to +think it over they’ll realize it is best to face the +music,” answered Dave. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>He and Roger returned to Oak Hall. They +had missed one class, but fortunately that was one +presided over by Mr. Dale, and he readily excused +them when they said they had had some +personal matters of importance to attend to, and +would explain later.</p> +<p>“It is bound to come out, sooner or later,” +said Dave to his chum. “So we might as well +take Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale into our confidence.”</p> +<p>“I suppose you are right,” answered the senator’s +son. Nevertheless, he heaved a deep sigh, +as he thought of what might be the outcome of +the trouble. What if, after all, Jason Sparr +should concoct some sort of evidence against them +and send them all to prison?</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIX_LOOKING_FOR_THE_RUNAWAYS' id='CHAPTER_XIX_LOOKING_FOR_THE_RUNAWAYS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>LOOKING FOR THE RUNAWAYS</h3> +</div> +<p>When Dave and Roger went to the midday +meal in the dining-room they looked all over for +Phil, Ben, and Buster, but the three were not in +sight.</p> +<p>“Dave, they haven’t come back yet.”</p> +<p>“So I see,” returned our hero, and he was +much disturbed. He ate sparingly, and the senator’s +son also had but little appetite for the +meal.</p> +<p>“Say, what’s become of those chaps?” questioned +Shadow.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you later,” answered Dave. “Don’t +say anything now—and tell the others to keep +quiet, too.”</p> +<p>But such a happening could not be kept quiet, +and soon it was whispered around that Phil, Ben, +and Buster were missing. This presently got to +the ears of Andrew Dale, and the head assistant +teacher sought out Dave for an explanation.</p> +<p>“I understand you went out with Lawrence, +Basswood, and Beggs this morning, Porter,” said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +the teacher. “They are not yet back. Do you +know where they went?”</p> +<p>“They went off in a motor-boat, that is all I +know about that part of it, Mr. Dale. Roger +Morr and I would like to speak to you and Doctor +Clay in private. It is very important,” went on +our hero.</p> +<p>“Very well. Come at once to the office and I +will call the doctor.”</p> +<p>A little later found the two youths in the office +with Doctor Clay and his head assistant. There, +as briefly as he could, Dave told his story, and +Roger corroborated what was said. The head of +the school was deeply interested and not a little +alarmed.</p> +<p>“This is certainly serious,” he declared, with +a grave shake of his head. “It reflects not only +on you but on this school. I must look into this +at once.” And then he asked many questions, and +Andrew Dale did the same.</p> +<p>“Running away makes it look bad for Lawrence, +Beggs, and Basswood,” remarked Mr. +Dale. “They should have stood their ground, as +Morr and Porter did.”</p> +<p>“That hotel man and the constable probably +scared them so they did not know what they +were doing,” returned Doctor Clay. He turned +to the boys. “You have no idea where they +went?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span></p> +<p>“No, sir, excepting that they went up the river +in the Kingsley motor-boat. They know Tom +Kingsley quite well and he lets them use the boat +once in a while.”</p> +<p>“Do you think you could find them, if I let you +off to do so?”</p> +<p>“We could try, sir.”</p> +<p>“Then you may go at once. Tell them it was +very foolish to run away, and urge them to come +back at once,” added Doctor Clay.</p> +<p>A little more conversation followed, and then +Dave and Roger left the office and started on +the search for the runaways.</p> +<p>“We ought to have a motor-boat ourselves, +to follow them up the river—that is, if they went +any distance,” said the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“We might try to borrow one, Roger.”</p> +<p>“Not Nat Poole’s—he wouldn’t lend it to +us.”</p> +<p>“I know that.”</p> +<p>The two students walked to the river and +looked up and down the stream. A rowboat and +a sailboat were in sight, but that was all.</p> +<p>“There is Jack Laplow in his sloop,” cried +Dave, mentioning a riverman they knew. “The +wind is blowing up the stream. Maybe he’ll take +us along.”</p> +<p>They hailed the riverman, who made a living +by doing all sorts of jobs on the stream. He did +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +not have much to do just then and readily agreed, +for a small amount, to take them up the river +and bring them back.</p> +<p>“We want to find some fellows who are in the +Kingsley motor-boat,” explained Dave. “Have +you seen anything of them?”</p> +<p>The riverman had not, but said he would help +to watch out for the lads. Dave and Roger +hopped aboard the sloop, and soon the little craft +was standing up the Leming River, with Jack +Laplow at the tiller.</p> +<p>It was a warm, clear day, and had the boys +not been distressed in mind, they would have +enjoyed the sail immensely. But as it was, they +were very sober, so much so in fact that the old +riverman at length remarked:</p> +<p>“What’s wrong—somebody hurt, or are ye +going to a funeral?”</p> +<p>“No funeral,” answered Dave, with a forced +laugh. “But we are in a hurry to find those three +fellows.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t see no motor-boat yet,” answered +Jack Laplow.</p> +<p>“One thing is certain: if it went up the river +it’s got to come down,” said Roger.</p> +<p>“They may get out and send it back,” answered +our hero.</p> +<p>“But, Dave, surely you don’t think––” But +Dave put up his hand for silence and nodded in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +the direction of the boatman; and the senator’s +son said no more.</p> +<p>A mile and a half were covered, and they were +just passing one of the many islands in the river, +when Jack Laplow gave a shout.</p> +<p>“There is the motor-boat now!”</p> +<p>“Boat ahoy!” shouted Dave, and then, as they +drew closer, he saw that it was really the Kingsley +craft. He was chagrined to see that only a man +was on board, a fellow who was running the boat +very slowly.</p> +<p>“Where are those boys who were aboard?” +demanded our hero, as the motor-boat came +closer.</p> +<p>“Is this your boat?” asked the man on board, +in return.</p> +<p>“No, but my friends were on that boat. +Where are they?”</p> +<p>“Left the boat at Snog’s Point, and hired +me to bring her back. I don’t know much about +motor-boats, so I’m running kind o’ slow,” explained +the man.</p> +<p>“Snog’s Point?” repeated Roger. “Where +were they going?”</p> +<p>“Don’t ask me, for I don’t know. They was +in a tremenjous hurry, I know that. It’s all right, +ain’t it?” went on the man, quickly.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, it was all right,” answered Dave. +And then they allowed the man to go on his way.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +<img src='images/illus-003.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 320px; height: 498px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 320px;'> +“<span style='font-variant:small-caps'>There is the motor-boat now</span>!”—<i>Page 186</i>.<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Want to go up to Snog’s Point?” asked the +man of the sloop.</p> +<p>“Yes,—and as quickly as you can get there,” +replied Dave.</p> +<p>As the wind was in the right direction, it did +not take long. The Point was a rocky cliff with +a stretch of sand at its base. Here the boys +jumped ashore.</p> +<p>“Want me to wait for you?” asked the riverman.</p> +<p>“Wait for half an hour,” said Dave. “Then, +if we are not back, you can go back;” and so it +was arranged.</p> +<p>In the sand our hero and Roger could plainly +see the marks of the motor-boat and many footprints. +They followed the footprints to a road +leading through a stretch of woods, and then +came out on a highway leading to Barrelton.</p> +<p>“The town is about half a mile from here. +Wonder if they went there?” mused Roger.</p> +<p>“Maybe we can learn something at the nearest +farmhouse,” suggested Dave.</p> +<p>They hurried on, and presently reached a farmhouse +set close to the road, with a barn on the +other side. At a grindstone a tall, thin boy was +sharpening a sickle.</p> +<p>“Yes, I saw them fellers,” he drawled, when +asked about the runaways. “They was walking +to town to beat the cars. I thought they must be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +in one o’ them cross-country races, or something +like that.”</p> +<p>“Come on!” cried Dave to his chum. Then +he turned back suddenly. “Do you know anything +about the trains from Barrelton?”</p> +<p>“Ain’t many trains from there,” answered the +youth at the grindstone.</p> +<p>“But do you know what there are?”</p> +<p>“There’s a train north jest about due now.”</p> +<p>“And what is next?”</p> +<p>“A train south a leetle after four o’clock. An’ +the freight goes through at seven.”</p> +<p>“Hurry, Roger!” cried Dave.</p> +<p>“Do you think they’d take a train, Dave?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know—I hope not.”</p> +<p>The two boys set off on a run, taking it easy +at first, so as not to get winded. They passed +a number of farms and presently came in sight +of Barrelton, so called because of the barrel factory +located there. From a distance they had +heard the whistle of a locomotive, and knew that +the north-bound train had stopped at the station +and gone on.</p> +<p>“There is the station!” cried Dave, pointing +up the railroad tracks. They continued to run +and did not stop until they gained the platform. +Here they met the ticket agent.</p> +<p>“The train just went, didn’t it?” asked Dave, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +and as the agent nodded, he went on: “Did three +young fellows like ourselves get on?”</p> +<p>“If they did, I didn’t see ’em,” answered the +man.</p> +<p>“Oh!” cried Roger, “maybe they didn’t take +the train, after all.”</p> +<p>“Let us hope so.”</p> +<p>Somewhat out of breath, the two boys tramped +around Barrelton, looking for Phil and the others, +and asking about them. But nobody appeared to +have seen the runaways, and not a trace of them +was to be found anywhere.</p> +<p>“All we can do is to get something to eat and +take the other train for Oakdale,” said Roger, +after they had satisfied themselves that the runaways +were nowhere in that vicinity. The walking +around had made him hungry.</p> +<p>They procured some pie and milk at a little +stand near the station, and shortly after four +o’clock took the way train for Oakdale and walked +to the school. They went directly to the doctor’s +office. The master of Oak Hall listened patiently +to what they had to tell.</p> +<p>“I am sorry you did not find them,” he said, +gravely. “It was very foolish of them to run +away, very. I trust they will come back of their +own accord soon.”</p> +<p>“Will you see Mr. Sparr about the matter?” +asked Dave. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span></p> +<p>“Yes, Porter. And I wish you and Morr to +go with me.”</p> +<p>The interview took place that evening, the boys +and the doctor driving down to the hotel after +supper. Jason Sparr treated the master of the +Hall politely but said very little.</p> +<p>“When I make my next move I’ll have a lawyer,” +he said. “I know somebody tried to blow +up my hotel, and I think it was some of your boys—that +Lawrence boy especially. But I ain’t going +to have ’em arrested until I can prove it.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” answered Doctor Clay. “And +in the meantime, you had better keep quiet, or +you may have a suit for damages on hand.”</p> +<p>On the day following there was something of a +sensation. The weekly newspaper issued in a +nearby town came out with a thrilling account of +the dynamiting of the dining-room of the hotel. +In the account appeared the following:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:1.0em; '>“There is strong evidence pointing to the fact +that the outrageous deed was perpetrated by some +schoolboys who held a grudge against Mr. Sparr. +They are known to have been present at the blowing +up of the old stone bridge, and were seen near +the shanty where the sticks of dynamite were kept, +and one boy of the town says he saw a young man +coming from the shanty with something in his +hand. Mr. Sparr has the authorities at work and +is piling up his evidence, and the arrest of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +rascally schoolboys may be hourly expected. It is +said that some of the boys have run away, but the +authorities have an idea where they can be located. +The town committee is thinking of offering +a reward for the capture and conviction of +the rascals. For the safety of our citizens, the +Weekly Globe-Leader hopes the evil-doers will +soon be apprehended.”</p> +<p>No names were mentioned in this account, but +everybody in Oakdale and vicinity knew that the +boys of Oak Hall were alluded to, and there was +much talk over what might be done. Doctor Clay +felt the disgrace keenly, and Dave and Roger were +equally affected.</p> +<p>“What are we going to do, Dave?” asked +the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” returned our hero. “But +we’ve got to do something, that’s certain.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XX_THE_WILD_MAN_AGAIN' id='CHAPTER_XX_THE_WILD_MAN_AGAIN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>THE WILD MAN AGAIN</h3> +</div> +<p>“Roger, I have an idea!”</p> +<p>“What is it, Dave?”</p> +<p>“I may be mistaken, but I’ve been thinking +that perhaps that wild man did the blowing up +at the hotel.”</p> +<p>“What makes you think that?” questioned the +senator’s son, putting down the book he had been +trying to study.</p> +<p>A day had passed after the events recorded +in the last chapter, and so far no word had come +in concerning Phil and the other runaways. Doctor +Clay had sent for a private detective to assist +in locating them and also to try, if possible, to +clear up the mystery concerning the hotel affair.</p> +<p>“Well, in the first place, it would be just like +a crazy man to do such a thing, wouldn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Perhaps.”</p> +<p>“In the second place, I have heard that the +wild man was seen around when the bridge was +blown up.”</p> +<p>“Is that so? Who saw him?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span></p> +<p>“Mr. Tyson, the farmer who lives near the +bridge.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t he try to capture the fellow?”</p> +<p>“He did, but in the excitement of the blowing +up the wild man slipped him. And that isn’t all. +Mr. Tyson saw him coming from the vicinity of +that shanty where the dynamite was kept.”</p> +<p>“Say, that is certainly interesting!” cried the +senator’s son. “When did you learn all this?”</p> +<p>“Less than an hour ago. Mr. Tyson brought +some vegetables to the school and I had a talk +with him.”</p> +<p>“Did he think the wild man blew up the +hotel?”</p> +<p>“No, he didn’t connect the two.”</p> +<p>“Hum! What do you think of doing about +it?”</p> +<p>“I hardly know. I wish we could round up the +wild man.”</p> +<p>“Plenty of folks wish that.”</p> +<p>“I think he hangs out somewhere along the +river, or on one of the islands.”</p> +<p>“Maybe Nat Poole knows.”</p> +<p>“I hardly think so—although I am sure Nat +wants to find the fellow—why, I can’t imagine.”</p> +<p>During those trying days, Job Haskers was as +harsh and dictatorial to Dave and Roger as ever, +and several times he passed sneering remarks +about those who were missing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span></p> +<p>“You may think as you please, Doctor Clay,” +said he to the master of the Hall. “I feel sure +in my mind that Lawrence and those other boys +are guilty. I do not think Mr. Sparr would +accuse them if he was not pretty sure of his +ground.”</p> +<p>“Well, he has not dared to have those warrants +served,” replied the doctor, dryly.</p> +<p>“Because he is afraid there will be a great +deal of money used in the case to fight him.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Haskers, do you stand up for Mr. Sparr? +I thought you had had some difficulty yourself +with him once?”</p> +<p>“That was but a small affair. I think he is perfectly +honest and that he wants to do what is +right.”</p> +<p>“Possibly. But he did not treat Lawrence +very fairly in the matter of that dinner that was +ordered.”</p> +<p>“That was a mistake, and Mr. Sparr lost as +much as he got. Yes, I think those boys guilty, +and in the end you will find out that I am right,” +added Job Haskers as he went off, smiling grimly +to himself, as if it was a pleasure to him to have +the boys thus accused.</p> +<p>The next morning came another surprise. On +getting up Dave noticed that something was missing +from the dormitory. Phil’s suit-case was gone, +likewise a portion of his clothing, and also the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +valises of Ben and Buster, and part of their outfits.</p> +<p>“Well, this beats the Dutch!” exclaimed +Roger, on learning the news. “Who took them, +do you suppose?”</p> +<p>“Don’t ask me, Roger.”</p> +<p>“Maybe they came themselves and got them,” +suggested Sam.</p> +<p>“If they did, wouldn’t we hear them?” asked +Gus.</p> +<p>“Talk about a mysterious disappearance,” +cried Shadow. “Say, this puts me in mind of a +story. Once some fellows––”</p> +<p>“Oh, stow it, Shadow!” cried the senator’s +son. “Let’s get busy and try to find out what +this means. Maybe they are back at the school.”</p> +<p>All of the boys dressed hastily and took a +look around. But they could find no trace of the +runaways. Yet the traveling-bags and the clothing +were certainly gone.</p> +<p>“If I didn’t know better, I’d say the place was +haunted!” cried Luke.</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t say that!” exclaimed Polly Vane, +looking scared. “I don’t wish to see any ghosts.”</p> +<p>Doctor Clay was informed of what had occurred, +and he had another search conducted. +But it was all to no purpose—the things were +missing, and that was all there was to it.</p> +<p>It may well be imagined that with so much +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +going on it was next to impossible for Dave and +Roger to study. Yet they did their best, not wishing +to drop behind again as they had during the +trip to Cave Island. Job Haskers did not let up +on them, and many a time they wished he would +leave Oak Hall and that they might never see +him again.</p> +<p>One afternoon Roger came to Dave in great +haste and beckoned for him to come outside.</p> +<p>“I think we had better follow Nat Poole,” said +the senator’s son. “I think there is something +in the wind.”</p> +<p>“What makes you think that?”</p> +<p>“Nat has been packing a valise and he has put +in the strangest things—some clothing, some bottles +of medicine, some rope, and a thing that looks +like a crown made of brass.”</p> +<p>“A crown made of brass? Oh, Roger, maybe +that wild man—who calls himself the King of +Sumatra––”</p> +<p>“That’s the idea, Dave, I see you’ve caught +on. Come on, before Nat gets away from us.”