take you both home," said Phil, promptly, looking at Mary.

"But we don't want to keep you from what you were going to do," said
Vera.

"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."

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.

"I heard that that horrid Jasniff is under arrest," said Vera to
Dave. "I am glad of it. It is a pity that Merwell got away."

"Perhaps," answered our hero. "But, somehow, I sometimes think that
Link Merwell will turn over a new leaf."

Vera looked back, to make sure that none of the others were near.

"Just like Mr. Plum, I suppose you mean," she whispered. "Oh, it was
splendid, what you did for him, Dave!"

"Oh, I didn't do much for Gus."

"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.

"Well, Gus has turned out a nice fellow. I wish Merwell would turn out
as good."

"But he helped to take those jewels."

"That is true--and that will always be a black mark against him," said
Dave, soberly.

Soon all reached the outskirts of Oakdale and there, at one of the
corners, the boys left the girls.

"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."

"We can get an excuse, if we tell about the wild man," said Buster.
"I've hurried all I'm going to."

"We'll certainly have a yarn to spin when we get back to the school,"
was Phil's comment.

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.

"Had a fine walk, boys?" he asked, with a smile.

"We had an adventure," answered Dave, and then he and his chums told
what it was.

"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."

"It certainly is strange," answered Dave.

But how strange, our hero was still to find out.

CHAPTER X

NAT POOLE WANTS TO KNOW