ed over for some time, and then, after another search
through the edge of the woods and among the rocks and brushwood of that
vicinity, the boys and Mr. Wadsworth returned to the bungalows. They
found all of the girls and Mrs. Wadsworth on one of the verandas,
discussing the situation. Even Jessie had joined the group, declaring
that the alarm had scared most of her headache away.

"Oh, I was so frightened when I first saw the man--if it really was a
man!" cried Laura.

"He looked more like an orang-outang," declared the girl from the West.
"If I had met him out on the range, and if I had had a gun with me, I
surely would have shot at him!"

"I brought a gun along," returned Dave, exhibiting the weapon; "I
thought it was a bear scare."

The scare was the topic of conversation all through the dinner hour, and
it was decided that a letter should be posted to Mr. Aaron Poole the
following morning, acquainting him with what had occurred.

"It's queer that my husband and Ben and Mr. Porter don't come," remarked
Mrs. Basswood, when the meal was nearly over and it was growing dark.

"It's quite a walk to Carpen Falls," said Dave. "And you must remember
the trail isn't any too good in some spots."

"I think I see them coming now," announced Roger, a minute later; and he
was right. Soon Ben and his father and Dunston Porter came into full
view near the end of the lake.

"Talk about an adventure!" cried Ben, as they came up. "Who do you think
we met?"

"The wild man!" burst out several of those present.

"Oh, then he was here, was he? Was it Wilbur Poole?"

"We are not so sure about that. We didn't get a very good look at him.
He had on such a queer outfit that he was completely disguised."

"That's just it!" broke in Dunston Porter. "We couldn't tell who he was,
either. He appeared right in front of us on the trail, flourishing a big
stick. He let out a whoop like an Indian, gave a leap or two into the
air, and then dashed out of sight behind some bushes."

"He didn't attack you, did he?" questioned Mrs. Basswood, anxiously.

"No," returned her husband, "but, all the same, I didn't like his
actions. He might have done some serious damage with the stick he
carried."

"That man, whoever he is, ought to be put under guard," declared Phil,
and then he added quickly: "Did you get any letters, Ben?"

"Oh, yes, several of them. Here they are," and placing his hand in the
pocket of his jacket, the youth brought forth