</p> +<p>Our hero needed no further urging, and soon +he and Roger were on their way to the gymnasium, +where the senator’s son had, by pure accident, +seen Nat Poole packing the things mentioned +in his handbag.</p> +<p>As they approached, they saw the money-lender’s +son trundle out a bicycle he owned and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +mount it, swinging his valise over his shoulder by +a strap. He looked back to see if he was being +observed, but Dave and Roger were on guard +and quickly dove out of sight behind some bushes.</p> +<p>“We’ll have to follow on our own wheels,” +said Dave.</p> +<p>Their old bicycles were still in the gymnasium. +They were not in very good condition, but the +tires were air-tight and that was enough. Without +delay, they trundled the machines out, and +leaping into the saddles, pedaled after Nat.</p> +<p>The course of the money-lender’s son was +along the river road, and he followed this for +the best part of a mile. Then he branched off +on a side-road leading to what were known as the +Chester Hills. It was hard work pushing the machine +up the hills, but Nat kept at it steadily, and +Dave and Roger followed. Strange to say, the +money-lender’s son did not once look back after +leaving the school. Evidently he was of the +opinion that nobody had observed his departure, +or, if so, had taken no particular notice of it.</p> +<p>From the top of one of the hills, Nat struck +off on another side-road, leading to a little valley. +Here was a brook, and at a point where +it widened out, a small and really beautiful island. +In the center of the island a cabin had been built +by some sportsman, and a rustic bridge connected +the resort with the shore. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span></p> +<p>Reaching the rustic bridge, Nat dismounted, +and with his valise still over his shoulder, walked +towards the cabin. As he did this Dave and +Roger came quite close and they, too, dismounted, +keeping in the shelter of some trees near by.</p> +<p>“Stop! I command you, in the name of the +King of Sumatra, to stop!”</p> +<p>The call came from the cabin, and a second +later the wild man appeared. He was clad in +a blue pair of trousers and over his shoulder was +thrown a big red blanket. On his head rested +a crown made of a tin pail cut into sharp +points.</p> +<p>“I salute you, King of Sumatra!” called out +Nat, making a low bow.</p> +<p>“Ha! it is my servant that speaks,” said the +wild man. “Bow low, bow, I tell you!” and he +flourished a wooden sword that he held in one +hand.</p> +<p>“It is the wild man, sure enough!” whispered +Roger, in great excitement.</p> +<p>“And evidently he has been expecting Nat,” +returned Dave. “Let us get closer and see what +is up.”</p> +<p>They advanced with care until they were behind +a tree at the very foot of the rustic bridge. +In the meantime Nat had gone forward, bowing +low at every step.</p> +<p>“I have brought you something, my king!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +cried the money-lender’s son. “Something of +great importance to you.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” demanded the wild man, his +curiosity excited.</p> +<p>“A new crown. It is of gold, a beautiful +crown.”</p> +<p>“Ha! ha! that is well! The King of Sumatra +needs a new crown!” cried the wild man, strutting +up and down in front of the cabin. “Give +it to me, that I may see if it fits.” And he held +out his empty hand.</p> +<p>“Let us go into the cabin, and you can sit in +your chair of state while I place it on your head,” +said Nat, in a soothing, persuasive voice. “You +will like it, I know.”</p> +<p>“Did you bring your army with you?” demanded +the wild man, suspiciously.</p> +<p>“No, I am all alone—the army is at Oakdale,” +answered Nat.</p> +<p>“Again ’tis well. Come in, and I will sit on +the throne,” and with a sweeping gesture of welcome, +the wild man stepped back into the cabin, +and Nat Poole followed.</p> +<p>“Now, what do you make of this?” whispered +Roger, looking at Dave in wonder.</p> +<p>“I have an idea, Roger,” answered our hero. +“Nat knows that man; in fact, he is well acquainted +with him. I think he is going to try to +make him a prisoner.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></p> +<p>“A prisoner? Oh, I see; for the glory of it, +eh?”</p> +<p>“No, to get him back to some sanitarium as +quietly as possible. I think Nat would like to do +it without anybody around here being the wiser.”</p> +<p>“Oh! Then maybe the fellow is some relative +of the Pooles.”</p> +<p>“Possibly, or a close friend. But come on, +let us see what happens. We ought to try to capture +the man ourselves.”</p> +<p>“To be sure. But I don’t see how we are +going to do it. We are unarmed, and they say +crazy folks are fearfully strong.”</p> +<p>“We’ll have to watch our chances.”</p> +<p>The cabin had a window as well as a door, +and to the former the two boys crawled. Peering +through a vine that grew over the opening, they +saw that the wild man had seated himself on a +rude bench which he called his throne. It was +covered with a tattered carpet and some cabalistic +signs in blue chalk. Nat had placed his valise +on the ground and was opening it. He brought +out the crown and also the rope, but took care to +conceal the latter under his coat.</p> +<p>“Now you must close your eyes and sit perfectly +still while I place the crown on your head,” +said the money-lender’s son. “I will have to do +it from behind, for that is the way they do it in +England and Germany.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span></p> +<p>“Do they do it in Russia that way, too?” demanded +the wild man, and his eyes took on a +glowing look as he gazed at the brass crown.</p> +<p>“Of course.”</p> +<p>“Then let it be so.” And the wild man sat +back on the bench and closed his eyes, and stroked +his straggly beard.</p> +<p>Quickly Nat stepped behind the man, and while +he fumbled with the crown with one hand, he +brought out the rope with the other. He was +greatly excited and his hands trembled.</p> +<p>“Now sit perfectly still while I count fifty,” +said the money-lender’s son. “Then when +I––”</p> +<p>He did not finish, for at that instant the wild +man let out a sudden yell and leaped to his feet. +He ran to the doorway; and the next moment +came face to face with Dave and Roger.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXI_SOMETHING_OF_A_CLEW' id='CHAPTER_XXI_SOMETHING_OF_A_CLEW'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>SOMETHING OF A CLEW</h3> +</div> +<p>“Ha! ha! you are the army sent to capture +me, are you? But I am not to be captured! Take +the cannons away! Bring up the artillery! Forward +the light brigade! Victory for the King of +Sumatra! Oh, if only I had a company of trained +monkeys I would show you how to fight!”</p> +<p>Thus speaking, the wild man danced around +before Dave and Roger, swinging his wooden +sword close to their heads. Indeed, our hero +had to dodge back, to keep from being hit.</p> +<p>“Hello, you here?” cried Nat, coming from +the cabin. “You followed me, did you?” He +scowled deeply. “It’s just like you, Dave +Porter!”</p> +<p>“Nobody shall follow the King of Sumatra!” +went on the wild man, with a cunning look at the +three students. “Away! Out of my sight!” he +yelled.</p> +<p>He dashed past Dave and Roger, moving towards +the rustic bridge. Our hero caught him by +the arm, but received a blow in the face that staggered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +him. Roger also tried to catch the man, +but he was too quick, and a second later was on +the bridge.</p> +<p>“Come back!” bawled Nat. “Come back, +Uncle Wilbur! Don’t you know me? Come +back, please! We won’t hurt you!” And then +he set off after the wild man, who was running +along the road beyond the bridge.</p> +<p>“Dave, did you hear that?” gasped the senator’s +son. “He called the wild man Uncle Wilbur!”</p> +<p>“Yes, I heard him,” returned our hero. “No +wonder he has been after him, Roger. Come on, +let us see if we can’t catch him.”</p> +<p>The chums started after the wild man and the +money-lender’s son. The way was along the road, +but presently the wild man turned into a stretch +of woods. He could run like a trained athlete, +and easily outdistanced Nat, who kept calling +after him.</p> +<p>When Dave and Roger came up they found +the money-lender’s son leaning against a tree, +out of breath and much disgusted.</p> +<p>“Couldn’t get him, eh?” queried Roger.</p> +<p>“No, you fellows scared him off,” growled the +money-lender’s son.</p> +<p>“I am sorry if we did that,” said Dave.</p> +<p>“You had no right to butt in,” grumbled Nat. +“What did you follow me for, anyway?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></p> +<p>“Because we thought you were after the wild +man, that’s why,” answered Roger.</p> +<p>“Humph!”</p> +<p>“So he is your Uncle Wilbur,” went on our +hero, after a pause, and he turned a look of +sympathy at Nat as he spoke.</p> +<p>“Who told you that?”</p> +<p>“You called him Uncle Wilbur.”</p> +<p>“I—I guess you are mistaken,” stammered +Nat, growing red in the face.</p> +<p>“No, we heard you as plain as day,” put in +the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“You haven’t any right to pry into my affairs, +Roger Morr! You nor Dave Porter either!”</p> +<p>“Perhaps not,” answered Roger.</p> +<p>“Look here, Nat, if we can help you we’ll do +it,” came from Dave. “I suppose, if that man is +your uncle, you wish to get him back to the—er—the +sanitarium as quickly and as quietly as possible; +is that so?”</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t you want to do that, if he was +your uncle?” asked the money-lender’s son, flushing +deeply.</p> +<p>“Certainly. But it looks, now, as if you couldn’t +do it alone.”</p> +<p>“I might have done it, if you hadn’t come up +and queered my game.”</p> +<p>“He didn’t see us until he ran out of the +cabin,” said Roger. “He just got a wild streak +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +on, that’s all. I don’t think you could have managed +him alone. He wouldn’t let you tie him up +with that rope.”</p> +<p>“Well, he’s gone, that’s sure,” grumbled Nat. +“I’m going back to the cabin for my valise.”</p> +<p>“He may come back,” suggested Dave.</p> +<p>“I don’t think so. But I’ll wait and see. I +hung around once for him—on that island—but +he never came back. It isn’t often he visits +the same spot twice. That’s the reason the authorities +around here haven’t caught him.”</p> +<p>“What is his name, Nat?”</p> +<p>“Wilbur Poole, if you must know. He is my +father’s half-brother.”</p> +<p>“Where did he come from?”</p> +<p>“From the Blossmore Sanitarium, in New +York state. It’s a private place, near Lake Erie. +He lost a lot of money several years ago in a +speculation in Sumatra tobacco and that made +him crazy, and that is why, I suppose, he calls +himself the King of Sumatra.”</p> +<p>“Did you know he was missing when you heard +of the wild man?” questioned Dave, with interest.</p> +<p>“No, I did not, for the sanitarium people did +not notify us that he had gotten away. I suppose +they thought he would stay near the institution +and that they would be able to get him again. I +can’t imagine what brought him away out here, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +excepting that I went to see him once, when he +was somewhat better, and I told him about Oakdale +and our school. I knew he called himself +the King of Sumatra, and that is why I got interested +in the wild man as soon as I heard you +mention that name. Then, when the handkerchief +was found, I was sure the man was my +uncle.”</p> +<p>“And you put the hole in the handkerchief,” +said our hero.</p> +<p>“Yes, because—well, I didn’t want folks to +find out from the Blossmore authorities that the +man was my uncle,” answered Nat, casting down +his eyes. “I thought I might be able to catch +him and send him back on the quiet. I didn’t +want the whole school talking about it.”</p> +<p>“I can understand your feelings, Nat,” said +our hero, kindly. “And if I can help you in the +matter, I’ll do it.”</p> +<p>“I suppose you’ll tell everybody he’s my uncle,” +came bitterly from the money-lender’s son.</p> +<p>“No, I won’t. But I think Doctor Clay ought +to know it.”</p> +<p>“And what of your folks?” asked Roger. +“Do they know?”</p> +<p>“I sent my dad a letter about it last week. +But he is away on business, so I don’t know +when he’ll get it or what he’ll do. I didn’t let the +Blossmore folks know because I don’t think my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +uncle ought to go back to that place. He ought to +be put in an institution where they are more strict, +so he can’t get away again.”</p> +<p>“You are right there,” said Dave.</p> +<p>“Nat, don’t you know it is highly dangerous to +allow that man at large?” asked the senator’s +son, after a pause, during which the three boys +turned their footsteps towards the island cabin.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t think he is as dangerous as some +folks imagine,” was the reply. “He has never +actually harmed anybody yet. But he scares ’em.”</p> +<p>“He may have committed some deeds of which +you know nothing.”</p> +<p>At these suggestive words from the senator’s +son Nat turned pale.</p> +<p>“What do you mean? Have you heard anything, +Roger?”</p> +<p>“I hate to hurt your feelings any further, Nat, +but I must be honest with you. Dave and I have +an idea that he was the one who blew up the +dining-room of Sparr’s hotel.”</p> +<p>“Oh, impossible!”</p> +<p>“What Roger says is true,” said Dave, gravely. +“I am sorry for you, Nat, but that is the way it +looks to us. He was seen around the old stone +bridge when it was blown up, and around the +shanty where the dynamite was kept, and he has +been in Oakdale several times, so we have heard.”</p> +<p>“Oh, he wouldn’t do such a thing! He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +couldn’t!” cried the money-lender’s son, in genuine +distress.</p> +<p>“An insane man is liable to do anything, Nat,” +said Roger. “Why, he might have set off that +dynamite without realizing the consequences. The +best thing we can do is to organize a regular +search for him, and round him up as quickly as +possible.”</p> +<p>“I suppose that is so,” groaned Nat. “But, +oh, how I do hate the exposure!”</p> +<p>“You mustn’t take it too hard, Nat,” said +Dave. “Remember, neither you nor your family +are responsible for his condition of mind.”</p> +<p>It did not take the three students long to reach +the little cabin. While Nat was packing up the +things he had brought along, Dave and Roger +looked over the place. The wild man had had +but few things, none of them worth mentioning. +There was a newspaper and an old magazine, +showing that Wilbur Poole occasionally indulged +in reading.</p> +<p>“Hello, look here!” cried Roger, as he turned +the magazine over. “Well, I declare!”</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Dave and Nat, in a +breath.</p> +<p>“Here’s a picture, drawn in blue pencil. It is +marked Fort, but it looks like Sparr’s hotel.”</p> +<p>“And look what it says!” cried Dave, eying +the crude drawing. “‘Powder House to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +blown up’! That’s the dining-room, as plain as +day!”</p> +<p>“And down here it says, ‘Dynamite will do +it easily,’ and signed, ‘King of Sumatra.’ Dave, +he did it, and this proves it.”</p> +<p>“It certainly looks that way, Roger.”</p> +<p>“Let me see that drawing!” burst out Nat, +and would have snatched it from Roger’s hand +had not Dave stopped him.</p> +<p>“You can look at it, Nat, but you must give it +back,” said our hero.</p> +<p>“What for? My uncle drew that and I have +a right to it.”</p> +<p>“No, I am going to hand this over to Doctor +Clay and then to the Oakdale authorities. It may +be needed to clear Phil, Ben, and Buster.”</p> +<p>“Hurrah, Dave, that’s the talk!” cried Roger, +with sudden enthusiasm. “I didn’t think of it, +but that is just what is needed to clear ’em! +We’ll knock Jason Sparr’s accusations into a +cocked hat!”</p> +<p>“You let me see that drawing!” shouted Nat, +making another grab for it. “I’ve got a right +to it—if my uncle made it.”</p> +<p>“You can look at it, but you can’t handle it,” +said Dave, and he gave Roger a look that the +senator’s son well understood. Both knew that +the money-lender’s son could not be trusted with +such an important bit of evidence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></p> +<p>The drawing was held up, but Nat was not +permitted to get too close to it. He looked it +over carelessly and then his lip curled.</p> +<p>“Huh! I don’t think my uncle drew it,” he +said.</p> +<p>“And we think he did,” returned Dave.</p> +<p>There was a sudden silence after this. Each +boy was busy with his thoughts. Dave felt particularly +light-hearted.</p> +<p>“This ought to clear Phil and the others,” +he reasoned. “And they can come back to school +without delay and finish the term and graduate.”</p> +<p>Having packed up his things, Nat got out his +bicycle and prepared to ride back to Oak Hall, +and the others did the same.</p> +<p>“Going to give me that drawing?” asked the +money-lender’s son, just as he was ready to start +off.</p> +<p>“No, we are going to turn it over to Doctor +Clay,” said Roger.</p> +<p>“All right, have your own way,” growled +Nat.</p> +<p>As in coming to the cabin, the money-lender’s +son took the lead in the return to Oak Hall. +Dave and Roger kept close behind and occasionally +spoke of the happenings in guarded tones. +When the school was reached all left their bicycles +in the gymnasium.</p> +<p>“Going to Doctor Clay now?” demanded Nat. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></p> +<p>“We might as well,” said Dave. “The sooner +he knows of this, the better for everybody.”</p> +<p>“All right.”</p> +<p>Doctor Clay was somewhat surprised to see +the three boys, dusty and tired-looking, enter his +private office. He listened with close attention to +their tale of visiting the cabin and encountering +the wild man, and looked completely astonished +on learning that the man was Nat’s uncle.</p> +<p>“I am sorry for you, Poole,” said he, kindly. +“But such things will happen and you must make +the best of it. It is not your fault.”</p> +<p>Then Dave and Roger told of the finding of +the old magazine with the drawing and writing, +and Doctor Clay shook his head sorrowfully.</p> +<p>“Too bad! Too bad!” he murmured.</p> +<p>“But this clears Lawrence, Basswood, and +Beggs,” cried Dave. “And it clears Roger and +myself.”</p> +<p>“Yes! yes! so it does, Porter!”</p> +<p>“Don’t you believe it, Doctor Clay!” cried +Nat, leaping to his feet. “It does nothing of +the sort! That paper is no kind of evidence at +all!” And thus speaking, the money-lender’s son +glared defiantly at Dave and Roger.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXII_AFTER_THE_RUNAWAYS' id='CHAPTER_XXII_AFTER_THE_RUNAWAYS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>AFTER THE RUNAWAYS</h3> +</div> +<p>“Why, Nat, what do you mean?” demanded +Dave.</p> +<p>“I mean just what I say!” declared the money-lender’s +son. “This is a frame-up, nothing more! +I understand it all now, although I didn’t at +first.