Who is Bando in the story My Side of the Mountain?

Bando is the first human friend that Sam makes on the mountain. 

One day Sam hears police sirens on the road leading up to the mountain then finds a man at his tree (Sam's hollowed tree). Though Sam believes that the man is a criminal fleeing the police, he approaches him. 

After a time, Sam learns that Bando is not a bandit at all, but rather a college professor who got lost on a hike.

Staying with Sam for a while, Bando and Sam share a good time together making music and eating from Sam's supply of food. 

Bando later returns to visit Sam on several occasions and becomes Sam's primary link to the world outside the mountain. A caring and intelligent man, Bando enjoys Sam's company and does not try to persuade Sam to go back home. 

Sam learns from Bando that newspapers have picked up on Sam's story and word is spreading about a boy living wild in the woods.