my and all the other institutions we cross
bats with."

"Are you going to try for the nine this term, Gus?" questioned Dave.

"Sure! Why not? You'll try, won't you?" went on the big youth, in
surprise.

"No, I've decided not to go into athletics this term, Gus. I want to
give all my time to my studies."

"Yes, but the nine needs you, Dave!" put in Buster. "I heard some of
the fellows talking about it only yesterday. They had you slated for
your old position."

"Well, if Gus wants to play, he can fill the box," answered Dave.

"But we need more than one pitcher," insisted Buster.

"There are plenty of new students coming along. I hear Thomas is a
good one, and so is Ennis."

"I'm not going to play, either," said Roger. "I want to graduate with
all the honors possible."

"How about you, Phil?"

"I--I think I'll play," answered the shipowner's son, rather lamely.
"I'll see about it later."

"Well, I don't want to neglect my studies," said Gus Plum. "But I have
done some hard work this winter and so I am pretty well ahead. I
didn't lose time going to Cave Island, you know," he added, with a
smile.

"Well, it was worth it--losing that time," answered Dave. "It saved
Mr. Wadsworth from ruin, and that's a good deal."

"If the baseball nine----" commenced Buster, and then broke off short.
"What was that?" he demanded, as a cry from a distance broke on the
ears of all.

"It's a woman's voice!" cried Dave, quickly. "She is calling for help!
Come on and see what is the matter!" And he started off on a run, with
his school chums at his heels.

CHAPTER IX

THE KING OF SUMATRA

The boys had been traveling along a broad highway that ran to a town
on the other side of the woods. The trees were thick and so were the
bushes, with here and there a big rock, covered with the dead vines of
the summer previous.

At one point some distance ahead was an old stone house, standing
where another road ran in the direction of the river. This house had
not been inhabited for years, and the doors and windows were gone, and
the falling of the chimney had smashed in a large portion of the
sloping roof.

It was from in front of the old house that the cries for assistance
came, and now the boys heard two voices, both somewhat girlish in
tones.

"Oh, let me go! Please, let me go!" came, wildly.

"You have no right to touch us!" was added, in another voice.

"What's the matter?" called out Dave, as loudly as he could