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by ‘a frame-up,’ Poole?” +demanded Doctor Clay.</p> +<p>“I mean that they took this magazine and the +drawing to the cabin, that is what I mean, Doctor +Clay. They found out somehow that my—er—that +the wild man was there, and they got up this +scheme to make it look as if he had blown up the +hotel,—and they did it just to clear their cronies +and themselves.”</p> +<p>“Nat, you know that is not true!” exclaimed +Roger. “I found the magazine with the drawing +on a shelf in the cabin.”</p> +<p>“Yes, that is what you said, but I don’t believe +it, Roger Morr. I think you put the magazine +there yourself—you or Dave Porter.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span></p> +<p>“We did nothing of the kind,” cried our hero.</p> +<p>“I think you did—and I think Jason Sparr +will think so, too, when he hears the story. It’s +a frame-up, just to clear yourselves and your +cronies,” added Nat, with a sneer.</p> +<p>“Nat, you ought to be––” began Roger, in +high anger, when Dave stopped him. Our hero +looked at Doctor Clay.</p> +<p>“What Roger says is the absolute truth, Doctor +Clay,” said our hero. “He found that magazine +on a shelf in the cabin where the wild man +was staying, and that drawing and the wording +were on it, just as you see. More than that, we +can prove that the wild man was around the old +shanty where the dynamite was kept, and that he +was seen in Oakdale several times.”</p> +<p>Dave was interrupted here by Nat, and a wordy +war lasting several minutes followed. Finally +Doctor Clay said he would take the magazine and +keep it, and that he would notify the authorities +in what locality the wild man might be found, provided +he had not gone away further than expected.</p> +<p>“I am inclined to believe the story told by Morr +and Porter,” said he somewhat sternly to Nat +Poole. “But this matter cannot be cleared up +until we find your uncle. When captured, the unfortunate +man will most likely speak of the blowing up +in some way or another, if he is guilty.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></p> +<p>“I don’t think so,” answered Nat; but his manner +showed that he was much disturbed. Then +Dave and Roger were dismissed, and the master +of the school took Nat with him to Oakdale, to see +what could be done towards rounding up Wilbur +Poole in the near future.</p> +<p>“Well, Dave, what is the next move?” asked +the senator’s son, as the two were alone in the +lavatory, washing up after the long bicycle ride.</p> +<p>“I wish I could find Phil and the others and +get them to come back here,” responded our +hero. “It is a great mistake for them to stay +away.”</p> +<p>“I believe you—it looks just as if they were +guilty. I wonder that they don’t come back on +their own account, now they have had a chance +to think it over.”</p> +<p>“I think they saw that article in the newspaper, +Roger, and it scared them worse than ever. +Maybe they imagine the officers of the law are +waiting to gobble them up.”</p> +<p>“If we only had some trace of them!”</p> +<p>“I’ve got an idea I am going to follow up.”</p> +<p>“What sort of an idea?”</p> +<p>“I was thinking of that baggage that left here. +Maybe it was shipped to some point.”</p> +<p>“You’ll have a job tracing it up.”</p> +<p>“I can try it, anyway,” answered our hero.</p> +<p>A day slipped by and nothing more was said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +about the affair by Doctor Clay or Nat Poole. +Then Nat left the school, telling some friends he +was going home for a week’s rest.</p> +<p>“Most likely he is after his uncle,” was Roger’s +comment, and Dave agreed with him.</p> +<p>As soon as he could get the time Dave went +to Oakdale to see if he could find any trace of the +baggage belonging to Phil and the others who had +run away. He made many inquiries but without +success, and was on the point of returning to the +school when he happened to think of an old man +named Dowling, who did some trucking and who +knew Buster Beggs very well.</p> +<p>“We’ll go around to Dowling’s place,” said he +to his chum.</p> +<p>They found the old man in a little shanty behind +his house which he called his office. It had +an old easy-chair and a desk, and on the wall was a +telephone.</p> +<p>“How do you do, boys,” he said, politely. +“What can I do for you? Want some baggage +shipped?”</p> +<p>“No, I came for some information, Mr. Dowling,” +said Dave. “Have you shipped any baggage +for Buster Beggs lately?”</p> +<p>At the mention of the fat student’s name the +old expressman started.</p> +<p>“What do you want to know that for?” he +demanded. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span></p> +<p>“I’ve a very good reason, Mr. Dowling. I +want to do Beggs a favor.”</p> +<p>“Reckon you want to find him, eh?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“So do some other folks;” and the old man +chuckled.</p> +<p>“Well, we are his friends, and we want to find +him for his own good.”</p> +<p>“Who be you, if I may ask?”</p> +<p>“I am Dave Porter, and this is Roger Morr. +Buster Beggs is our friend, and so are Phil Lawrence +and Ben Basswood. They ran away and +it was foolish for them to do it. Now we +want to find them and get them to come back +here.”</p> +<p>“It was foolish for ’em to run away—I said +thet all along,” murmured the old expressman.</p> +<p>“Then you know where they are?” put in +Roger quickly.</p> +<p>“No, I don’t.”</p> +<p>“But you took their baggage away, didn’t +you?” questioned Dave, for he could see that the +old man was holding something back.</p> +<p>“I allow as how I moved some things for ’em, +yes,” was the cautious reply.</p> +<p>“When they ran away?” pursued Dave.</p> +<p>The old expressman nodded.</p> +<p>“Who got those bags from Oak Hall?” asked +Roger. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></p> +<p>“Thet’s a secret,” and now the old man really +chuckled, as if he thought it was a good joke.</p> +<p>“You did!” declared Dave, bound to get at +the truth.</p> +<p>“No, I didn’t. Buster did—carried ’em down +on his back, one at a time, in the middle o’ the +night, an’ nobuddy knew it! Say, they could walk +off with yer hull school if they wanted to!” And +the old expressman chuckled again.</p> +<p>“You were waiting for him?” continued Dave.</p> +<p>“Might be as I was.”</p> +<p>“And you took the baggage to the depot?”</p> +<p>“Maybe I did.”</p> +<p>“And had them checked on railroad tickets?”</p> +<p>“No, Buster went one way, and the bags went +tudder—leas’wise so I was given to understand. +Maybe he done it to put me off the track,” continued +Isaac Dowling.</p> +<p>“But where did the bags go to?” demanded +Dave. “Come, out with it, Mr. Dowling. I give +you my word that I am acting for Buster’s good. +I wouldn’t get him into trouble for the world. He +is my chum, and so are those other boys my +friends.”</p> +<p>“Well, you look honest, boy, so I’ll tell ye. +The baggage was sent by express to a place called +Camptown Falls, in Maine.”</p> +<p>“Camptown Falls!” cried Roger. Then he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +looked at Dave, who nodded, to show that he +understood.</p> +<p>“Did Buster say he was going elsewhere?” +queried Dave.</p> +<p>“He didn’t say so, exactly. But he mentioned +Boston, an’ I thought he was goin’ there.”</p> +<p>“He left on the train?”</p> +<p>“No, he didn’t! He went off in the darkness, +an’ that’s the last I see o’ him,” concluded Isaac +Dowling, as a hail came for him to come into the +house.</p> +<p>“Camptown Falls,” said Dave, when he and +Roger were alone. “Can they have gone to that +out-of-the-way spot?”</p> +<p>“It would be the place Buster would pick out, +Dave. He has often spoken of going camping up +there.”</p> +<p>“He must have mentioned Boston just to throw +old Dowling off the track.”</p> +<p>“More than likely. And to think he took those +bags away while we slept!”</p> +<p>“I wonder where Phil and Ben were at the +time?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know. Maybe they were at that +camp.”</p> +<p>Much excited over what they had learned, Dave +and the senator’s son returned to Oak Hall. They +had expected to interview Doctor Clay and were +chagrined to learn that he had gone to New York +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +on important business and would not return for +two days. Mr. Dale had been left in charge of +the school.</p> +<p>“Roger, do you know what I think of doing?” +said our hero. “I’ve a good notion to get permission +to leave the Hall and go after Phil and +the others. I think I can get them to come +back.”</p> +<p>“Want me to go along?”</p> +<p>“That will hardly be necessary. Besides, I’d +like somebody to stay here and watch Nat Poole, +if he comes back. Do you know, I’ve a notion that +Nat knows more about this affair than he would +like to tell.”</p> +<p>“He certainly acts that way.”</p> +<p>“I am going to see Mr. Dale.”</p> +<p>Our hero had a long talk with the head assistant, +and the upshot of this was that he got permission +to go to Maine, to look for the runaways. +He was to be gone no longer than was absolutely +necessary.</p> +<p>It did not take our hero long to prepare for +the trip. He packed a few things in a suit-case +and then he was ready. He consulted a map and +some timetables, and found he could leave Oakdale +on the first train in the morning, and by making +two changes, reach Camptown Falls about two +o’clock in the afternoon. Nobody but Roger and +Mr. Dale knew that he was going away. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span></p> +<p>“Got money enough, have you, Dave?” questioned +the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Yes, Roger.”</p> +<p>“It’s a wild kind of a spot, so Buster told +me.”</p> +<p>“I am not afraid of that—if only I can locate +the boys,” answered our hero.</p> +<p>“How are you going to look for them?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know yet—I’ll find out after I get +there.”</p> +<p>It must be confessed that Dave slept but little +that night. His mind was filled with what was +before him. He felt that he had quite a mission +to perform, first in locating the runaways and +then in persuading them to return to Oak Hall +to face the music.</p> +<p>He had an early breakfast, Roger eating with +him, and then the buggy, driven by Horsehair, was +brought around and he got in, and a minute later +he was off, the senator’s son waving him an adieu +from the porch of the school.</p> +<p>Dave found the first train he rode on but half +filled with passengers, and he had a double seat +to himself. He changed at the Junction, and +about noon reached Lumberport, where he was to +take the train on the little side-line for Camptown +Falls. At Lumberport he got dinner, at a hotel +frequented by lumbermen. He sat at a long table +with half a dozen men and listened to their talk +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +with interest when he heard Camptown Falls mentioned.</p> +<p>“Yes, they tell me there is great danger of the +dam giving way just above Camptown Falls,” one +of the men said. “Doxey reported it hasn’t been +safe for a week.”</p> +<p>“Say, if that dam gave way it would do a lot +of damage below the Falls,” said another.</p> +<p>“It certainly would,” replied a tall lumberman. +“It would wipe out some of those camps on +Moosetail Island. I rather guess the water would +cover the whole island.”</p> +<p>“Somebody ought to warn the campers,” said +another.</p> +<p>“Oh, I guess they know it already,” was the +answer.</p> +<p>Dave arose from the table feeling very uneasy. +He remembered the name, Moosetail Island, now. +Buster had once mentioned it, stating he had +camped there and would like to go again. Were +the runaways there now, and in danger of the dam, +should it break?</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIII_AT_THE_CAMP' id='CHAPTER_XXIII_AT_THE_CAMP'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>AT THE CAMP</h3> +</div> +<p>At last the train came that was to take our +hero to the railroad station of Camptown Falls. +It was merely a flag station, but the conductor +said he would stop there for any passenger who +might wish to get off. The railroad was a single-track +affair, running through the woods and across +the country stretches, and the train consisted of +one passenger car and several freights.</p> +<p>Dave looked at the passengers and counted +them. There were just an even dozen, and of +these, ten were men, farmers and those in the +lumber business. One, a bright young fellow, sat +near our hero, and Dave resolved to ask him if +he knew anything about Camptown Falls and the +summer camps in that vicinity.</p> +<p>“Yes, I know all about the Falls,” said the +young lumberman. “I work not over three miles +from there—at Cropley’s—the station this side +of Camptown. There ain’t any town, not since +the Jewell Lumber Company busted up. Some +folks camp out there, down along the river and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +on Moosetail Island, but there aren’t near as +many as there used to be.”</p> +<p>“Somebody said the dam above Camptown +Falls was dangerous?” said Dave.</p> +<p>“I think it is myself, and I can’t understand +how they allow folks to camp along the river and +on that island. If that dam ever broke it would +be good-by to anybody on the island, I’m thinking.”</p> +<p>“Have you been up to the island lately?”</p> +<p>“I was there about a week ago.”</p> +<p>“Who were there then, do you know?”</p> +<p>“A couple of men from Portland and half a +dozen young fellers from Springfield. There was +another camp, with some women in it, but I didn’t +get around to that, I only heard of it. There are +half a dozen camps along the right bank of the +river, but they are on high ground, and if the dam +broke it isn’t likely the water would reach ’em,” +continued the young lumberman.</p> +<p>The train rolled along at a rate of twenty miles +an hour, making stops at stations and crossroads. +Here and there a person got on or off, and by the +time Camptown Falls was reached Dave had the +passenger car almost to himself.</p> +<p>The train halted for but a minute and our hero +alighted, suit-case in hand. Much to his surprise, +not a soul was about the little depot, which looked +old and dilapidated. There was a stretch of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +fields beyond the track, and farther on he made +out the glistening waters of the river, and in the +center the woodland stretch known as Moosetail +Island.</p> +<p>“Well, this surely is Lonesome Land!” Dave +murmured to himself, as the train rumbled out +of sight and he was left utterly alone. “And +not another train until eight o’clock to-morrow +morning! I’ll have a fine time of it to-night if I +don’t meet those fellows, or run across some camp +where they will take me in.”</p> +<p>Dave looked at the sky and this did not tend +to increase his good spirits. When he had left +Oakdale it had been warm and clear; now dark +clouds were forming overhead and it looked as if +it might rain before long.</p> +<p>“Well, I’ve got my raincoat and a waterproof +cap, and that is one comfort,” he told himself. +“But I had better hurry up and see if I can’t +find Phil and the others before it gets too dark. +I wish there was somebody here who could tell +me where to go.”</p> +<p>He looked around for a sign of some habitation. +Far across the river he saw a column of +smoke, coming up from among the trees, but that +was all. The only building in sight was the +deserted depot.</p> +<p>There was something of a path leading from +the depot to the river, and Dave followed this. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +But soon the path seemed to divide, and the various +branches became more indistinct at every step, +especially as it was rapidly growing darker and +darker.</p> +<p>“I’ll strike a straight course for Moosetail +Island,” Dave said to himself. “I’ll surely find +some people camping out there, and they may +be able to tell me about the boys, if they are +here.”</p> +<p>As he approached the river, going down a small +hill, the way became stony, and he had to walk +with care, for fear of going into some hole, or +twisting an ankle. It was hard work, especially +with the suit-case, and he half wished he had hidden +the baggage somewhere near the depot.</p> +<p>“I was a big chump that I didn’t bring some +lunch along,” he reasoned. And then he had to +smile at himself, as he remembered how he had +imagined that he might put up at some hotel in +Camptown Falls! He had not dreamed that the +place would prove such a lonely one. It was certainly +an ideal spot for runaways who wished to +remain undiscovered.</p> +<p>Presently Dave found himself at the bank of +the river, a wide but shallow stream, filled with +sandbars, rocks, and piles of driftwood. Not a +great distance off was the end of Moosetail +Island.</p> +<p>It was now so dark that our hero could see but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +little. As he stood at the edge of the river, he +heard a patter on the leaves of the trees and knew +it had begun to rain.</p> +<p>“Wonder how they get to the island?” he +mused. “They must either use canoes, or else +wade across, or ford along the stones.”</p> +<p>He moved along the river-bank, and soon came +to a point where the stones in the river seemed to +stretch in a line from the bank to the island.</p> +<p>“I guess I’ll try it here,” he told himself. +“But I think I had better leave the suit-case +behind.”</p> +<p>He placed the case in a tree, sheltering it as +much as possible from the rain, which was now +coming down at a lively rate. Then, donning his +raincoat and waterproof cap, he set out over the +rocks in the river, leaping from one to the next +and heading for the island.</p> +<p>It was no easy journey, and when but half-way +to Moosetail Island Dave slipped and went into +the stream up to his knees. He floundered around +for a moment, splashing the water into his face +and over his coat and cap.</p> +<p>“Phew! this is lots of fun!” was his grim +comment, as he at length found himself on a flat +rock, catching his breath. “Well, I am half-way +over, anyway.”</p> +<p>The remainder of the distance proved easier +traveling, and ten minutes later our hero stood +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +on the island. It was now raining steadily, and +the darkness of the storm had settled everywhere.</p> +<p>“I guess the best thing I can do is to move +right around the shore of this island,” he reasoned. +“By doing that I am bound to strike one +of the camps, sooner or later.”</p> +<p>He moved along as rapidly as the rocky shore +of Moosetail Island permitted. He had to proceed +with care, for there were many dangerous +pitfalls.</p> +<p>At length his heart was gladdened by the sight +of a rude log cabin, set in the trees a little back +from the water. He hurried to it and found the +door and window closed. Evidently the spot was +deserted.</p> +<p>“Nobody here,” he murmured, and his heart +sank for the moment, for he could see that the +camp had not been used for a long time. Then +he went on, the rain in the meanwhile coming down +harder than ever. The downfall made him think +of the dam that was said to be weak. What if the +present storm should make that structure give +way?