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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/76477-0.txt b/76477-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..91971c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5506 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76477 *** + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: HE GROPED BLINDLY FOR THE PROJECTING TREE. +_Skinny McCord_. _Frontispiece_ (_Page_ 61)] + + + + + SKINNY McCORD + + + _By_ + + PERCY KEESE FITZHUGH + + _Author of_ + THE TOM SLADE BOOKS + THE ROY BLAKELEY BOOKS + THE PEE-WEE HARRIS BOOKS + THE WESTY MARTIN BOOKS + + + + ILLUSTRATED BY + HOWARD L. HASTINGS + + + + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS NEW YORK + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1928, BY + GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC. + + Made in the United States of America + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER + + I Skinny Loses Something + II Shadows + III Ears that Hear + IV By the Dead Fire + V Face to Face + VI In the Dim Light + VII Dark Plans + VIII Stealth + IX For Danny + X Won + XI If + XII Scout Law Number Two + XIII Alias Danville Bently + XIV The Pioneer Scout + XV The Serenade + XVI The Accused + XVII The Masquerader + XVIII To Pastures New + XIX The New Arrival + XX Skinny's Protégé + XXI Temple Camp Takes Notice + XXII Partners + XXIII Henny's Cave + XXIV Missing + XXV From Above + XXVI With the Smoke + XXVII Skinny's Hero + XXVIII It Runs in the Family + XXIX Just as Easy-- + XXX Fixed + XXXI Holly Hollis + XXXII The Night Before + XXXIII Victory and Then-- + XXXIV The Price + + + + +SKINNY McCORD + + + +CHAPTER I + +SKINNY LOSES SOMETHING + +There was great excitement around the camp-fire. Skinny McCord had +lost his compass. He had dropped it and it had rolled away, and all +the boys were making a great show of helping him to find it. They +did this not wholly from kindness. + +Skinny was a sensitive boy and it gave his comrades great delight to +see him embarrassed, as he always was when made the subject of group +talk or the center of interest. Not that they would have hesitated a +moment to assist Skinny. For they liked him immensely and would have +done anything in the world for him. But they were a mirthful lot, +these scouts of Temple Camp, and felt a certain bantering enjoyment +in seeing him uneasy, as he always was when the spotlight was thrown +on him. They liked that diffident way of his--that bashful smile. +This was his second summer at camp and still he was shy; he would +probably always be shy.... + +It was not much of a compass that he had lost; just a little tin +affair. He was sorry that he had chosen to transfer it from one +pocket to another, for now he found himself the star attraction of +the camp-fire throng. "It--it isn't much good anyway," he said; +"don't bother." + +But they did bother. They had Skinny where they wanted him and they +could not let the occasion go by. He would have to go through with +this torture. He often suffered such torture at the hands of these +scouts who would have knocked any one down who dared to harm him. + +"Everybody hunt for Skinny's compass!" called Roy Blakeley. (He was +easily the worst of the lot.) "Get out of the way," he said as he +rolled Pee-wee Harris over on the ground, and made great pretense of +scrutinizing the spot. "Don't sit around gaping when Skinny's +compass is lost. Correct imitation of boy scouts hunting for a lost +compass that didn't know which way it was rolling." + +"Would you mind getting up, Uncle Jeb, so we can look under that log +for Skinny McCord?" said another boy. Poor Skinny looked almost +frightened to see the old western trapper, master of woods lore in +camp, smilingly arise while a dozen scouts searched under the log +seat, to the accompaniment of a clamorous chorus. + +"All fall to and hunt for Skinny's compass!" + +"Hey, Skinny, we'll find it!" + +"Go and get a couple of scoutmasters and a few councilors." + +"Tell them Skinny McCord lost his compass." + +"We'll form a posse," said Roy. + +"Don't worry, Skinny, we'll find it." + +"Everybody hunt for the compass of Skinny McCord." + +"Sit still, Skinny; your thousands of friends will find it for you." + +He sat still, his face as red as the end of the big iron poker which +lay in the fire. He might have served as a model for a statue of +embarrassment as he sat on his old grocery box fearfully +contemplating the rumpus he had caused. Timidly he glanced at +Councilor Barrows as if to assure that smiling official that he had +not intended to interrupt the proceedings with all this hubbub. + +In company Skinny never permitted himself to occupy a whole seat. He +sat on the edge of a chair or box or boat seat; this was the +invariable sign of his embarrassment. "Sit back and make yourself at +home, Skinny," they would say. But that was the one thing poor +Skinny could never do--make himself at home. His getting into the +scouts was the great thing in his young life and he had been in a +sort of trance ever since. He had never got over the shock. They +had told him that pretty soon he would be a patrol leader. His +elevation to that height would certainly have killed him. + +A scout from Indiana (one of those robust jolliers who enliven camps) +jumped upon a rough seat, cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted +like a fish pedler, "Ooooooh! Everybody! Scout McCord of +Bridgeboro--First Bridgeboro Troop--has lost his compass! Come one, +come all, and help find it!" + +They were all crawling about on their hands and knees, fifty or more +of them, upturning boxes and throwing camp stools about in hilarious +exaggeration of helpfulness. And there sat poor Skinny smiling +bashfully. If a pack of lions had suddenly taken it into their heads +to roar their tribute to a kitten as a member of their family, the +kitten's attitude would have been comparable to that of poor Skinny. + +But the spasm of raillery was soon over. They were more concerned +with Skinny's discomfiture than with finding the fugitive compass. +And they did not find it; it had rolled gayly off and baffled all +these trackers