CHAPTER VIII 

OFF FOR BEAR CAMP 

"Who told you this, Ben?" asked Dave. 

"I just got the story from Nat. He and his family are very much worried. They had an idea that Wilbur Poole was practically well again, and that is the reason why they did not watch him very closely." 

"Of course they are searching for him?" 

"Sure! Nat said the authorities and also several other people were after him. Nat himself was going to look for him to-morrow." 

"Maybe we'll run across him," said Luke Watson. 

"I hope we don't, Luke!" exclaimed Dave. "That man gave us trouble enough up at Oak Hall." 

"Right you are there!" burst out Shadow. And then he added: "I wonder if he'll call himself the King of Sumatra, as he did before?" 

"A man who is out of his mind is apt to call himself anything," said Dave. "I feel sorry for Nat. This must worry him and his family a good deal." 

It was not long after this when all the boys went over to the Wadsworth mansion, there to complete their preparations for the trip to Mirror Lake. Ben had had the Basswood automobile thoroughly overhauled, and Dave had likewise had the Wadsworth touring-car put into the best possible running shape. 

"My, but there is going to be quite a bunch of us!" was Dave's comment, as he looked at the boys and girls who were present. 

"Mamma says we must finish all our packing to-night or else do it Monday morning," said Jessie. "She doesn't want any of it done on Sunday." 
Whom?
"Right you are there!" burst out Shadow.