“If I didn’t know better, I’d say the place was haunted!” cried Luke.
“Oh, don’t say that!” exclaimed Polly Vane, looking scared. “I don’t wish to see any ghosts.”
Doctor Clay was informed of what had occurred, and he had another search conducted. But it was all to no purpose—the things were missing, and that was all there was to it.
It may well be imagined that with so much 194 going on it was next to impossible for Dave and Roger to study. Yet they did their best, not wishing to drop behind again as they had during the trip to Cave Island. Job Haskers did not let up on them, and many a time they wished he would leave Oak Hall and that they might never see him again.
One afternoon Roger came to Dave in great haste and beckoned for him to come outside.
“I think we had better follow Nat Poole,” said the senator’s son. “I think there is something in the wind.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Nat has been packing a valise and he has put in the strangest things—some clothing, some bottles of medicine, some rope, and a thing that looks like a crown made of brass.”
“A crown made of brass? Oh, Roger, maybe that wild man—who calls himself the King of Sumatra––”
“That’s the idea, Dave, I see you’ve caught on. Come on, before Nat gets away from us.”