"Here are footprints," said Ben, pointing to them. "I believe we are getting close to some sort of a house or cabin." A few minutes later the broad path they had discovered made another turn, and then in the distance they saw a neat log cabin, located on the bank of a small mountain torrent. From the chimney of the cabin a thin wreath of smoke was curling. "That's the smoke we must have seen," announced Dave. "Now the question is: Who lives there?" "And how will they take our arrival," added Phil. "Wait a minute!" ordered Dave, and put out his hand to stop his chums from advancing. He had seen a man come limping from the mountain torrent with a bucket of water in his hand. Now the man stopped in front of the door to the cabin as if to look around before entering. "Well, that isn't the wild man; that's sure! And it isn't Link Merwell, either," announced Roger. "Say, I've seen that man before!" cried Phil, in sudden excitement. "You have, Phil?" questioned Dave. "Who is he?" "Who is he? Unless I am greatly mistaken, that is my missing uncle, Lester Lawrence!" CHAPTER XXIV THE MAN AT THE CABIN "That man is your uncle?" "Do you mean the man who disappeared so mysteriously after that robbery?" "That's the man." Phil's manner showed increased excitement. "Isn't this the strangest thing that ever happened? To think of my running across my uncle in this out-of-the-way place!" "You want to make sure that he is your uncle first," warned Dave. "Perhaps he is only somebody who looks like your relative, the same as that Ward Porton resembles me," added our hero, with a grim smile. "Oh, I am sure that man is my uncle," declared the shipowner's son. "Do you think he is the same fellow we saw before--the wild man?" queried Roger. "I don't know as to that. Maybe he is," and Phil's face now showed worriment. "I do hope my uncle hasn't lost his mind!" "Well, he might do that because of his troubles," was Shadow's comment. "It was trouble that affected Wilbur Poole, if you'll remember." During the course of this conversation, the boys had withdrawn to the shelter of some trees and brushwood. In the meantime the man with the bucket of water had disappeared within the cabin. "I noticed he limped considerably," remarked Dave. "Yes, and he had his left foot bound up," announced Luke. "More than likely he hurt it in some way." "It would be an easy matter for somebody to hurt his foot if he cut up like that fellow who nearly scared the girls and Link Merwell to death," remarked Ben. "I am going to the cabin and see what he has to say for himself," declared Phil, resolutely starting forward. "If you go we had better go with you," announced Dave. "But be careful, Phil. If that man is out of his head he may be dangerous." "I don't think my Uncle Lester would hurt me even if he was out of his mind," answered the shipowner's son, as he moved toward the cabin, followed closely by the others.