</p> +<p>“I wish we were all out of this,” he murmured. +“I wonder if it would do any good to call?”</p> +<p>He set up a yell and listened, and then he +yelled again. From a long distance came an answering +cry. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></p> +<p>“Hurrah, that’s somebody, anyway!” he exclaimed. +“I hope it was one of the boys!”</p> +<p>He stumbled in the direction of the cry. Then +he yelled once more, and again came the answering +call. But now Dave was sure it was a man’s +voice, and he was somewhat disappointed.</p> +<p>“Where are you?” he called out, a moment +later. “Where are you?”</p> +<p>“This way! Come this way!” was the reply, +and soon Dave passed through a patch of timber +and around some rocks and reached a spot where +there was a tiny cove, with a stretch of fine sand. +Facing the cove was a neat log cabin with a small +lean-to, the latter containing a tiny stove.</p> +<p>A tall, good-natured man stood in the lean-to, +peering out into the rain. He watched Dave’s +approach with interest. He looked to be what he +was, a camp-cook and general worker.</p> +<p>“Hello!” he exclaimed, as Dave hurried in +out of the rain and shook the water from his cap. +“I thought you were one of our crowd.”</p> +<p>“What camp is this?” questioned our hero, +eagerly.</p> +<p>“Well, it ain’t no camp in particular,” answered +the man, with a grin. “It’s jest a camp.”</p> +<p>“But who is stopping here?”</p> +<p>“Three young fellers and myself.”</p> +<p>“Are their names Beggs, Lawrence, and Basswood?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span></p> +<p>“You’ve struck it. Maybe you are a friend +to ’em?” went on the man, inquiringly.</p> +<p>“I am, and I have come a long distance to find +them,” returned Dave, and his tone of voice +showed his relief. “Where are they?”</p> +<p>“They left the camp right after dinner an’ they +ain’t back yet. When you called I thought it +was one of ’em, although they didn’t expect to +be back much before supper-time. But now it’s +rainin’ I guess they’ll come back sooner.”</p> +<p>“How long have they been here?”</p> +<p>“Most a week now, I guess. I didn’t come +till day before yesterday. I didn’t have nothin’ +to do an’ they give me a job, cookin’ an’ like that,” +returned the man.</p> +<p>He invited Dave to make himself at home, and +our hero was glad enough to go inside and take off +the wet raincoat and also his shoes and socks. +The baggage belonging to Phil and the others +was in the cabin, and he helped himself to dry +garments and a dry pair of slippers.</p> +<p>“We are all school chums,” he told the man. +“My name is Dave Porter.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I heard ’em talkin’ about you!” cried +the camp-worker, and then said his own name was +Jerry Blutt, and that he was from Tegley, just +across the Canadian border.</p> +<p>“We are not far from the border here, are +we?” asked our hero. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span></p> +<p>“About six miles, thet’s all,” answered Jerry +Blutt, and this reply gave Dave another idea. +More than likely Buster and the others had chosen +this spot so that, if pursued by the officers of the +law, they could flee into Canada.</p> +<p>Jerry Blutt said the three lads had spent their +time in various ways, occasionally going fishing +and swimming. They had also written some letters +and gone to the railroad station to mail them +in the box placed there for that purpose.</p> +<p>“Have they been having a good time?” asked +Dave, curiously.</p> +<p>“I can’t say as to that, Mr. Porter. They +did seem mighty worried over something,” answered +the camp worker, and from this our hero +felt certain that the man had not been let into +the secret of why the runaways were there at all.</p> +<p>Half an hour went by and it continued to rain +as hard as ever, while the sky remained dark and +the wind blew with more or less violence. Time +and again Dave went to the cabin door, to peer +out into the storm, but each time he turned back +disappointed. His chums were not yet in sight.</p> +<p>“They’ll be surprised to see me,” he thought. +“I wonder if they will listen to reason and go +back with me? Supposing they refuse to return? +I’d hate to go back alone.”</p> +<p>Then he questioned Jerry Blutt about the dam +above the Falls. The man shrugged his shoulders. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></p> +<p>“It ain’t safe, so they tell me,” he said. “But +it’s been that way a long time, so maybe it won’t +break away yet awhile. But I’d hate to be on +the river when she does go.”</p> +<p>“Are there any other camps on this island?” +went on our hero.</p> +<p>“Not now. There was some other folks, two +or three parties, I was told, but they all moved +out yesterday an’ the day before. Maybe they +got afraid o’ the dam,” concluded the camp-worker.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIV_OUT_IN_THE_STORM' id='CHAPTER_XXIV_OUT_IN_THE_STORM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>OUT IN THE STORM</h3> +</div> +<p>“This is getting to be something fierce!”</p> +<p>It was Dave who uttered the words, about five +o’clock in the afternoon. He was looking out of +the door of the cabin, and beside him stood Jerry +Blutt.</p> +<p>The storm had kept up without intermission, +the rain coming down in a perfect torrent, and the +wind blowing in fitful gusts from the east. It +was raw and depressing, and our hero could not +help but shiver as he looked out on the turbulent +waters of the river.</p> +<p>“It’s a pity them fellers ain’t got back,” said +the camp-worker, with a slow shake of his head. +“It ain’t nice to be out in sech a downpour as +this, an’ with sech a wind! Might a tree blow +down on ’em!” And he shook his head again.</p> +<p>Dave was even more distressed than the man. +He could not get that dam out of his mind. Such +a heavy fall of rain would certainly cause a great +flow of water, and if the structure was weak, most +anything bad was liable to happen. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span></p> +<p>“As soon as the boys get back I’ll urge them +to leave here,” he told himself. “If that dam +breaks we want to be on high ground, where the +flood can’t reach us.”</p> +<p>“’Pears to me like the river was gittin’ putty +high,” remarked Jerry Blutt, a little later, as he +watched the water in the cove closely.</p> +<p>“Well, it would rise some with all this rain +coming down,” returned Dave.</p> +<p>“So it might,—but I don’t know. I wish this +camp was on the shore, instid o’ this island.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” answered Dave, bluntly.</p> +<p>A fire had been started in the stove and a lantern +lit, and Jerry Blutt rather reluctantly began +preparations for the evening meal. But he kept +peering out of the doorway of the cabin, and +from the lean-to, and his eyes always rested on +the river, with its rain-swept, swollen surface.</p> +<p>“I don’t like it at all!” he said, finally. “I +wish we had moved over to the shore.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you think it is safe to stay here?”</p> +<p>“It ain’t as safe as it might be. If I was +alone––” The man stopped short.</p> +<p>“What would you do?”</p> +<p>“I hate to say it, but I think I’d go over to the +shore, till the storm was over and I knew jest +how thet dam was a-goin’ to act.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t blame you,” answered Dave. +“And if you want to go, go ahead.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span></p> +<p>“Want me to go alone?”</p> +<p>“If you wish to go, yes.”</p> +<p>“But it ain’t no safer fer you than it is fer me.”</p> +<p>“That’s so, too. But I want to see those other +fellows—in fact, I must see them. If I went to +the shore I might miss them.”</p> +<p>“You could come back later on.”</p> +<p>“But I want to warn them of the danger from +the dam.”</p> +<p>“You could write a letter and stick it up where +they couldn’t help but see it. Then–– What’s +that?”</p> +<p>The camp-worker stopped short, as a distant +cry reached their ears, sounding out above the +wind. An instant later the cry was repeated.</p> +<p>“That is Ben Basswood’s voice!” cried Dave. +“They must be coming back!”</p> +<p>Soon another voice sounded out, and our hero +recognized Buster Beggs’s tones. He ran to the +cabin door. All was dark outside, and the rain +was being driven in sheets by the wind.</p> +<p>“Hello! hello!” he yelled, and catching up +the lantern, he swung it out in one direction and +another. Then he saw two forms approaching +on the run, each dripping with water.</p> +<p>“Ben! And Buster!”</p> +<p>“Why, if it isn’t Dave!”</p> +<p>“Where in the world did you come from?”</p> +<p>“Where is Phil?” demanded our hero. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span></p> +<p>“He is somewhere behind us,” answered Buster. +“Oh, what a time we’ve had!” and entering +the cabin, the fat youth sank down on a bench +all but exhausted.</p> +<p>“We’ve had to tramp for over two miles in +this rain,” explained Ben. “And of course we +had to ford to the island. Say, the current is +something fierce now! And the water is getting +higher every minute!” he added.</p> +<p>“Did you say Phil was behind you?” demanded +Dave. He still held the lantern on high.</p> +<p>“I thought he was—sure, he must be,” answered +Ben. “Give him a hail, will you? I’m +too tired,” and he sank on the bench beside Buster.</p> +<p>“Phil! Phil!” yelled our hero, at the top of his +lungs. “This way! This way!” and he swung +the lantern to the right and left.</p> +<p>“Did you say the river is rising?” demanded +Jerry Blutt. “How high is it? Over the White +Bar yet?”</p> +<p>“Yes, the Bar is a foot under water,” answered +Ben. “Oh, this is a great storm!”</p> +<p>“A foot under water!” murmured the camp-worker. +“Say, we better git out! First thing +you know this hull island will be under! An’ if +thet dam breaks––”</p> +<p>“Oh, the dam!” gasped Buster. “I forgot +about that! They say it isn’t safe at all! That +is why all the other campers got out! Yes, we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +must leave the island and go to the shore.” He +turned to Dave. “Did you come alone?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Buster. I’ll tell you all about it later. +But now we must find Phil.”</p> +<p>“I thought he was right behind me,” came +from Ben. He looked greatly distressed. “I +wonder if anything happened to him? Maybe he +slipped off the rocks into the river!”</p> +<p>“We must look for him!” cried Dave, and +reached for his coat and cap. “Show me the +way you came, Ben.”</p> +<p>Ben was nothing loath, and side by side the +two chums ran outside into the storm, and in the +direction of the upper end of the island. They +had gone but a short distance when they reached +a low spot and here suddenly found themselves in +water several inches deep.</p> +<p>“Hello, you are taking me into the river!” +cried Dave.</p> +<p>“This isn’t the river!” answered Ben, with a +gasp. “Gosh! how the water is rising! This +was dry when I came over it before!”</p> +<p>“Dry!” ejaculated our hero. “Ben, are you +sure?”</p> +<p>“Positive! Say, the water is rising to beat +the band! I guess we had better get out! If we +don’t we’ll have to swim for it!”</p> +<p>“Phil! Phil! Where are you?”</p> +<p>Standing in water up to his ankles, our hero +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +called again and again, and Ben joined in the +cry. The lantern was flashed in all directions. +But nothing was seen or heard of the missing +student.</p> +<p>“I am sure he started to follow us across the +river,” said Ben. “Buster was in front, I came +next, and Phil was in the rear. I asked him twice +if he was all right and he said he was. Then it +blew so hard, and the rain got so heavy, none of +us said any more. Oh, Dave, what shall we do?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know Ben—wish I did.”</p> +<p>“Do you think he slipped off the rocks and +was—was—drowned?”</p> +<p>“I hope not.”</p> +<p>“If he was, wouldn’t it be terrible?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>A cry came from behind them, and Buster appeared, +followed by Jerry Blutt.</p> +<p>“Where is Phil?” demanded the stout youth.</p> +<p>“We don’t know.”</p> +<p>“The water is terribly high, and Jerry thinks +we had better move to the shore. He says we +might be drowned if that dam should break.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you think we ought to find Phil first?”</p> +<p>“Sure—if we can. Maybe he went back, when +he found out how the water was rising,” went on +the stout youth, hopefully.</p> +<p>“I don’t think he’d desert us,” answered Ben. +“That isn’t Phil’s style.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span></p> +<p>“You’re right, Ben,” said Dave.</p> +<p>All splashed around in the water for several +minutes, but without making any discovery of importance. +The river was now rising more +rapidly than ever, and the camp-worker showed +increased nervousness.</p> +<p>“Ain’t no two ways about it—the dam’s bust!” +he cried, at last. “I’m goin’ to git out, an’ I +advise all o’ you to do the same. If you want +me to carry anything to shore I’ll do it.”</p> +<p>“We can’t carry any trunks in such a hurry,” +said Buster.</p> +<p>“Let us carry our suit-cases and bundles,” said +Ben.</p> +<p>With heavy hearts, Dave and the others returned +to the cabin. The water in the cove had +now risen so high that it swept the edge of the +lean-to.</p> +<p>“Can we get to shore?” asked Buster. “We +haven’t any boat,” he added, turning to Dave.</p> +<p>“We can if you’ll hurry,” replied Jerry Blutt. +“Every minit lost makes it jest so much more +dangerous.”</p> +<p>In great haste Ben and Buster and the camp-worker +gathered together such belongings as they +could conveniently carry. The other things were +placed in a trunk and hoisted by ropes into a big +tree. Then a lantern was tied on a post in front +of the cabin and to it was fastened a brief note, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +for Phil’s benefit, stating they had gone to the +shore.</p> +<p>“Oh, I hope he is safe!” murmured Dave, +anxiously.</p> +<p>“So do I,” added his chums.</p> +<p>Jerry Blutt led the way along the shore of the +island and then out into the stream. They had the +second camp lantern with them, one belonging to +Jerry. He led the way from rock to rock, and +they followed in single file, Dave bringing up the +rear. Ever and anon our hero looked back for +some sign of Phil, but without avail.</p> +<p>Once out in the river, all were certain that the +dam above Camptown Falls had burst. The water +ran with great rapidity and was filled with dirt +and débris of various kinds. On the rocks that +were low they had all they could do to keep their +footing.</p> +<p>The most dangerous part of the river had yet +to be passed—a section close to the shore, where +the water was deep and the rocks for fording few.</p> +<p>“Mind your footin’ here!” sang out the camp-worker. +“An’ if you slip, look out thet you don’t +hurt yourselves!”</p> +<p>He was splashing along in water up to his +knees, sometimes on the rocks and then again on +a sandbar running in that direction. Then he had +to make a turn, to avoid a deep portion of the +stream, where the current was rapid. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span></p> +<p>Ben was behind the man and Buster was just +ahead of Dave. As all struggled along, there +came an extra heavy blast of wind, followed by +a perfect deluge of rain.</p> +<p>“Oh!” screamed Buster, an instant later, and +peering through the rain, Dave saw him suddenly +throw up his arms and slip from a rock. There +was a splash, and poor Buster disappeared from +view.</p> +<p>“Buster is in the river!” yelled our hero, and +then he leaped for the rock from which the stout +youth had fallen. He looked down and saw an +arm and a head come up.</p> +<p>“Help! hel––” came from the unfortunate +one, and then the swift current caught him and +turned him over, out of sight.</p> +<p>“Help!” yelled Dave, to attract the attention +of those ahead. And then, as he saw Ben turn +back, he slipped down on the rock and into the +swirling river and struck out after Buster.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXV_PERILS_OF_THE_FLOOD' id='CHAPTER_XXV_PERILS_OF_THE_FLOOD'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>PERILS OF THE FLOOD</h3> +</div> +<p>“Dave! Dave!” yelled Ben, as he saw our +hero disappear into the swiftly-flowing river. +“Look out, or you’ll both be drowned!”</p> +<p>“What’s the trouble?” yelled Jerry Blutt, as +he turned back for the first time since leaving the +island.</p> +<p>“Buster slipped in, and Dave went after him,” +answered Ben. “Oh, what shall we do?” he went +on, despairingly.</p> +<p>“Here—we’ll throw out the rope!” answered +the camp-worker, and took from his shoulder a +rope he carried.</p> +<p>In the meantime Dave had come up and was +striking out with might and main for his chum. +Our hero realized that Buster must be hurt, otherwise +he would swim to save himself.</p> +<p>“Must have struck on his head, when he went +over,” he thought, and he was right, poor Buster +had done just that and now lay half-unconscious +as the current swept him further and further +from his friends. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span></p> +<p>It was too dark to see much, and Dave had all +he could do to keep in sight of the unfortunate +one. But presently the stout youth’s body struck +against a rock and was held there, and our hero +came up and seized the lad by the arm.</p> +<p>“Buster! Buster!” he called out. “What’s +wrong? Can’t you swim?”</p> +<p>“Hel—help me!” gasped the fat youth. “I—I +got a knock on the head. I’m so—so dizzy I +do—don’t know what I—I’m do—doing!”</p> +<p>The current now tore Buster away from the +rock, and he and Dave floated along on the bosom +of the river for a distance of fifty yards. It was +impossible to do much swimming in that madly-rushing +element and Dave wisely steered for +shore. He continued to support his friend, who +seemed unable to do anything for himself.</p> +<p>At length, when our hero was all but exhausted, +his feet struck a sandbar. At once he stood up, +finding himself in water that reached to his +waist. He caught up Buster and placed the weakened +lad over his shoulder. In a dim, uncertain +way he saw the shore loom up in front of him, +and struck out in that direction.</p> +<p>It was a short but hard struggle. Twice Dave +went down, once losing his hold on his chum. +But he got up each time and went after Buster in +a hurry. Then he made a final dash, came in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +contact with some bushes, and hauled himself and +his burden to temporary safety.</p> +<p>All was dark around the two boys, and the +rain came down as pitilessly as ever. But for +this they did not, just then, care. They had been +close to death, and now they were safe, and that +counted for everything.</p> +<p>Poor Buster had received a severe bump on the +forehead and had a swelling there of considerable +size. But the stunning effect was passing, and he +was able to sit up and peer around him.</p> +<p>“Oh, what a crack I got, when I fell over!” +he murmured, and then he added, gratefully: “It +was a fine thing for you to jump in after me, +Dave!”