t. Do you think he came here to find the man?"
demanded Gus, quickly.

"It looks so to me."

"My gracious, Dave, I think you are right! Say, there is something
mysterious about all this!" cried Gus.

"Exactly."

"Let us go ashore by all means and see what Nat is up to," urged the
big youth.

Dave was more than willing, now that he had discovered the rowboat
used by the wild man. Perhaps this island was the home of that
mysterious individual. If so, what was the money-lender's son doing
there? Had he business with the strange creature?

"Maybe we'd better not make any noise," suggested Gus, as the boat was
turned in to a convenient landing-place. To this Dave did not reply,
but they landed as silently as possible. Then the rowboat was hauled
up out of sight between the bushes.

From the craft used by the wild man a rude path ran up from the shore
to the rocks beyond. A short distance from the shore the boys saw the
marks of a wet foot, coming from the direction where lay the
motor-boat.

"That was made by Nat--he got his left foot wet," said Gus.

"I think so myself," answered our hero.

They followed the marks left by the wet foot over the rocks. They
headed for the upper end of the island, where there was a small grove
of straggly cedar trees. Here the marks faded away completely.

"Well, we know he came this way, anyhow," remarked Gus. "He can't be
very far off, for the island isn't very big."

"I see a rude log cabin!" exclaimed Dave, and pointed through the
cedars. "Maybe that is where the wild man lives."

"If it is, we want to go slow, Dave. He may attack us."

"But what of Nat, if he is there?"

"He may know the man and have some influence over him."

"I hardly think anybody could have any influence over that man. He is
as crazy as can be, and not to be trusted."

The two youths approached the old log cabin slowly, keeping as much as
possible in the shelter of the trees. Nobody was in sight, nor did any
sound reach their ears.

Presently the students found themselves within fifty feet of the
cabin, the door of which stood half open. Each looked at the other.

"I'm going ahead," said Dave, resolutely. He and his companion had
provided themselves with sticks, and Gus had also picked up two
stones.

"Oh! oh! oh!" came of a sudden, to their startled ears. "Oh dear me!"

"It's Nat!" ejaculated Dave. "Something has happened to him!"

"Maybe the wild man attacked him," added Gus.

"We'll s