Part 15 (1/2)
Dave was already on the side road with Buster and Gus beside him, and the senator's son quickly followed.
”Don't go too fast or I--I can't ke--keep up with you!” panted Buster.
”Do you see anything of him, Dave?” queried Roger.
”Not yet, but there is a turn just ahead. When we make that we'll be able to see almost to the river.”
All of the students sped on, the stout lad doing his best to keep up with the others. They reached the turn with Dave a step or two in advance.
”There he is!”
”I see him! Say, he's wild-looking enough!”
”He is making for the river!”
”We ought to be able to catch him. We are four to one.”
Dave and Roger pressed forward with increased speed and poor Buster fell somewhat behind.
”I'm coming as fa--fast as I ca--can!” blurted out the fat youth. ”Go on--I'll get there sooner or later!”
”Pick up a stick, if you see one,” cried Dave, to Roger and Gus. ”We may have a hot fight on our hands. That man ought to be in jail, or in an asylum.”
As they sped along, the three kept their eyes open and each presently armed himself with a fair-sized club. The wild man was running like a deer, pausing occasionally to turn and brandish his long arms at them savagely. They could see that his clothing was in tatters and that his hair and beard were long and unkempt.
”Hi! stop!” called out Dave, although he had but little hope of causing the man to halt. ”We want to talk to you.”
”Go back! Beware! Go back, or it will be the worse for you!” called the wild man. ”Leave the King of Sumatra alone!”
”The King of Sumatra?” repeated Roger. ”Say, he's crazy sure enough, to imagine himself that!”
The boys continued after the wild man and urged him to stop. But instead of heeding them, he ran on the faster.
”He's an athlete, when it comes to running,” remarked Dave, as he tried in vain to get closer to the man.
”They say crazy people are always strong,” answered the senator's son.
”I've go--got to gi--give up!” panted Gus, and came to a halt.
”Go--got a pa--pain in my side!” And he put his hand over his hip.
”All right, we'll manage alone!” cried Roger. ”I don't think we can catch that fellow anyway,” he added, half under his breath.
Another turn of the woodland road brought the Leming River into plain view, at a point where the stream was both wide and deep. The wild man kept sprinting along and it was impossible for the boys to draw any closer to him.
”Shall we threaten to shoot him if he won't stop?” asked Roger.
Neither of the lads carried firearms.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”STOP!” CRIED DAVE.--_Page 87._]
”No, he might do some shooting on his own account,--if he is armed.