ave, Phil, and Roger were conspicuous by their absence.

"See here, Porter, you're going to play, aren't you?" asked the former
manager.

"No," answered Dave, quietly but firmly.

"Why not?"

"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."

"But you can do that and play on the nine, too," urged the manager.

"I don't think so. I'd like to play," continued our hero, wistfully,
"but I don't see how I can."

"This isn't fair, Porter. We really need you."

"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."

"I don't know about that," answered the manager, with a grave shake of
his head. "I wish you'd come in."

"Not this year," said Dave; and then the two separated.

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.

"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!"

"Well, we can't have everything," answered Dave. "I want to graduate
with the highest possible honors, and that means plenty of hard
boning."

"And a fellow can't bone and play ball, too," added Roger.

"We might--if old Haskers would be easy on us," murmured the
shipowner's son.

"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."

"All right, just as you say," grumbled Phil. But his manner showed
that he was not altogether satisfied.

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.

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