</p> +<p>“Well, I couldn’t stand there and see you +drown, Buster,” answered our hero. “I had to do +something.”</p> +<p>“Where are the others?”</p> +<p>“Up the stream—unless they went overboard, +too.”</p> +<p>“Then I suppose we ought to walk that +way.”</p> +<p>“We will—after we get our breath and you +feel strong enough.”</p> +<p>“Maybe you can call to them?”</p> +<p>“I’ll try.”</p> +<p>Dave yelled at the top of his voice, not once but +several times. Presently an answering hail arose +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +from a distance, and then Ben came running up, +followed by Jerry.</p> +<p>“Dave! Buster! Are you safe?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered both.</p> +<p>“Oh, I am so glad! We were afraid you were +both drowned! How did it happen?”</p> +<p>The two told their story, and then the others +told how they had thrown out the rope and had +seen Dave disappear in the darkness after Buster.</p> +<p>“I would have jumped in, too, but I didn’t see +how I could do any good,” went on Ben. “Jerry +said we had better come ashore and look for you +down here. So we did that. My! but it’s a fearful +flood, isn’t it!”</p> +<p>“Yes. I wish we knew where Phil was,” and +Dave heaved a deep sigh. Had their chum lost +his life in that rapidly-rising river?</p> +<p>“Ain’t no ust to stay here—gitting wetter an’ +wetter,” said the camp-worker, after a pause. +“Besides, if that flood gits wuss it is bound to +come up here. We better git further back—up +the hill.”</p> +<p>“Is there any shelter around here? I mean +on high ground?” asked Dave.</p> +<p>“Yes, I know of a cabin up on the hill,” answered +Buster. “I don’t know if I can find it in +the rain and darkness, but I can try.”</p> +<p>He walked along, through the trees, until he +reached a footpath running up from the shore. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +They followed the path for about a hundred +yards, and then came in sight of a long, low, +rambling cabin, the home in years gone by of some +lumbermen. It was in a dilapidated state, with +doors and windows gone, but it would provide a +roof over their heads, and that was something.</p> +<p>Entering, the lantern was hung on a nail, +and they looked around them. There was a fireplace, +with some dry sticks handy, and soon they +had a fire started, which added much to the comfort +of the surroundings. They hung up the +majority of their wet garments and sat close to +the blaze, drying themselves.</p> +<p>“If I only knew where to look for Phil, I’d go +after him,” said Dave. “But to look for him +in the darkness is like looking for the proverbial +needle in the haystack.”</p> +<p>“We’ll have to go out first thing in the morning,” +returned Ben.</p> +<p>“Yes, as soon as we can see,” added Buster.</p> +<p>The boys who had run away were anxious to +learn what Dave had to say about affairs at Oakdale, +and in a low voice, while the camp-worker +was preparing hot coffee and something to eat, he +related what had happened since their departure.</p> +<p>“You made a big mistake to run away,” he +said, earnestly. “Just because you did that, many +folks feel sure you must be guilty. You ought to +go right back and face the music.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span></p> +<p>“I guess you are right, Dave,” answered Ben, +shamefacedly. “But when Phil said ‘run,’ I +didn’t stop to think, but just got out.”</p> +<p>“And that is what I did, too,” added the +stout youth. “But I don’t blame Phil any more +than I blame myself,” he added, hastily.</p> +<p>“Nor do I,” said Ben. “We made a big mistake. +We should have stood our ground, like +you and Roger did.”</p> +<p>“Well, you come back with me, and we’ll face +this to a finish,” went on our hero. “But, of +course, we’ve got to find Phil first.”</p> +<p>Only the camp-worker slept well that night. +The boys were restless, and several times one or +another got up, to go to the doorway and +listen, thinking he had heard a call from Phil. +But the calls were only imaginary, and morning +dawned without a sign of the missing one.</p> +<p>It was still raining, but not so hard as before, +and by eight o’clock the clouds broke away and +the sun commenced to shine. All had an early +breakfast, from the stores brought along, and +then the party hurried down to the river.</p> +<p>That the dam above Camptown Falls had +broken was plainly evident on all sides. During +the night the river had risen seven or eight feet, +bearing on its bosom many trees and bushes, with +here and there the remains of camps that had been +located on low ground. Moosetail Island had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +been swept from end to end, only the higher spots +escaping the flood. The waters were now going +down, the rush from the broken dam having +spent itself.</p> +<p>The boys gave scant heed to the destruction +effected by the rain and the broken dam. All +their thoughts were centered on Phil. What had +become of their chum? Was he dead or alive?</p> +<p>“I wonder if it wouldn’t be best to get over +to the island and look around?” suggested Dave. +“Most likely he went there—thinking you would +be at the cabin.”</p> +<p>“But how are we to get to the island?” asked +Buster. He had no desire to fall into the turbulent +stream again.</p> +<p>“Oh, the water is going down rapidly, Buster. +I think we can make it by noon.”</p> +<p>All walked up and down the river bank, looking +in vain for some trace of the shipowner’s son. +Once they met some people from another camp +and asked about Phil. But these folks shook +their heads.</p> +<p>“Didn’t see a soul,” said one of the men.</p> +<p>Jerry Blutt had been looking the situation +over carefully, and he said he thought they could +get to the island by going up the river a distance.</p> +<p>“Then the current will help us along, and we +won’t have to fight so hard,” said the camp-worker. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +He did not like the idea of crossing the +water, but did not wish to desert the boys.</p> +<p>On the trip they carried the rope, with Jerry at +the head and Dave at the rear. All took tight +hold, so that if one slipped the others might pull +him up.</p> +<p>“Now, take it easy,” cautioned the camp man. +“This water is runnin’ putty swift, even yet.”</p> +<p>He had mapped out a course with his eye, and +proceeded slowly and cautiously. Once away +from the shore, they felt the full force of the onrushing +waters and were all but swept from their +feet. It was well that they were a good distance +above Moosetail Island, for to reach this spot by +going straight out in the stream would have been +impossible.</p> +<p>It was a long, hard, and dangerous trip, and all +drew a deep breath of relief when they finally set +foot on the island. At times they had been in +water up to their waists and it had looked as if +they must surely be swept away. Once a tree +branch, coming swiftly along, had caught Dave +and literally carried him off his feet for several +yards.</p> +<p>They landed at one end of the island, at a point +where the bushes were still two feet under water. +The evidences of the flood were on every hand, +and the water was muddy and filled with broken-away +brushwood and trees. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span></p> +<p>“I guess we had better strike out for the +camp,” said Dave. “Phil would go there if he +went anywhere.”</p> +<p>As they advanced one or another gave a loud +call. But no answer came back, and this made +them look gravely at each other. Was the perilous +trip to the island to prove a vain one?</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour they came in sight of +the camp. The cove had been blotted out, and +the water was eddying around the cabin to a depth +of several inches. Mud was everywhere, inside +the place and out, and this showed that the flood +had swept the spot at a height of several feet.</p> +<p>“We might have stayed here,” was Buster’s +comment. “It didn’t hurt the big tree.”</p> +<p>“But we didn’t know how bad it was going to +be,” answered Ben. “It might have washed away +the whole island.”</p> +<p>“Let us go up to the high ground and look for +Phil,” suggested Dave. “Maybe he went to the +highest spot he could find.”</p> +<p>The others agreed, and leaving the camp-worker +at the cabin, the boys, led by Buster, +tramped through the wet and mud to a little hill. +Again they set up their calls, but, as before, no +answer came back.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe he came here,” said Ben, at +last. “If he was here he would surely hear +us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span></p> +<p>“Unless he was hurt and couldn’t answer,” returned +Dave.</p> +<p>From the top of the little hill they could see +both ends of Moosetail Island and also both +shores of the river. As they gazed about them, +Dave suddenly gave a shout.</p> +<p>“Look! look!” he cried, pointing to the shore +which they had left but a short while before. +“There is somebody waving a handkerchief at +us!”</p> +<p>“It’s Phil!” returned Ben.</p> +<p>“Are you sure?” questioned Buster. “I can +see it is a man or a boy, but that is all.”</p> +<p>“It looks like Phil,” said Dave. “Oh, I hope +it is!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVI_BACK_TO_THE_SCHOOL' id='CHAPTER_XXVI_BACK_TO_THE_SCHOOL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>BACK TO THE SCHOOL</h3> +</div> +<p>They waved frantically to the person on the +shore, and he waved frantically in return, and at +last all were convinced that it must really be their +missing chum.</p> +<p>“He must think I am Jerry,” said Dave. +“Won’t he be surprised to see me!”</p> +<p>“He will be, unless he was at the cabin last +night and read the note,” returned Buster.</p> +<p>“The note wasn’t touched,” said Ben. “I +noticed that it was exactly as we left it.”</p> +<p>All gave a parting wave and pointed to the +shore, and then left the hill. They made their way +down to the cabin, and told the camp-worker +what they had seen.</p> +<p>“It must be Lawrence,” said Jerry Blutt. +“Maybe he’ll come over here, instead of waiting +for us to go to him.”</p> +<p>“Gracious, I never thought of that!” cried +Buster.</p> +<p>“We’ll be like the men in one of Shadow’s +stories,” said Ben. “One was upstairs in a big +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +office building and one downstairs. The man upstairs +went down, and the downstairs man went +up, and they kept that up until both stopped, +tired out, one upstairs and one down.” And +the others had to smile at the brief yarn.</p> +<p>All journeyed to the lower shore of the island, +where they could get a better view of the spot +where the person they thought was Phil had been. +They saw the party walking up the river bank, +looking for a good place to ford. All shouted +loudly and waved their hands to keep him where +he was, and he nodded his head deeply, to show +that he understand.</p> +<p>“It must be Phil,” said Dave. “Oh, how +thankful I am that he wasn’t carried away by the +flood!”</p> +<p>The boys were impatient to get back to the +shore, and Jerry Blutt did not blame them. To +carry any of the stuff over was still out of the question, +and they did not attempt it.</p> +<p>“You can come and get it some day, Jerry,” +said Buster. “You can ship it to us by express, +and we’ll pay you for your trouble;” and so it +was arranged.</p> +<p>It was as hard to gain the shore as it had been +to reach the island, and all were well-nigh exhausted +when they finally left the water, not to +return again. Phil saw them coming, and when +he made out Dave he was almost dumfounded. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span></p> +<p>“Where in the world did you come from?” +he demanded, as he caught our hero by the hand.</p> +<p>“From Oakdale, Phil.”</p> +<p>“Did you run away, too?” demanded the shipowner’s +son.</p> +<p>“Hardly,” answered Dave, with a grin. “I +came to bring you fellows back. But first tell us, +how did you get out of the flood last night?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I had a fierce time of it. I tried to get +back to the camp, but stumbled over some tree-roots +and went down in a hole and hurt my ankle. +When I got up I couldn’t see the others, and I +must have lost my way. Then it began to rain +and get dark, and I didn’t know which way to +turn. I yelled dozens of times, but I didn’t hear +any answer. I tried to locate the cabin, but I +must have been completely turned around, for I +came out on the shore. Then the flood came +along, and before I knew it I was floating down +the river. I hit a tree and clung to that, and +we drifted a mile or more before the tree got +stuck on a sandbar. I stayed there, in the rain +and darkness, until morning and then waded and +swam ashore. I was so tired out I had to rest for +awhile, and then I came up here, to try to find out +something about our crowd. I was thinking of +getting over to the island again when I saw you +on the top of the hill. Of course, I thought Dave +was Jerry.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span></p> +<p>“We were scared to death, thinking you had +been drowned,” said Ben.</p> +<p>“Well, I came pretty close to it,” was the serious +reply. “No more such flood for me!”</p> +<p>All turned towards the cabin where four of +the party had spent the night, and there Jerry +was called on to prepare the best meal their limited +stores afforded. On the river-bank they had +picked up some fish cast up by the flood, and these +were broiled, making a welcome addition to the +meal.</p> +<p>While the meal was being prepared, and after +it had been eaten, Dave had a serious talk with +Phil and the others, and all realized the folly they +had committed in running away from Oak Hall. +Phil in particular, was much disturbed and said he +had been thinking of coming back.</p> +<p>“But we saw that article in the newspaper, +and it scared us,” went on the shipowner’s son. +“Of course, it didn’t mention any names, but we +knew it was meant for us. I know now, just as +well as the others, that it was a mistake to run +away.”</p> +<p>“Then, you’ll go back with me?” questioned +Dave, eagerly.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“And you’ll go back, too, Ben and Buster?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“I am mighty glad to hear it—and I feel that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +this thing will come out all right in the end,” returned +Dave.</p> +<p>“By the way, there is one thing I haven’t told +you, Dave,” said Buster, a minute later. “The +general excitement drove it clean out of my head. +We know who it was that spoiled the feast Phil +got up for the crowd.”</p> +<p>“You do?” asked our hero, with interest.</p> +<p>“Yes. It was Nat Poole. He went to Rockville +and sent those telephone messages to Jason +Sparr and that musical professor, calling the whole +affair off. He did it because he wasn’t invited to +take part.”</p> +<p>“How did you learn this?”</p> +<p>“I heard it the night I went to the Hall to get +our baggage. When I was in hiding, waiting for +a chance to go to the dormitory, I saw Nat Poole +come in, along with that new student, Will Fasey. +They had been out somewhere having a good time, +and Nat was telling Fasey how he had sent the +telephone messages and queered the feast. I +would have pitched into him then and there only +I didn’t dare expose myself,” went on the stout +youth.</p> +<p>“But he’ll get what is coming to him from me, +when I get back to the school,” put in Phil. “It +was a contemptible piece of business, and I want +everybody to know it. Besides, he has got to pay +for what I lost by the transaction.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span></p> +<p>“If it wasn’t for that, maybe we wouldn’t have +been suspected of blowing up the hotel,” said +Ben. “Then you really think the wild man did +it, Dave?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“But what of that letter Jason Sparr got, saying +our crowd was guilty?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what to make of that, Ben. I +don’t think the wild man could write that.”</p> +<p>“Would Nat Poole be bad enough to do +it?”</p> +<p>“Maybe. But it was an awful thing to do. +I didn’t think Nat would be as mean as that.”</p> +<p>The boys had dried and pressed their clothing +as best they could, and put on clean collars, cuffs, +and neckties, and therefore looked quite presentable +once more.</p> +<p>“As soon as we get to town we can get cleaned +up a little better,” said Dave. “So we won’t look +quite like tramps when we return to the Hall.”</p> +<p>“I hate to face Doctor Clay,” remarked Phil, +dubiously.</p> +<p>“So do I,” added Ben and Buster.</p> +<p>“Well, it has got to be done,” answered Dave. +“So make the best of it. The doctor understands +the situation, so I don’t think he’ll be hard on +you.”</p> +<p>“I hope they have got the wild man, and that +they prove he blew up the hotel,” said Phil, wistfully. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +“That is the only thing that will really +clear us.”</p> +<p>“Oh, they are bound to get the wild man sooner +or later,” answered Dave, hopefully.</p> +<p>It was decided to take the one afternoon train +from Camptown Falls, and at the proper time +the boys walked to the little depot, Dave with +his suit-case, and the others with some hand baggage. +Instructions were left with Jerry Blutt regarding +the other baggage, and the man was paid +for his services. He said he was glad that nobody +had been drowned in the flood, and added +that he was going up to the broken-away dam later +on to see how matters looked.</p> +<p>It was a rather quiet crowd that got aboard the +train when it came along. The conductor wanted +to know how they had fared in the flood, and they +told him. At Lumberport the boys had to wait an +hour for the next train to Oakdale Junction, and +they spent the time in getting a good supper, and +in having their shoes shined, and in brushing up +generally.</p> +<p>“I’ll be glad to get back late at night,” said +Phil to Dave. “I’d hate to have the whole crowd +staring at us when we came in.”</p> +<p>At the Junction they waited but a few minutes, +and the run to Oakdale did not take long. They +were the only ones to get off at the depot, and +the spot was all but deserted. But they had telegraphed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span> +ahead, and Horsehair was on hand, with +a carriage, to meet them.</p> +<p>“Glad to see you young gents back, indeed I +am,” said the school driver.</p> +<p>“Any news, Horsehair?” asked Dave, as they +piled into the carriage.</p> +<p>“Not as I know of.”</p> +<p>“Have they got that wild man yet?” questioned +Phil.</p> +<p>“No, sir. But they seen him—along the river—day +before yesterday. He was sleepin’ in a +barn. But he got away before the farmer and +his man could git him.”</p> +<p>“Where was that?” questioned Ben.</p> +<p>“Up to the Morrison place.”</p> +<p>“The Morrison place,” mused Buster. “I +know that family. When I get a chance I am +going to ask them about this,” he added.</p> +<p>When the boys arrived at Oak Hall they found +Doctor Clay sitting up to receive them. He smiled +at Dave, but was somewhat cold towards the +others.