that the wild man was around the old
shanty where the dynamite was kept, and that he was seen in Oakdale
several times."

Dave was interrupted here by Nat, and a wordy war lasting several
minutes followed. Finally Doctor Clay said he would take the magazine
and keep it, and that he would notify the authorities in what locality
the wild man might be found, provided he had not gone away further
than expected.

"I am inclined to believe the story told by Morr and Porter," said he
somewhat sternly to Nat Poole. "But this matter cannot be cleared up
until we find your uncle. When captured, the unfortunate man will most
likely speak of the blowing up in some way or another, if he is
guilty."

"I don't think so," answered Nat; but his manner showed that he was
much disturbed. Then Dave and Roger were dismissed, and the master of
the school took Nat with him to Oakdale, to see what could be done
towards rounding up Wilbur Poole in the near future.

"Well, Dave, what is the next move?" asked the senator's son, as the
two were alone in the lavatory, washing up after the long bicycle
ride.

"I wish I could find Phil and the others and get them to come back
here," responded our hero. "It is a great mistake for them to stay
away."

"I believe you--it looks just as if they were guilty. I wonder that
they don't come back on their own account, now they have had a chance
to think it over."

"I think they saw that article in the newspaper, Roger, and it scared
them worse than ever. Maybe they imagine the officers of the law are
waiting to gobble them up."

"If we only had some trace of them!"

"I've got an idea I am going to follow up."

"What sort of an idea?"

"I was thinking of that baggage that left here. Maybe it was shipped
to some point."

"You'll have a job tracing it up."

"I can try it, anyway," answered our hero.

A day slipped by and nothing more was said about the affair by Doctor
Clay or Nat Poole. Then Nat left the school, telling some friends he
was going home for a week's rest.

"Most likely he is after his uncle," was Roger's comment, and Dave
agreed with him.

As soon as he could get the time Dave went to Oakdale to see if he
could find any trace of the baggage belonging to Phil and the others
who had run away. He made many inquiries but without success, and was
on the point of returning to the school when he happened to think of
an old man named Dowling, who did some trucking and who knew Bust