“Up in the woods, where the brook branches off by the two big rocks.”
“I know the spot!” cried Roger. “Say, maybe he hangs out around there.”
“No, we hunted around there yesterday, but he wasn’t to be seen. I don’t believe he has any settled place of abode, but just roams through the woods.”
“Poor fellow! Somebody ought to catch him and place him in a sanitarium,” was Dave’s comment.
Various matters were talked over until the supper hour, and then the boys filed down to the dining-hall. Here our hero met more of his school chums, including Gus Plum, who had once been his enemy but who was now quite friendly, 57 and little Chip Macklin, who in days gone by had been Plum’s toady.
“Very glad to see you back, Dave!” cried Gus. “And, say, you’ve certainly made a hero of yourself,” he added, warmly.
“It was great, what you and Roger and Phil did,” added Chip, in deep admiration.
Everybody was glad to see Dave back, and after supper it was all he could do to get away from many of his friends. But he managed it at last, and he, Roger, and Phil went upstairs, to put away their things and get out their schoolbooks.
“We have got to study and that is all there is to it,” said Dave, firmly. “Fun is one thing and getting ready to graduate is another. We have got to get down to the grind, boys.”
“That’s right,” answered the senator’s son.