"If it wasn't for that, maybe we wouldn't have been suspected of blowing up the hotel," said Ben. "Then you really think the wild man did it, Dave?"

"Yes."

"But what of that letter Jason Sparr got, saying our crowd was guilty?"

"I don't know what to make of that, Ben. I don't think the wild man could write that."

"Would Nat Poole be bad enough to do it?"

"Maybe. But it was an awful thing to do. I didn't think Nat would be as mean as that."

The boys had dried and pressed their clothing as best they could, and put on clean collars, cuffs, and neckties, and therefore looked quite presentable once more.

"As soon as we get to town we can get cleaned up a little better,"

said Dave. "So we won't look quite like tramps when we return to the Hall."

"I hate to face Doctor Clay," remarked Phil, dubiously.

"So do I," added Ben and Buster.

"Well, it has got to be done," answered Dave. "So make the best of it.

The doctor understands the situation, so I don't think he'll be hard on you."

"I hope they have got the wild man, and that they prove he blew up the hotel," said Phil, wistfully. "That is the only thing that will really clear us."

"Oh, they are bound to get the wild man sooner or later," answered Dave, hopefully.

It was decided to take the one afternoon train from Camptown Falls, and at the proper time the boys walked to the little depot, Dave with his suit-case, and the others with some hand baggage. Instructions were left with Jerry Blutt regarding the other baggage, and the man was paid for his services. He said he was glad that n.o.body had been drowned in the flood, and added that he was going up to the broken-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 appet.i.te for breakfast. Phil looked around for Nat Poole, but the money-lender's son had not yet returned to the school.

"Now, tell me everything," said Doctor Clay, when the boys at length filed into his office. "As they say in court, we want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

"And that is what I'm going to give you, Doctor Clay," answered Phil.

"I made a big mistake in running away, and I am glad Dave came to bring us back. I haven't done anything wrong, and I am here to face the music, as the saying goes."

"And so am I," came from Ben and Buster.

Then the boys told their story in detail, omitting nothing, and Dave related how he had gone to Camptown Falls, and how the flood had caught him. In the midst of the narrative came a sharp knock on the door.

"Come in," said the doctor, and one of the servants entered.

"A man to see you, sir," said the servant. "He says it is very important--something about that wild man, sir! He's terribly excited, sir!"

"The wild man again!" murmured the master of the school, while the boys looked at him and the servant with interest. "Show the visitor in and I will hear what he has to say."

CHAPTER XXVII

THE TRAIL THROUGH THE WOODS

In a minute the servant ushered in a farmer whom the boys recognized as Henry Morrison, a man who had a farm along the river-front, about a mile from Oak Hall.

"Good-morning, sir," said the farmer, bowing to the doctor and then to the boys. "Excuse me for being in such a hurry, but I thought you would like to know."

"I'll be glad to hear what you have to say, Mr. Morrison," replied the master of the school. "Sit down," and he pointed to a handy chair.

"It's about that wild man, Doctor Clay!" exclaimed the farmer, dropping into the seat and mopping his forehead with his handkerchief.

"It's something terribul, the way he carries on. He 'most scared my wife to death!"