</p> +<p>“It is too late to listen to what you have to say +to-night,” said he. “All of you may report in my +office directly after our opening exercises in the +morning.”</p> +<p>When the boys went upstairs there were a good +many exclamations of surprise, and Roger and the +others wanted to ask innumerable questions. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +a monitor cut all talk short, and Dave and the +runaways got to bed as quickly as possible.</p> +<p>All were up early, and Dave, Phil, and the +others had to tell their story before going down +to breakfast. Roger and those who had been left +behind with him listened eagerly to the tale of the +flood and the other happenings.</p> +<p>“I guess Dave got there just in time,” said the +senator’s son. “How about it, Buster?”</p> +<p>“He sure did,” said the stout lad, and shuddered +to think how close he had been to drowning.</p> +<p>It can well be imagined that Phil, Ben, and +Buster did not have much appetite for breakfast. +Phil looked around for Nat Poole, but the money-lender’s +son had not yet returned to the school.</p> +<p>“Now, tell me everything,” said Doctor Clay, +when the boys at length filed into his office. “As +they say in court, we want the truth, the whole +truth, and nothing but the truth.”</p> +<p>“And that is what I’m going to give you, Doctor +Clay,” answered Phil. “I made a big mistake +in running away, and I am glad Dave came to +bring us back. I haven’t done anything wrong, +and I am here to face the music, as the saying +goes.”</p> +<p>“And so am I,” came from Ben and Buster.</p> +<p>Then the boys told their story in detail, omitting +nothing, and Dave related how he had gone +to Camptown Falls, and how the flood had caught +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span> +him. In the midst of the narrative came a sharp +knock on the door.</p> +<p>“Come in,” said the doctor, and one of the +servants entered.</p> +<p>“A man to see you, sir,” said the servant. +“He says it is very important—something about +that wild man, sir! He’s terribly excited, sir!”</p> +<p>“The wild man again!” murmured the master +of the school, while the boys looked at him and the +servant with interest. “Show the visitor in and I +will hear what he has to say.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVII_THE_TRAIL_THROUGH_THE_WOODS' id='CHAPTER_XXVII_THE_TRAIL_THROUGH_THE_WOODS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +<h3>THE TRAIL THROUGH THE WOODS</h3> +</div> +<p>In a minute the servant ushered in a farmer +whom the boys recognized as Henry Morrison, a +man who had a farm along the river-front, about a +mile from Oak Hall.</p> +<p>“Good-morning, sir,” said the farmer, bowing +to the doctor and then to the boys. “Excuse +me for being in such a hurry, but I thought you +would like to know.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be glad to hear what you have to say, +Mr. Morrison,” replied the master of the school. +“Sit down,” and he pointed to a handy chair.</p> +<p>“It’s about that wild man, Doctor Clay!” exclaimed +the farmer, dropping into the seat and +mopping his forehead with his handkerchief. +“It’s something terribul, the way he carries on. +He ’most scared my wife to death!”</p> +<p>“He has been to your place again?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, last night. He was in the barn, and +he jumped out at my wife and said he was going to +blow the fort to pieces! She got so scared she +dropped her pailful of milk and ran to the house. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span> +I got mad and got my shotgun, but the fellow +had skipped out before I could catch sight of +him.”</p> +<p>“What time was this?”</p> +<p>“Just about six o’clock. But that ain’t all. +This morning I started for town, intending to tell +the constable and the justice about it, when all of +a sudden, when I was passing the end of your +property, I see the wild man down there, behind +a tree.”</p> +<p>“Just now?” asked Dave, eagerly.</p> +<p>“Not more’n a quarter of an hour ago. That’s +why I stepped in here. He’s a dangerous man, +Doctor Clay, and I think he ought to be rounded +up!” went on Henry Morrison, earnestly.</p> +<p>“You are right, he certainly ought to be put +under restraint,” answered the master of Oak +Hall. “I will see to this at once. Will you assist +in the hunt, Mr. Morrison?”</p> +<p>“Of course—if I don’t have to go alone. I +don’t think it is safe for anybody to tackle him +alone, he’s that wild and dangerous.”</p> +<p>“Can we take part in the search?” asked Phil, +eagerly. “Oh, do let us do it, Doctor Clay!” he +pleaded.</p> +<p>“I suppose so, if you will promise to be careful. +Mr. Morrison, can you point out the exact +spot where you saw the man?”</p> +<p>“Of course I can.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span></p> +<p>“Then we will at once make up a searching +party.”</p> +<p>Doctor Clay could act quickly when the occasion +demanded, and inside of ten minutes a searching +party was made up, composed of Dave and his +chums, Mr. Dale, Horsehair, and several men +who chanced to be working around the grounds.</p> +<p>“Oh, I hope we catch him and are able to prove +that he blew up the hotel dining-room,” said Phil +to Dave.</p> +<p>“So do I, Phil.”</p> +<p>Henry Morrison led the way, and it was not +long before the spot was gained where he had seen +Wilbur Poole. From that point a path ran from +the river back into the woods.</p> +<p>“Maybe he took that path,” suggested our +hero, and several thought the same.</p> +<p>“I think we had better scatter,” suggested Mr. +Dale, who had been placed in charge by the doctor. +“By doing that we can cover a wide range +of territory in a comparatively short space of +time. And keep as quiet as possible, for should +he hear us he will most likely start and run.”</p> +<p>“If he didn’t run when he saw Mr. Morrison,” +murmured Buster. “He may be miles away already.”</p> +<p>The crowd separated into pairs, Dave and Phil +going together and Roger going with Ben, and +Buster with Horsehair. All had armed themselves +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +with sticks, and Mr. Dale carried a pair of handcuffs, +and one of the hired men had a rope.</p> +<p>Deeper and deeper into the woods went the +party, spread out in a long line. They had examined +the river-front and felt fairly certain that +the wild man had not left by boat.</p> +<p>“Looks like a wild-goose chase,” remarked +Phil, with a sigh, after a half an hour had +passed.</p> +<p>“Oh, we don’t want to give up yet,” answered +Dave. “Why, it isn’t much after ten o’clock. +We can stay out till noon, at least.”</p> +<p>“I’d stay out all day, if I thought we could +catch him,” returned the shipowner’s son, +promptly.</p> +<p>Presently the boys espied a small stone house, +standing beside a brook which flowed through +the woods into the river. In the house lived an +old man who made his living by making baskets +and fancy articles of birch bark.</p> +<p>“Let us see if old Herick is around,” suggested +Dave. “He may be able to tell us something.”</p> +<p>They found the old man hard at work on a +fancy basket. He looked surprised when thus +suddenly confronted by the students.</p> +<p>“Did I see a wild man?” he queried, in reply +to their question. “I guess I did,—at least he +acted queer enough. He danced up here, made a +deep bow, and told me the army would be along +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span> +in four minutes. Then he made another bow and +walked off, as stiff as a drum-major.”</p> +<p>“When was this?” demanded Dave.</p> +<p>“About half an hour ago.”</p> +<p>“And which way did he go?” put in Phil, +eagerly.</p> +<p>“That way,” and the old basket-maker pointed +up the brook. “Walked right in the water, too. +I was going to follow him at first but then I didn’t +think it was any use.”</p> +<p>The boys waited to hear no more, but telling +old Herick to watch for the other searchers and +tell them about the wild man, they set off up the +brook as fast as they could travel.</p> +<p>As the chums progressed they looked to the +right and left, wondering if Wilbur Poole had +kept to the tiny watercourse or taken to the woods, +which were now exceedingly dense.</p> +<p>“I see his footprints!” cried Phil, as they +passed a sandy stretch. “Anyway, those marks +look fresh.”</p> +<p>“I fancy you are right, Phil, and if so, he can’t +be very far ahead of us.”</p> +<p>They went on, following the windings of the +stream until it became less than a foot wide. It +came to an end at a number of springs among the +rocks.</p> +<p>“Fine, cold water,” announced Dave. “Here +is a chance for a good drink, Phil.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span></p> +<p>Both were drinking their fill when a loud voice +suddenly challenged them.</p> +<p>“Ha! What are you doing at my fountain?”</p> +<p>Both looked up hurriedly and saw the wild man +standing on the highest of the rocks. He had his +arms folded and was glaring at them sternly.</p> +<p>“Oh!” murmured Phil. “Say, Dave, there +he is! What shall we do?”</p> +<p>“Let us try to make friends with him,” suggested +Dave. “If we don’t, he may run away, +and he can easily do that in these thick woods.”</p> +<p>“If we could only notify the others!”</p> +<p>“You can go back if you wish, while I talk to +him.”</p> +<p>“Aren’t you afraid?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I reckon I can take care of myself,” answered +Dave.</p> +<p>“Do you not know I gave a million dollars for +these fountains?” went on the wild man.</p> +<p>“Well, they are worth it,” answered Dave, +calmly. “It is very good water. Why don’t +you have it bottled, Mr. Poole?”</p> +<p>“Who calls me Poole? I am the King of +Sumatra. My army is following me.”</p> +<p>“To blow up another fort, I suppose,” said +Phil, as he commenced to back away.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Then I must go, for I don’t want to be blown +up,” and, so speaking, Phil commenced to retreat. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span></p> +<p>“The fort is not here—it is in Oakdale, close +to the other fort,” said the wild man, and now he +came down from the big rock and stood quite +close to Dave. There was a strange look of cunning +in his eyes, and Dave had to shiver, although +he did his best to keep calm.</p> +<p>“In Oakdale,” said Dave, slowly. “Say, you +blew up that hotel fort in fine shape, didn’t you?”</p> +<p>“Ha! ha! so I did! But I was discovered, +worse luck, I was discovered!” continued the wild +man, with a sad shake of his head. “The enemy +saw me!”</p> +<p>“Somebody saw you?” queried our hero, with +interest.</p> +<p>“Yes, worse luck. But it shan’t happen again. +Next time I shall go masked. I have my mask +here.” And Wilbur Poole pulled from his pocket +a mask made of a bit of blue cloth. “I will show +you how I wear it.” And he fastened it over his +face by means of a couple of strings.</p> +<p>“Fine! fine!” cried Dave, in pretended delight. +He wished to humor the man until Phil returned +with the others. “It couldn’t be better. You +ought to patent that kind of a mask.”</p> +<p>“I will patent it soon, after the other fort is +down.”</p> +<p>“You just said somebody saw you when you +blew up the other,” continued our hero. “Who +was it?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span></p> +<p>“Ha! that is a state secret. Only the cabinet +must know of it—the cabinet and the man who +makes shoes.”</p> +<p>“I am sorry you won’t let me in on your +secrets,” said Dave. “I want to help you. Won’t +you hire me as a clerk?”</p> +<p>“How much do you want a week?” demanded +the wild man, in a business-like tone.</p> +<p>“How much will you give?”</p> +<p>“To a good clerk forty dollars.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll take the job.”</p> +<p>“Very good. Your name is Crusoe, isn’t it—Robinson +Crusoe?”</p> +<p>“You’ve got it.”</p> +<p>“If I give you the job, you must have your hair +shaved off,” continued the wild man, looking at +Dave’s hair critically.</p> +<p>“All right, I’ll have that done when we reach +a barber shop.”</p> +<p>“It isn’t necessary to wait!” cried Wilbur +Poole. “I am a barber.”</p> +<p>“You?”</p> +<p>“To be sure—I have a certificate from the +Emperor of Siam. See here!”</p> +<p>The wild man put his hand into an inner pocket +and suddenly brought forth a pair of long shears.</p> +<p>“I can cut your hair and shave you,” he announced. +“Just sit down on yonder throne and +I’ll start to work.” And he pointed to a flat rock. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span></p> +<p>The sight of the sharp-pointed shears was not a +pleasant one, and when the wild man invited him +to sit down Dave felt very much like running +away. The man evidently saw how he felt, and +suddenly caught him by the arm.</p> +<p>“Sit down!” he thundered. “I won’t hurt +you. I am an expert barber.”</p> +<p>“Let us talk about the job first,” said Dave, +trying to keep his wits about him, although he was +terribly disturbed. He wondered how long it +would be before Phil would return.</p> +<p>“What do you want to know?”</p> +<p>“Will you cut my hair in the latest fashion?”</p> +<p>“I never cut hair in any other way.”</p> +<p>“And will you curl the ends? I like curls.”</p> +<p>“If you want them, although they make a man +look girlish,” answered the wild man.</p> +<p>“And will you––” went on Dave, when Wilbur +Poole suddenly grabbed him by both arms +and forced him backwards on the flat rock.</p> +<p>“I’ll go to work at once!” cried the wild man. +“Sit still!” And he flourished the shears before +our hero’s face.</p> +<p>Dave felt a chill run down his backbone. But +a moment later he felt a thrill of relief, as from +the bushes behind the wild man stepped Phil, Mr. +Dale, and several others.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_CAPTURE_OF_THE_WILD_MAN' id='CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_CAPTURE_OF_THE_WILD_MAN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +<h3>THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN</h3> +</div> +<p>“Now then, you may go to work,” said our +hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind +the wild man. “But sharpen the scissors first, +please.”</p> +<p>“I will,” was Wilbur Poole’s answer, and he +opened up the shears and commenced to stroke +them back and forth on a rock near by.</p> +<p>An instant later the wild man was jerked over +backwards and the dangerous shears were +snatched from his grasp. He commenced to struggle, +but the whole crowd surrounded him, and +before he could realize the situation his hands +were made fast.</p> +<p>“It is treachery, base treachery!” he groaned. +“My army has betrayed me!” And he commenced +to weep.</p> +<p>“What a terrible state of mind to be in!” +murmured Roger. “He is certainly as crazy as +they make ’em!”</p> +<p>“I guess you are right,” answered Phil. “But +I am glad we have got him.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span></p> +<p>“He spoke about the blowing up of the hotel,” +said Dave. “And he said somebody saw him +do it.”</p> +<p>“Who was it?”</p> +<p>“He didn’t mention any names.”</p> +<p>“Maybe he was simply wandering in his mind,” +suggested Ben.</p> +<p>“I don’t think so,” returned Dave. “I think, +if he was questioned long enough, we could get +the truth out of him. He doesn’t seem to be +crazy all the time.”</p> +<p>“It’s a terrible thing for the Poole family—to +have such a crazy man in it,” was Buster’s opinion; +and the other lads agreed with him.</p> +<p>The prisoner was marched along the brook, past +the home of old Herick, and then down the river-road. +By this time all the searchers had come +together, including Henry Morrison and some +outsiders.</p> +<p>“I’m mighty glad you’ve got him,” said the +farmer. “And I hope he don’t get away from +you.”</p> +<p>“He won’t get away,” answered Mr. Dale.</p> +<p>“The women of this district have been afraid +to go out alone,” went on Henry Morrison. +“They’ll be glad to know he’s been captured.”</p> +<p>“We’ll have to let the Pooles know right +away,” said Dave.</p> +<p>“I fancy Doctor Clay will send a telegram,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span> +answered Mr. Dale. “And in the meanwhile +we’ll have to take the prisoner to the Oakdale +lockup.”</p> +<p>It was nearly noon when the crowd reached Oak +Hall. The wild man had but little to say. His +capture had evidently broken his spirit, and he +was inclined to cry. But when Doctor Clay asked +him if he would like to have something to eat, he +brightened up wonderfully.</p> +<p>“It is a sad case,” said the master of the Hall. +“But under proper treatment I think he can be +cured.”</p> +<p>The news quickly circulated throughout the +school that the wild man had been caught and that +he was Wilbur Poole, an uncle to Nat, and all the +boys were anxious to catch a sight of the strange +individual. The teachers and servants were likewise +curious, and looked at him as he ate his +dinner in a corner of the dining-hall, surrounded +by those who had captured him and who were +watching, to see that he did not get away. He was +not allowed to use a knife and fork, but his food +was cut up for him and served with a spoon.</p> +<p>The only person at Oak Hall who did not come +in to see the wild man was Job Haskers. When +asked about this, the dictatorial teacher shrugged +his shoulders.</p> +<p>“Some of the boys are wild enough for me,” +he said. “I want nothing to do with the insane.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span></p> +<p>“It is a sad case,” said the teacher who was +addressing Job Haskers.</p> +<p>“There are many just as bad,” responded the +other, coldly. “It is up to the Poole family to +look after that man and see that he doesn’t break +out again.”</p> +<p>It was decided to take the wild man down to +Oakdale in the school carryall, to be driven by +Horsehair. Mr. Dale was to go along, and so +were Phil, Dave, Ben, Buster, and Doctor +Clay.</p> +<p>The carryall was brought around to the side +entrance of the school, and Wilbur Poole was told +that he was about to take a ride through the country. +He walked through the hallway willingly +enough, but suddenly, on turning a corner, set up +a shout.</p> +<p>“You! you! I have found you at last!” he +cried, rushing forward. “You are the one who +exposed me! Base soldier that you are! You +have ruined the whole army!” And in a sudden +fit of passion he ran up to Job Haskers and caught +him by the throat.</p> +<p>“Le—let g-g-go!” gasped the teacher, and +tried to shake the man off. Then the others ran +up, and Wilbur Poole was dragged back and handcuffed.</p> +<p>“Do you know that man?” asked Dave, struck +by a sudden idea. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span></p> +<p>“Yes! yes!” groaned the wild man. “He exposed +me! The army is lost!”</p> +<p>“How did he expose you?”</p> +<p>“He saw me do it.”</p> +<p>“Do what?”</p> +<p>“Blow up the fort-hotel. Oh, what a base villain +he was to look on!” groaned the wild man, +and suddenly commenced to weep.</p> +<p>“What is—the—er—man talking about?” +stammered Job Haskers, and all saw him turn +pale.</p> +<p>“He says you saw him blow up Sparr’s place,” +said Dave, pointedly.