en, or something like that on it."

"Blood-poisoning! Oh dear!" and Nat gave another groan.

"Shall we help you back to your boat?" asked Dave.

"If you will."

"Where is the wild man?" questioned Gus, looking around.

"I don't know, and I don't care--just now," answered Nat Poole.

CHAPTER XIV

THE BANDANNA HANDKERCHIEF

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.

"Do you know where the wild man is?" repeated Gus, who had not been
satisfied by the reply given to the question before.

"I do not," snapped the money-lender's son, with a touch of his former
tartness. "I haven't seen him."

"But you know that cabin is where he lives," put in our hero.

"I thought so--but I wasn't sure of it."

"Did you see him come ashore, Nat?"

"No--that is, not to-day. I saw him land here yesterday."

"And that is what brought you here to-day?" remarked Gus.

"Yes, if you must know," was the somewhat cold answer.

"See here, Nat, do you know this wild man?" asked Dave, abruptly.

"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.

"That is what I wanted to find out."

"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."

"Want to have him caught and placed in an asylum?" asked Gus.

"It's not my business to place him anywhere," cried Nat, hastily. "For
all we know, he may be harmless."

"Not when he stops young ladies on the road and catches folks in
steel-traps," answered our hero, with a faint smile.

"Well, that's right, too," grumbled the money-lender's son. "Maybe he
ought to be in an asylum."

"I think he is on this island now," went on Dave. "His rowboat is
here, anyway."

"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."

"That's an idea, Gus!" cried Dave. "We'll do it."

"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."

"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 m