ay out all day, if I thought we could catch him," returned the
shipowner's son, promptly.

Presently the boys espied a small stone house, standing beside a brook
which flowed through the woods into the river. In the house lived an
old man who made his living by making baskets and fancy articles of
birch bark.

"Let us see if old Herick is around," suggested Dave. "He may be able
to tell us something."

They found the old man hard at work on a fancy basket. He looked
surprised when thus suddenly confronted by the students.

"Did I see a wild man?" he queried, in reply to their question. "I
guess I did,--at least he acted queer enough. He danced up here, made
a deep bow, and told me the army would be along in four minutes. Then
he made another bow and walked off, as stiff as a drum-major."

"When was this?" demanded Dave.

"About half an hour ago."

"And which way did he go?" put in Phil, eagerly.

"That way," and the old basket-maker pointed up the brook. "Walked
right in the water, too. I was going to follow him at first but then I
didn't think it was any use."

The boys waited to hear no more, but telling old Herick to watch for
the other searchers and tell them about the wild man, they set off up
the brook as fast as they could travel.

As the chums progressed they looked to the right and left, wondering
if Wilbur Poole had kept to the tiny watercourse or taken to the
woods, which were now exceedingly dense.

"I see his footprints!" cried Phil, as they passed a sandy stretch.
"Anyway, those marks look fresh."

"I fancy you are right, Phil, and if so, he can't be very far ahead of
us."

They went on, following the windings of the stream until it became
less than a foot wide. It came to an end at a number of springs among
the rocks.

"Fine, cold water," announced Dave. "Here is a chance for a good
drink, Phil."

Both were drinking their fill when a loud voice suddenly challenged
them.

"Ha! What are you doing at my fountain?"

Both looked up hurriedly and saw the wild man standing on the highest
of the rocks. He had his arms folded and was glaring at them sternly.

"Oh!" murmured Phil. "Say, Dave, there he is! What shall we do?"

"Let us try to make friends with him," suggested Dave. "If we don't,
he may run away, and he can easily do that in these thick woods."

"If we could only notify the others!"

"You can go back if you wish, while I talk to him."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"Oh, I reckon