“Look!” called out the senator’s son. “He’s got a boat! There he goes!”
Dave turned in the direction pointed out by his chum. Both saw a small rowboat sweep out from under some brushwood. In it stood the wild man, using an oar as a pole on the rocks.
“Stop!” cried Dave. “Stop, or you may be sorry for it.”
“You can’t catch the King of Sumatra!” yelled the wild man, and flourished his arms and 87 made a hideous face at them. Then he sat down on the middle seat of the craft, placed the oars in the rowlocks, and commenced to row rapidly down the stream.
“Well, that’s the end of the chase,” remarked Dave, in some disgust.
“That’s right, since we haven’t any boat,” returned Roger. “Wonder where he got that craft? I don’t think he bought it.”
“It isn’t likely. Probably he saw it somewhere along the river and simply appropriated it.” And this proved to be true.
The boys watched the wild man until a bend of the stream hid rower and craft from view. Then they turned back in the direction of the old stone house.
“Did you get him?” demanded Buster, who was waiting with Gus at the point where he had dropped out of the race.
“No,” answered Roger, and told why.