</p> +<p>“It is false, absurd!” said the teacher. “I—er—I +never saw the rascal before.”</p> +<p>“He isn’t a rascal, Mr. Haskers. He is +simply out of his mind,” remonstrated Mr. +Dale. “He is not accountable for his actions.”</p> +<p>“Well, he ought not to say such things,” returned +the dictatorial teacher.</p> +<p>“You saw me—you know you did!” cried Wilbur +Poole. “You spoiled everything! I might +have blown up many forts if it hadn’t been for +you!” And he shook his head dolefully.</p> +<p>“Take him away,” said the teacher, and turned +his back on the wild man.</p> +<p>“Dave, I think the wild man speaks the +truth!” whispered Phil to our hero. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span></p> +<p>“Possibly, Phil. I think the matter will bear +investigation.”</p> +<p>“And if old Haskers saw the thing done, why +didn’t he tell about it. Do you think that letter—”</p> +<p>“It struck me that such might be the truth, +Phil. But don’t say anything until you are sure.”</p> +<p>“He was down on us—ever since we mentioned +that affair with the Widow Breen,” went +on the shipowner’s son.</p> +<p>“I’d like to see that letter Jason Sparr got—saying +we were guilty,” returned our hero. +“Maybe Doctor Clay can get hold of it.”</p> +<p>All the way to Oakdale the boys spoke of the +case in whispers. Phil was quite sure Job Haskers +had seen Wilbur Poole blow up the hotel and +equally sure that the dictatorial teacher had written +the letter to the hotel-keeper stating he, Dave, +and their chums were guilty.</p> +<p>“He thought we’d be locked up, or at least that +we’d be sent away from the school and he would +be rid of us,” said Phil. “He is growing afraid +of us! Oh, if we can prove that he did it, I’ll +make it hot for him!”</p> +<p>“If he did such a thing as that, he ought to +be discharged from Oak Hall,” was Ben’s comment.</p> +<p>“I’ll get my father to sue him for damages,” +put in Buster. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span></p> +<p>“Well, don’t be hasty,” advised Dave. +“There may be some mistake—although I think +not.”</p> +<p>At Oakdale, Wilbur Poole was turned over to +the authorities, who placed him in a comfortable +room attached to the lockup. As it was known +that he was insane, he could not be counted a +criminal, and the majority of the people pitied +him and hoped that some day he would be restored +to his right mind.</p> +<p>A telegram was sent to the Poole family, and +the next day came a reply that some men would +come to take Wilbur Poole away to a sanitarium. +It was established beyond a doubt that he had +used the dynamite to blow up the dining-room of +Sparr’s hotel, and, consequently, our hero and his +chums were cleared of that charge, much to their +satisfaction.</p> +<p>“I wonder if Nat will come back?” said +Shadow. “I should think he would hate to +do it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think he will,” said Luke.</p> +<p>“What will you do if he does come back, +Phil?” asked Gus.</p> +<p>“I don’t know, Gus. Of course, I’ll let him +know what I think of him for spoiling my plans +for a spread. But I hate to be hard on him, because +of this disgrace about his uncle.”</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s a terrible thing,” was Chip Macklin’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span> +comment. “I’d hate to have a crazy man +in my family.”</p> +<p>“Well, such things can’t be helped,” put in +Polly Vane. “The Poole family will have to +make the best of it.”</p> +<p>It was several days later when Nat Poole +showed himself. Phil and Dave did not see him +until later, and both were struck by the change in +his appearance. He looked haggard and much +older, and his arrogance was completely gone.</p> +<p>“Got back, eh?” said Phil, walking up to him.</p> +<p>“Yes,” returned the money-lender’s son, and +his voice sounded hollow.</p> +<p>“What have they done with your uncle, Nat?” +asked Dave, kindly.</p> +<p>“Put him in another sanitarium, where he will +have the best of care and doctoring.”</p> +<p>“I hope he gets well.”</p> +<p>“We all hope that.” Nat swallowed a lump +in his throat and then looked gloomily at Phil. +“Well, you got the best of me,” he said, shortly.</p> +<p>“How the best of you?” demanded the shipowner’s +son.</p> +<p>“I understand you found out about that +spread.”</p> +<p>“I did.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll pay for the damage done—as soon +as I get the money. I haven’t any now—Dad’s got +too much to pay on Uncle Wilbur’s account.” Nat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span> +swallowed another lump in his throat. “I’m +sorry I did it now, Phil, honest I am,” he went on, +brokenly.</p> +<p>“Well, if that’s the case, let us drop the matter, +Nat,” was the instant reply. “I don’t believe +in hitting a fellow when he is down. You +haven’t got to pay me anything. The whole thing +is past and gone,—and that ends it.”</p> +<p>“Thank you.” Nat wanted to say something +more, but his voice suddenly broke and he turned +away to hide his emotion, and then walked away.</p> +<p>“He’s hit and hit hard,” said Roger, in a low +voice.</p> +<p>“And you did well to drop that matter, Phil,” +added Dave. “Maybe Nat has learned a lesson +he won’t easily forget.”</p> +<p>Dave was right about the lesson Nat Poole +had learned. He was deeply humiliated, both +by the exposure concerning the feast and by what +had been learned concerning his insane uncle, and +for a long time was quite another boy.</p> +<p>It may be added here that at a new sanitarium, +and under first-class medical treatment, a marked +change came over Wilbur Poole, and in less than a +year he was completely cured of his weakmindedness. +With a nurse as a companion he went into +the country to rest both body and mind, and later +on came out into the world again as well as anybody. +Strange to say, he remembered nothing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span> +of calling himself the King of Sumatra, nor of +blowing up Jason Sparr’s hotel. But others did +not forget about the blowing up, and the damage +done had to be settled for by Mr. Aaron Poole, +who was his brother’s guardian and manager of +his estate for the time being.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIX_A_BIT_OF_EVIDENCE' id='CHAPTER_XXIX_A_BIT_OF_EVIDENCE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +<h3>A BIT OF EVIDENCE</h3> +</div> +<p>“Dave, what do you make of this?”</p> +<p>“Well, to tell the truth, Phil, I don’t think +much of it.”</p> +<p>“You don’t think it is a clew?”</p> +<p>“Do you?”</p> +<p>“It’s rather faint, I must confess.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t think there is anything to it,” declared +Ben.</p> +<p>“There is something, but not a great deal,” +came from Roger. “I don’t see how you are going +to follow it up.”</p> +<p>This talk between the boys occurred after Dave, +Phil, Ben, Roger, and Buster had called upon +Jason Sparr and the justice and insisted on seeing +the letter the hotel man had received which stated +that the boys were guilty of blowing up the dining-room +of his hostelry.</p> +<p>The hotel man had treated them kindly, for he +was in dread that the boys would get their folks +to sue him for damages. He had offered to pay +back the money taken from Phil for the spread, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span> +and the shipowner’s son had taken the amount, to +which he was justly entitled.</p> +<p>The examination of the letter had revealed +next to nothing. It was evidently written in a +disguised hand, but some of the letters looked +like Job Haskers’s handwriting. In the corner of +the paper some sort of an advertisement had been +torn off, only the letters, “<i>blisher</i>” showing.</p> +<p>“I think those letters are part of the word, +‘<i>Publisher</i>,’” Dave had said. “This letter was +evidently penned by somebody who used some +publisher’s blank.”</p> +<p>“Maybe Job Haskers had those blanks,” Phil +had exclaimed. “Remember, he said he published +or was going to publish something once +upon a time.”</p> +<p>The boys talked it over, but could reach no +conclusion. Jason Sparr told how the letter had +come to him, but this added no new light on the +subject.</p> +<p>“Well, it was a nasty trick, no matter who +played it,” said Dave.</p> +<p>“I sha’n’t rest until I find out who did it,” retorted +Phil.</p> +<p>All were resolved to watch Job Haskers and +also Nat Poole. But while doing this they had to +turn once more to their studies. Phil, Ben, and +Buster had to work harder than ever, and so did +Dave, to make up for the time lost during their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span> +absence. But Doctor Clay was kind to them, and +for once Job Haskers did not say anything, although +he showed that he expected them to “toe +the mark,” as Roger expressed it.</p> +<p>Several weeks slipped by, and during that time +Oak Hall played several games of ball. One +game of importance was won, and this was celebrated +in a befitting manner. Dave attended the +games, and so did Phil and Roger, but none of +the three allowed the sport to interfere with their +studies. All were “in the grind,” and resolved +to graduate that coming June with the highest +possible honors.</p> +<p>During those days Dave received many letters +from home. His folks and friends were glad to +know that the wild man had been captured and +the mystery of the blowing up cleared away. Jessie +sent him a very warm letter in particular, congratulating +him for bringing back the runaways, +and saying she hoped he would have no more +trouble during the final term at Oak Hall. She +added that she and all the others expected to +come to the school at graduation exercises.</p> +<p>“Now it is up to me to make good,” said Dave, +after reading this letter several times. “Dad +expects it, and Jessie, and everybody, and I am +not going to disappoint them.”</p> +<p>But it was no light task to remain at the top of +the senior class, or even near it, for there were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span> +bright seniors in plenty, including the studious +Polly Vane, who seemed the brightest of all. But +Dave plugged away, day after day, resolved to +keep at it until the very last. He was writing on +his theme and had it about half finished.</p> +<p>“One month more and it will all be over but +the shouting,” said Roger one day, as he came into +the room where Dave was studying.</p> +<p>“All over but the shouting or weeping,” returned +Phil, who was present. “I am afraid some +of the fellows will do more weeping than cheering,” +he added, grimly.</p> +<p>“Let us hope that everybody passes,” said +Dave, looking up with a quiet smile.</p> +<p>“Such a thing has never been done,” said Ben. +“Somebody is bound to drop by the wayside—I +hope it isn’t yours truly,” and he sank his head +again into his book.</p> +<p>“I think old Haskers is commencing to tighten +the screws again,” said Buster. “He let up for a +while, after the wild man was caught, but yesterday +and to-day—phew! we caught it, didn’t we?”</p> +<p>“We sure did!” cried Phil. “I can’t understand +that man. Why is he a teacher when he +just naturally hates boys?”</p> +<p>“That’s a conundrum that can’t be answered,” +said the senator’s son.</p> +<p>“Well, we won’t weep on leaving him,” remarked +Luke, dryly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span></p> +<p>“Say, that puts me in mind of a story,” said +Shadow. “Once on a time a man in an auto ran +into a boy carrying a cat in a basket. He didn’t +hurt the boy much but he killed the cat. Says he, +‘I am sorry, my boy, and I’ll pay you for the +cat. How much?’ ‘I—I don’t know,’ blubbered +the boy. ‘Will two dollars do?’ asked the +man. ‘Yes,’ says the boy, and took the money. +‘Were you taking the cat home?’ asked the man, +when he was ready to drive on. ‘No,’ said the +boy. ‘I was going to take him down to the +canal and drown him!’” And there was a smile +over Shadow’s yarn.</p> +<p>It had been a blustery day, and as night came +on the wind increased in violence, until it fairly +howled around Oak Hall. It tore through the +branches of the oaks that gave the place its name, +until it looked as if some of the trees might be +broken off by the fury of the elements.</p> +<p>“My gracious! I never saw such a wind!” cried +Roger, as he came in from a trip to the gymnasium.</p> +<p>“It must be fierce at sea,” returned Dave, who +was with him. “I am glad I am on shore. The +newspapers will tell about wrecks along the coast +to-morrow.”</p> +<p>Nobody thought of going out that evening, and +the boys put in the time studying and reading. +The windows rattled, and occasionally a shutter +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span> +banged, and a good night’s rest seemed out of the +question.</p> +<p>“My, what a night for a fire!” remarked Phil, +while he and his chums were undressing.</p> +<p>“Don’t mention such a thing!” returned Ben, +with a shiver. “It would burn down everything!”</p> +<p>At last the boys retired. A few dropped off +to sleep, but Dave was not one of them. He had +studied hard and was restless, and the fury of the +elements added to his nervousness.</p> +<p>At last he could stand it no longer to remain in +bed, and got up to sit in an easy-chair for awhile.</p> +<p>He was just crossing the dormitory floor when +there came an extra heavy blast of wind outside, +followed by a crash, as one of the giant oaks +standing close to the school building was broken +off near the top. Then came another crash, a +jingling of glass, and a sudden wild cry for help.</p> +<p>“Hello, something’s gone through a window!” +Dave muttered. “Maybe it’s in the next room!”</p> +<p>He ran to the window and looked out. Just +below the window-sill he saw some branches of the +broken tree. He looked down and noted that the +tree-top had gone into the window of the room +below.</p> +<p>“What’s the row?” cried Roger, springing up +and rubbing his eyes.</p> +<p>“Is the roof caving in?” asked Phil. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span></p> +<p>“Some tree-branches came down and went +through the window right below us,” answered +Dave. “Listen!”</p> +<p>All did so, and heard the cry for help repeated.</p> +<p>“It’s Job Haskers calling!” said the senator’s +son. “He uses the room below us now.”</p> +<p>“Let us see if he is hurt,” suggested another +of the boys.</p> +<p>Clad in their pajamas, the boys flocked out +into the hallway, there to be joined by others. +Word was passed around of what had occurred, +and all made their way to the door of the instructor’s +apartment. They heard him yelling +for help with all his might.</p> +<p>The door was locked, and Dave and some +others put their shoulders to the barrier and +forced it open. All was dark in the room, and +the wind was rushing around, sending books, pictures, +and other things in all directions.</p> +<p>Several matches were struck, and at last a sheltered +light was lit. Doctor Clay, Mr. Dale, and +some of the other teachers had now arrived, and +instructors and students gazed curiously at the +scene before them.</p> +<p>The top of the tree had come straight through +the big window of the apartment, crashing down +on a bureau and a writing-desk, smashing both +flat. Some branches of the tree rested on the +side of the bed, pinning Job Haskers against the +wall, as if in a cage.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +<img src='images/illus-004.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 316px; height: 494px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 316px;'> +<span style='font-variant:small-caps'>“Help me! Save me!” spluttered the terror-stricken teacher.</span>—<i>Page 287</i>.<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Help me! Save me!” spluttered the terror-stricken +teacher. “I am being crushed to +death!”</p> +<p>“All hands to the tree!” shouted Mr. Dale, +and showed what he meant. Boys and men took +hold of the tree-branches and pulled them to one +side.</p> +<p>“Are you much hurt, Mr. Haskers?” asked +Doctor Clay, kindly.</p> +<p>“I—I don’t know, I think so!” gasped the +teacher. His face was white and he was shivering +from fright.</p> +<p>“Can’t you crawl under the branches?” asked +Mr. Dale. “Here, come this way.”</p> +<p>He showed how it could be done, and trembling +from head to feet, the scared teacher got out from +under the tree-top. His face and one shoulder +were scratched, but otherwise he appeared to be +unhurt. But all were forced to acknowledge that +he had had a narrow escape.</p> +<p>“You had better take one of the spare rooms, +Mr. Haskers,” said Doctor Clay, as another +blast of wind swept through the room. “You +cannot remain here, with this tree-top in the room. +And I am afraid we shall have to saw it up to get +it out again. You can be thankful that your life +has been spared.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span></p> +<p>“The furniture is smashed!” murmured the +teacher.</p> +<p>“Never mind the furniture, so long as you are +not hurt. It can be mended, and all the window +needs is some new sash.”</p> +<p>“My things have been scattered,” grumbled +the teacher. “A perfect mess!”</p> +<p>“Leave it until morning—you can do nothing +to-night,” said the doctor; and so it was finally +decided, and teachers and pupils trooped off to bed. +The broken-in door was closed, but it could not +be locked.</p> +<p>The boys had scarcely gotten back to the dormitories +when Dave called Phil, Ben, Roger, and +Buster to one side.</p> +<p>“Now is our chance,” he whispered. “Did +you notice that the bureau and the writing-desk in +Haskers’s room were smashed? It may not be the +most honorable thing to do, but I think we are +justified in looking his things over and seeing if +we can’t find some clew to that letter Jason Sparr +received.”</p> +<p>“Right you are!” declared Phil, promptly, and +the others said practically the same.</p> +<p>They waited until the other boys had retired +once more, and then, at a signal from Dave, all +filed silently into the hallway again and tiptoed +their way to the room below. Soon, they +were inside and had the light lit, and also a lantern +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span> +which belonged to Ben’s bicycle, and which +he had chanced to have on hand.</p> +<p>Silently and with great care the boys went over +the many things that had been scattered over the +floor—wearing apparel, books, pads, papers, and +various articles of more or less value. Presently +Phil gave a low cry.</p> +<p>“Look at this!” And he held up several sheets +of paper. In one corner were the words:</p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:center'>LATIN MADE EASY<br /></p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:center'><i>JOB HASKERS, Publisher,</i><br /></p> +<p style='margin-left:0.0em; margin-right:0.0em; text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Albany, N. Y.</span><br /></p> +<p>“It’s the same paper!” cried Dave. “He +tore the corner off so that just the letters ‘<i>blisher</i>’ +remained.”</p> +<p>“That’s pretty good evidence,” said Roger.</p> +<p>“I should say it was!” cried Ben. “Wonder +what he will have to say about it, when we confront +him with it?”</p> +<p>“Let us look for more evidence, while we are +at it,” came from Buster. And then the midnight +search continued.