roken-away dam later on to see how matters looked.

It was a rather quiet crowd that got aboard the train when it came
along. The conductor wanted to know how they had fared in the flood,
and they told him. At Lumberport the boys had to wait an hour for the
next train to Oakdale Junction, and they spent the time in getting a
good supper, and in having their shoes shined, and in brushing up
generally.

"I'll be glad to get back late at night," said Phil to Dave. "I'd hate
to have the whole crowd staring at us when we came in."

At the Junction they waited but a few minutes, and the run to Oakdale
did not take long. They were the only ones to get off at the depot,
and the spot was all but deserted. But they had telegraphed ahead,
and Horsehair was on hand, with a carriage, to meet them.

"Glad to see you young gents back, indeed I am," said the school
driver.

"Any news, Horsehair?" asked Dave, as they piled into the carriage.

"Not as I know of."

"Have they got that wild man yet?" questioned Phil.

"No, sir. But they seen him--along the river--day before yesterday. He
was sleepin' in a barn. But he got away before the farmer and his man
could git him."

"Where was that?" questioned Ben.

"Up to the Morrison place."

"The Morrison place," mused Buster. "I know that family. When I get a
chance I am going to ask them about this," he added.

When the boys arrived at Oak Hall they found Doctor Clay sitting up to
receive them. He smiled at Dave, but was somewhat cold towards the
others.

"It is too late to listen to what you have to say to-night," said he.
"All of you may report in my office directly after our opening
exercises in the morning."

When the boys went upstairs there were a good many exclamations of
surprise, and Roger and the others wanted to ask innumerable
questions. But a monitor cut all talk short, and Dave and the
runaways got to bed as quickly as possible.

All were up early, and Dave, Phil, and the others had to tell their
story before going down to breakfast. Roger and those who had been
left behind with him listened eagerly to the tale of the flood and the
other happenings.

"I guess Dave got there just in time," said the senator's son. "How
about it, Buster?"

"He sure did," said the stout lad, and shuddered to think how close he
had been to drowning.

It can well be imagined that Phil, Ben, and Buster did not have much
appetite for breakfast. Phil looked around for Nat Poole, b