THE WILD MAN AGAIN
"Roger, I have an idea!"
"What is it, Dave?"
"I may be mistaken, but I've been thinking that perhaps that wild man
did the blowing up at the hotel."
"What makes you think that?" questioned the senator's son, putting
down the book he had been trying to study.
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.
"Well, in the first place, it would be just like a crazy man to do
such a thing, wouldn't it?"
"Perhaps."
"In the second place, I have heard that the wild man was seen around
when the bridge was blown up."
"Is that so? Who saw him?"
"Mr. Tyson, the farmer who lives near the bridge."
"Why didn't he try to capture the fellow?"
"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."
"Say, that is certainly interesting!" cried the senator's son. "When
did you learn all this?"
"Less than an hour ago. Mr. Tyson brought some vegetables to the
school and I had a talk with him."
"Did he think the wild man blew up the hotel?"
"No, he didn't connect the two."
"Hum! What do you think of doing about it?"
"I hardly know. I wish we could round up the wild man."
"Plenty of folks wish that."
"I think he hangs out somewhere along the river, or on one of the
islands."
"Maybe Nat Poole knows."
"I hardly think so--although I am sure Nat wants to find the
fellow--why, I can't imagine."
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.
"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."
"Well, he has not dared to have those warrants served," replied the
doctor, dryly.
"Because he is afraid there will be a great deal of money used in the
case to fight him."
"Mr. Haskers, do you stand up for Mr. Sparr? I thought you had had
some difficulty yourself with him once?"
"That was but a small affair. I think he is perfectly honest and that
he wants to do what is right."
"Possibly. But he did not treat Lawrence very fairly in the matter of
that dinner that was ordered."
"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.
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 valises of Ben
and Buster, and part of their outfits.
"Well, this beats the Dutch!" exclaimed Roger, on learning the news.
"Who took them, do you suppose?"
"Don't ask me, Roger."
"Maybe they came themselves and got them," suggested Sam.
"If they did, wouldn't we hear them?" asked Gus.
"Talk about a mysterious disappearance," cried Shadow. "Say, this puts
me in mind of a story. Once some fellows----"
"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."
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.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say the place was haunted!" cried Luke.
"Oh, don't say that!" exclaimed Polly Vane, looking scared. "I don't
wish to see any ghosts."
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.
It may well be imagined that with so much 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.
One afternoon Roger came to Dave in great haste and beckoned for him
to come outside.
"I think we had better follow Nat Poole," said the senator's son. "I
think there is something in the wind."
"What makes you think that?"
"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."
"A crown made of brass? Oh, Roger, maybe that wild man--who calls
himself the King of Sumatra----"
"That's the idea, Dave, I see you've caught on. Come on, before Nat
gets away from us."
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.
As they approached, they saw the money-lender's son trundle out a
bicycle he owned and 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.
"We'll have to follow on our own wheels," said Dave.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Stop! I command you, in the name of the King of Sumatra, to stop!"
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.
"I salute you, King of Sumatra!" called out Nat, making a low bow.
"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.
"It is the wild man, sure enough!" whispered Roger, in great
excitement.
"And evidently he has been expecting Nat," returned Dave. "Let us get
closer and see what is up."
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.
"I have brought you something, my king!" cried the money-lender's
son. "Something of great importance to you."
"What is it?" demanded the wild man, his curiosity excited.
"A new crown. It is of gold, a beautiful crown."
"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.
"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."
"Did you bring your army with you?" demanded the wild man,
suspiciously.
"No, I am all alone--the army is at Oakdale," answered Nat.
"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.
"Now, what do you make of this?" whispered Roger, looking at Dave in
wonder.
"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."
"A prisoner? Oh, I see; for the glory of it, eh?"
"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."
"Oh! Then maybe the fellow is some relative of the Pooles."
"Possibly, or a close friend. But come on, let us see what happens. We
ought to try to capture the man ourselves."
"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."
"We'll have to watch our chances."
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.
"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."
"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.
"Of course."
"Then let it be so." And the wild man sat back on the bench and closed
his eyes, and stroked his straggly beard.
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.
"Now sit perfectly still while I count fifty," said the money-lender's
son. "Then when I----"
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.