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXX_THE_EXPOSUREGOODBY_TO_OAK_HALL' id='CHAPTER_XXX_THE_EXPOSUREGOODBY_TO_OAK_HALL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> +<h3>THE EXPOSURE—GOOD-BY TO OAK HALL</h3> +</div> +<p>“Doctor Clay, we must see you about something +that is very important.”</p> +<p>Thus spoke Dave, the next morning, as he and +his chums filed into the doctor’s private office +after the opening of the school. Job Haskers +was not at his class, but in his room, straightening +out his things, while some men had been sent up, +to get rid of the tree-top and repair the window. +The storm was a thing of the past, and no other +damage of importance had been done.</p> +<p>“Very well, boys,” returned the master of the +school, kindly. “Come in and let me know what +it is.”</p> +<p>The students came in, rather awkwardly it must +be admitted, for they had much on their minds +and did not know just how the worthy doctor +would take it. But they had decided on a course +of action, and they had given their word to stick +together to the end. Dave, as the natural leader, +had been chosen spokesman.</p> +<p>“Doctor Clay, we want to bring up a subject of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288' name='page_288'></a>288</span> +great importance,” said Dave. “Important to +us, and to you, and to the whole school. The +boys have asked me to speak for them and for +myself.”</p> +<p>“About what?” demanded the master, somewhat +shortly.</p> +<p>“About Mr. Haskers and how he has treated +us.”</p> +<p>“What has he done now?”</p> +<p>“It isn’t what he has done now, Doctor Clay, +it is what he did some time ago—did his best to +get us into grave trouble,” answered Dave, +warmly. “You’ll remember the letter Mr. Sparr +got, stating we were guilty of trying to blow up +his hotel. We are now satisfied that Mr. Haskers +penned that letter—in fact, we have the evidence +to prove it.”</p> +<p>“Impossible!”</p> +<p>“No, sir, it is true, and I dare him to deny it. +It is an absolute fact, Doctor Clay, and we have +come here this morning to inform you that we +can no longer attend a school where he is a +teacher,” went on Dave, firmly.</p> +<p>“But—but you—er—you astound me, Porter! +Tell me what you know, or think you know.”</p> +<p>In a plain, straightforward manner Dave mentioned +the letter and the printing that had appeared +on it. Then he told how he and his chums +had searched the bedroom after the tree-top crash +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289' name='page_289'></a>289</span> +and found the sheets of paper with that same printing, +and he produced them.</p> +<p>“And we also found these, in a corner of the +broken writing-desk,” he continued. “Some writing +by Mr. Haskers, in which he practiced backhand. +This writing is just like that which appears +in the letter Mr. Sparr got. Compare the two and +you will see we are right. Wilbur Poole said Mr. +Haskers saw him blow up the hotel, and he told +the truth, even if he is weak-minded.”</p> +<p>“But why should Mr. Haskers do such an outrageous +thing?” asked the master of Oak Hall.</p> +<p>“I will tell you why, sir,” returned Dave, and +related the affair of the Widow Breen. “That +made him very sore on us, and he wanted to get +us out of the school. At first he tried it by overworking +us in our lessons, and when he found +that that didn’t work he tried this game of making +out that we were criminals.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but—but would a teacher of mine stoop +so low?” murmured the worthy doctor, shaking +his head doubtfully.</p> +<p>“No ordinary teacher would, Dr. Clay. But +Mr. Haskers is not an ordinary man—he is very +dictatorial and harsh, and he hates boys even +though he has to teach them. He isn’t a bit like +Mr. Dale, or the others.”</p> +<p>“We never had any trouble with any teacher +but Haskers,” put in Phil. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290' name='page_290'></a>290</span></p> +<p>“And if we have to leave Oak Hall I’m going +to get my father to sue Haskers for damages,” +added Roger.</p> +<p>A talk lasting the best part of an hour followed, +and at last the worthy doctor had his eyes opened +to the unworthiness of his assistant. He scanned +the sheets of paper and the writing the boys had +brought with interest.</p> +<p>“You are right—this is Mr. Haskers’s hand,” +he said, slowly. “But is it the same hand that +wrote that villainous letter to Mr. Sparr?”</p> +<p>“Compare the two and you will see that we are +right,” answered Dave.</p> +<p>“I will,” answered the doctor; and a little +later he set off for Oakdale in his buggy, going +alone.</p> +<p>The boys walked down to the gymnasium, resolved +to keep out of all classes until the matter +had been settled. They had impressed it on Doctor +Clay’s mind that either Job Haskers must +leave the school or they would do so.</p> +<p>It was nearly noon when the master of Oak +Hall came back, driving slowly and looking very +thoughtful. The boys met him at the entrance +to the grounds and he told them to come to the +office, and closed the door carefully behind them.</p> +<p>“You were right,” he said, almost brokenly. +“I have been deceived by this—this—I do not +know what to call him! It will make a great stir +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291' name='page_291'></a>291</span> +when the truth is known—and it will hurt the +school,” he added, with a sigh.</p> +<p>“Why should we make a stir about it?” asked +Dave, quickly. “Let him go, that is all we ask. +He can resign.”</p> +<p>“No, the truth must come out,” was the firm +reply. “He shall not shelter himself behind you, +even for the benefit of the school. I have already +told the authorities the facts in the case. If they +wish to arrest him they can do so, and you may +appear against him, if you wish.”</p> +<p>“When will you tell him?” asked Phil, as there +came a brief pause.</p> +<p>“At once! And I wish you to be present and +hear what is said,” returned Doctor Clay. He +rang a bell and a servant appeared. “Tell Mr. +Haskers to come here immediately.”</p> +<p>There was silence after this, the boys not knowing +what to say, and the master of the school being +busy with his thoughts. Presently the door +opened and Job Haskers came in, with a look of +curiosity on his face.</p> +<p>“You sent for me, Doctor?” he inquired.</p> +<p>“I did, Mr. Haskers,” was the cold reply. “I +want your resignation, and I want it at once!”</p> +<p>The master of Oak Hall had gotten to his feet +and the two men stood facing each other. Doctor +Clay had his jaw set, and never had the students +seen him look so determined. He was no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292' name='page_292'></a>292</span> +longer a kindly schoolmaster, he was a judge, and +a stern judge at that.</p> +<p>“You—you want my resignation?” faltered +Job Haskers.</p> +<p>“Yes, and at once.”</p> +<p>“Why?”</p> +<p>“Because you are not fit to teach here—you are +not fit to teach anywhere!” thundered the doctor. +“I want your resignation, and then I want you to +leave just as soon as you possibly can.”</p> +<p>“But—but—I want you to explain. I +want––”</p> +<p>“It is not necessary for me to explain, Haskers. +You have been found out. You are a despicable +villain, and you ought to be in jail. I +trusted you, and you have deceived me. More +than that, you have tried to get these young gentlemen +into serious trouble. Don’t deny it, for it +will do no good. We have the absolute proof +against you, and those proofs are also in the hands +of the law. If you don’t want to be arrested, you +will leave this school as soon as you can get your +baggage packed.”</p> +<p>“Sir, I want you to know––” commenced Job +Haskers, but stopped short, for Doctor Clay had +taken a stride forward and was shaking a finger in +the teacher’s face.</p> +<p>“I will not argue with you, Haskers. For a +long time I have not been satisfied with your work, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293' name='page_293'></a>293</span> +for you did not seem to have the students’ interest +at heart. You have a good education. But a +teacher must have more than that—he must have +a heart for his work. Now you are found out, +and I want nothing more to do with you. I will +give you a check for what is due you up to to-day, +and you will sign a receipt in full, and also your +resignation, and then I never want to see or hear +of you again.”</p> +<p>“And suppose I won’t resign?” snarled the +teacher. “I have a contract––”</p> +<p>“If you don’t get out, you’ll go to jail.”</p> +<p>“And we’ll sue you,” Dave could not help putting +in.</p> +<p>“That’s right, we’ll push the case as far as the +law allows,” added Phil.</p> +<p>“Ha! you think you are smart, but you don’t +know it all,” snarled the teacher, but his manner +showed his uneasiness. He attempted to argue, +but Doctor Clay would not listen, and when he +said he would send for a constable, Job Haskers +quickly capitulated, signed his resignation, took his +check, and hurried away to pack his baggage. He +left about an hour later, by the back way, so that +none of the students saw him go. An hour after +that a man came for his trunks and bags; and that +was the last seen or heard of him at Oak Hall.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Dave, when the affair was +at an end. “How glad I am that Haskers is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294' name='page_294'></a>294</span> +gone! I feel as if a weight had been taken from +my head!”</p> +<p>“I guess everybody will be glad,” returned +Roger, and he was right. Some of the students +wanted to get up a celebration in honor of the +unpopular teacher’s departure, but this was not +permitted. But the boys had a time on the quiet, +and thoroughly enjoyed it.</p> +<p>With the going away of Job Haskers, and the +clearing up of the mystery surrounding the letter, +Oak Hall settled down once more to its normal +condition. Another teacher came to take the +place of the man who had left, and he proved +popular all around, and made Doctor Clay wonder +why he had not made a change long before.</p> +<p>With their minds free from worry, Dave and +his chums buckled down to their lessons, and our +hero spent much time over his paper on “The +Future of Our Country.” Soon the examinations +started, and then the boys fell to worrying over +how they would fare in this final test.</p> +<p>“Well, I hope I pass,” remarked Phil, when +the last examination was over. “I don’t expect +to be near the top. I lost too much, going to +Cave Island, and when I ran away.”</p> +<p>“Me for the passing mark, too,” chimed in +Ben.</p> +<p>“Well, I am hoping for something better,” said +Roger. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span></p> +<p>“What about you, Dave?” queried Buster.</p> +<p>“I am like Roger, hoping for something better,” +answered our hero, with a smile. “But +I’m prepared to take what comes,” he added.</p> +<p>At last came the day when the announcements +were to be made. Dave had sent in his theme +and he expected to hear from this as well as from +his studies. In the meantime, preparations were +going forward for the graduation exercises, and +visitors were expected from far and near. +Nearly all the folks from Crumville were coming, +and also the parents of Phil, Roger, and the other +seniors.</p> +<p>The big assembly room was crowded when the +announcements were made. The passing mark +was seventy-five per cent., and many of the boys +dreaded to think that they might be below that.</p> +<p>“I will read the names in the order of merit,” +said Doctor Clay, after the opening exercises. +“Only two boys have failed to pass for graduation, +and they will be conditioned, if they so desire. +I am proud of the record.” And then the +master of the school proceeded to read the list. +Polly Vane and Dave had each ninety-six per cent., +Roger had ninety-four, Shadow ninety, Sam and +Luke each eighty-eight, Phil eighty-seven, Gus +eighty-six, and so on down to Buster, who +squeezed through with seventy-eight. The boys +who had failed to pass were Nat Poole, who had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span> +only sixty-eight, and one of his cronies, who was +marked sixty-nine.</p> +<p>“It ain’t fair! I did as well as lots of ’em,” +said Nat, when the reading was over. But nobody +listened to him, for all knew that the examinations +had been just in every particular.</p> +<p>“I will now announce the prizes for the best +themes on the subject, ‘The Future of Our Country,’” +went on Doctor Clay. “The reading of +the nine papers handed in has afforded me great +pleasure, for all are good and many of them excellent. +But I think the best of all is that written +by David Porter, and the committee of teachers +who have examined the papers agree with me. +Porter, I congratulate you, and I will now ask you +to come forward and read your meritorious composition +to your fellow-students.”</p> +<p>And amid a general handclapping our hero +went to the platform and commenced to read the +theme. Everybody listened with close attention, +and loud was the applause when he had concluded. +It was certainly a fine paper, and later on +Doctor Clay had it published in one of the school +journals, where it attracted not a little attention.</p> +<p>Dave was certainly happy and he had good reason +to be. He sent word home that night of how +he had fared and the next day received several +messages of congratulation. One message from +Jessie he prized very highly, for she wrote, “You +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297' name='page_297'></a>297</span> +deserve a big hug for coming through so finely. +My very best wishes.” The other boys also got +congratulations; and that night and the night to +follow were “bonfire nights,” in more ways than +one.</p> +<p>“Well, we are rid of Haskers, and also Merwell +and Jasniff,” remarked Roger to Dave. +“We ought to be happy, eh, Dave?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and especially over coming out so well +for graduation,” answered Dave.</p> +<p>“Do you think we’ll ever see Haskers or Merwell +again?” questioned Phil.</p> +<p>“I don’t know—I trust not,” answered our +hero. But his wish was not fulfilled. He did +meet the pair, and in a most unexpected fashion, +as will be related in the next volume of this series, +to be called “Dave Porter in the Gold Fields; or, +The Search for the Landslide Mine,” in which we +will learn how Dave went West with some of his +chums, and joined an old prospector in a hunt for +a lost mine that had been willed to Roger Morr’s +mother.</p> +<p>The graduation exercises at Oak Hall that year +formed a gala event long to be remembered. The +school and the campus were crowded, and Dave +and his chums surprised even Doctor Clay by +“chipping in” and hiring a brass band to play +outside, after the exercises were over. The boys +also presented their teachers and the master with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298' name='page_298'></a>298</span> +some volumes of history and poetry, and received +numerous gifts in return. From his father Dave +got a bank-book, with an amount written therein +that was a complete surprise. His sister gave him +a neat stickpin and his uncle a set of books, +and from Jessie and her folks came a desk set, of +solid silver, suitably engraved.</p> +<p>“Well, I think I ought to be the happiest boy +alive,” said Dave, after the exercises were over, +and he had his diploma, tied with a broad ribbon. +“I feel just as if I was walking on air.”</p> +<p>“And I am glad, too,” said his sister Laura, +warmly.</p> +<p>“We are all glad,” put in Jessie, and gave him +her brightest smile.</p> +<p>“Glad and proud, Dave,” said his father. +“My boy, you have done very well.”</p> +<p>And then the whole party went down to the +gymnasium, where refreshments were being served +to the visitors. And here let us leave Dave Porter, +wishing him well.</p> +<p style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em'>THE END</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p style='text-align:center'> +<span style='font-size:1.4em;'>DAVE PORTER SERIES</span><br /> +<span style='font-size:1.2em;'>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</span> +</p> + +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; border-top:1px solid silver; height:3px; margin-bottom:0em;' /> + +<p style='text-indent:1em;'>“Mr. Stratemeyer has seldom introduced a more popular hero than Dave Porter. He is a typical boy, manly, brave, always ready for a good +time if it can be obtained in an honorable way.”—Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.</p> + +<p style='text-indent:1em;'>“Edward Stratemeyer’s ‘Dave Porter’ has become exceedingly popular.”—Boston Globe.</p> + +<p style='text-indent:1em;'>“Dave and his friends are nice, manly chaps.”—Times-Democrat, New Orleans.</p> +<table style='margin: auto' summary=''><tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;'> +DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The School Days of an American Boy</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Strange Cruise of the Stormy Petrel</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER’S RETURN TO SCHOOL<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or Winning the Medal of Honor</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Pluck of an American Schoolboy</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or For the Honor of Oak Hall</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Cowboy’s Secret</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Chums and Foes of Oak Hall</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or A Schoolboy’s Mysterious Mission</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or Last Days at Oak Hall</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Search for the Landslide Mine</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Wild Man of Mirror Lake</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Disappearance of the Basswood Fortune</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER’S GREAT SEARCH<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or The Perils of a Young Civil Engineer</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or A Young Army Engineer in France</span><br /> + <br /> +DAVE PORTER’S WAR HONORS<br /> +<span style='margin-left: 1.5625em;'>Or At the Front with the Fighting Engineers</span></p> +</td></tr></table> +<hr style='border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;' /> + +<p style='text-align:center'>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt<br /> +of price by the publishers.</p> + +<p style='text-align:center'>LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. BOSTON</p> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: ppg-090430 --> +<!-- timestamp: Fri May 01 05:18:28 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Porter and the Runaways, by Edward Stratemeyer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS *** + +***** This file should be named 28654-h.htm or 28654-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/5/28654/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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