rocky and somewhat barren spot, and seldom visited
by anybody but fishermen.

"All right, but we want to beware of the rocks," cautioned the big
youth.

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.

"Hello! look there!" cried Dave, a few minutes later, and pointed to
the bushes.

"What do you see?"

"A motor-boat. I think it is Nat Poole's."

"Is that so? What brought him here?" questioned Gus, with interest.

"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.

"See anything of Nat?"

"No, the boat is empty."

"Let us row in a little closer and see what he is doing," suggested
Gus.

"He'll say we were spying on him."

"Humph! Haven't we as much right as he has to visit the island?"

"Of course."

"Then what is the use of keeping away? He may be waiting to play some
trick, or something like that."

"Oh, I think not, Gus. Probably he just visited the island out of
curiosity. But I'll go in if you say so."

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.

"Shall we call to him?" asked Gus.

"What for? I don't want to see him."

"Neither do I. His boat is tied good and fast. He must expect to stay
on the island quite a while."

The two boys rowed on, past the motor-boat. Then, as they turned a
point of rocks, Dave gave a start.

"Well, of all things!"

"What is it, Dave?"

"Look yonder--in between those bushes!"

"Why, it's a rowboat."

"Exactly, Gus, and do you see how it is painted, drab with blue
stripes?"

"Of course--a pretty ugly boat, I think."

"Gus, that is the very rowboat used by that wild man--the one he was
in when he got away from us that day!"

"Do you really mean it?" gasped the big boy, staring hard at the
craft.

"I certainly do--I'd know that boat in a hundred. I never saw another
just like it."

"If that's the case, maybe the wild man is on the island!"

"Just what I was thinking," answered Dave. "And I was thinking, too,
that----" He stopped short.

"What?"

"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?"

"Yes, I remember tha