and pathfinders. Skinny did not let his uproarious +comrades know how much he really did want to find it. He was even +glad when the excitement was over. He hoped they would resume +camp-fire yarns and forget all about it. He had suffered quite +enough this agony of being in the public eye. + +But the fire was burning low now and there were no more camp-fire +yarns. There was a continuous exodus from the spot. Sitting there +one might see scouts, singly and in groups, moving into the darkness, +up the hill or along Cabin Lane or toward Tent Village, as they +called it, to their quarters. Slowly the reflection of the fire in +the lake near by diminished until there was nothing but a tiny red +glow on the black water. + +"So long, see you in the morning," was repeated again and again as +patrols went their several ways off into the solemn stillness of the +big scout community, It was more than a camp, this lakeside +foundation started by Mr. John Temple; it was a sort of scout city in +the wilderness. One could be quite alone and unnoticed there, if he +so chose, even as one may be a hermit in the metropolis. + +Soon only half a dozen or so of the merry, lolling throng remained, +and these sat meditating as they waited for the fire to die. There +were always a few to linger like this; a few who had that gentle +sentiment that likes to see the old year go out, or watch beside a +dying fire. Old Uncle Jeb and Tom Slade, camp assistant, always +waited to trample out the last embers. With them sat two or three of +the older boys. + +"Poor kid, it's a lot of fun to see him all flustered," one said. + +"He's even got a regular scout suit," said another. "He drove down +to Kingston with Curry in his Ford and bought it and now he's afraid +to wear it. Somebody told me he's been saving up for it ever since +last summer. And now he's afraid to wear it." + +"Curry told me it's about forty-'leven sizes too big," drawled lanky +Brent Gaylong. "But I s'pose Skinny figures on growing up to it. +Probably he means to wear it when he's National Scout Commissioner. +A scout has to be prepared as I understand." + +"Look out, you'll burn your shoe," said Tom. "If _you_ dressed more +like a scout it wouldn't hurt you any." + +"I have the soul of a scout," drawled Brent. "I don't need the +tinseled regalia. What do you suppose would happen," he said +meditatively after a pause, "if Skinny were to be awarded the Gold +Cross and all the high dinkums of scouting were here to pull the +presentation stuff to the plaudits of the multitude! What do you +think he'd do if old man Temple made one of his speeches about him!" + +"I think he'd drop dead," said Tom. "But Skinny is no coward; he's +just bashful and sensitive." + +"Huh, funny," mused Brent. "He doesn't seem to be any more at home +with the Elks than when he first joined them." + +"He's happy," said Tom. + +"Thar's cowardly animals, and thar's timid animals," said old Uncle +Jeb, "n' they ain't the same by no manner o' means. That thar +youngster's all right, I reckon. On'y he's shy." + +Two of those who had lingered went away; they were silhouetted as +they passed the big lighted window of Benson Dormitory, then were +swallowed by the darkness. Still the trio waited by the dying fire, +silent, meditative. Tom was watching a particular patch of embers as +one by one little particles went out and the tiny area of red +diminished. He could have stamped this out with one foot, but he +took a certain idle pleasure in waiting till it vanished in the black +night. "Why don't the Elks get after Skinny about his new suit?" he +mused aloud. + +"I suppose they don't know anything about it," drawled Brent. + +"Hmph, poor kid," said Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +SHADOWS + +Tom, Brent and Uncle Jeb were not the only persons who waited that +night for the camp-fire to die. All unknown to each other two boys +lingered in the darkness. One was a slim little fellow with big, +staring eyes, a queer gnome of a boy, who stole out of the Elks +patrol cabin and stood with his gaze fixed on the dying embers, +listening and eagerly waiting for the last watchers to withdraw. He +intended to steal back alone and search for his precious compass. +For this little trinket meant more to him than he had been willing +for that hilarious company to believe. + +Now that he had at last achieved the glory of a real scout suit he +could wear this little appurtenance dangling from his scout belt in +the flaunting manner of Pee-wee Harris. In the store at Kingston he +had bashfully tried this suit on (to the great amusement of his +companion, Curry) and he had looked like a bolster in it. But no +size seemed to fit him. Poor Skinny would never look trim. As he +waited there in the darkness, watching the last faint glow of the +fire, he had not a little the appearance of an hour glass, with his +belt drawn so absurdly tight that his clothing seemed to bulge above +and below it. + +The other boy who waited for the fire to die was not a scout. He sat +on a rough bench up at the roadside just where the path led down +through the woods into camp. Approaching along this road one reached +a sign with an arrow pointing down into the woods and with the words +_To Temple Camp_ printed on it. A trail wound down the wooded slope +to the sprawling scout community at the lakeside. At this point +where the trail left the road stood the old bench and close by it a +post surmounted by a huge letter-box where the rural carrier left the +camp mail. + +The spot was a pleasant loitering place as was evidenced by the many +carved initials on the bench and the post. No part of the camp was +visible from this spot though sometimes a little glint of silvery +water was discoverable through the trees. But at night two distinct +glowing areas could be seen from the wayside seat. Many a new scout +had been fooled by these. It was one of the popular jokes of camp to +take a new arrival up to the road at night, and then send him forth +to find the northern-most glow, which was only the reflection of the +camp-fire in the distant lake. Even so good a scout as Bert Winton, +who was a Vermont Eagle, had gone hiking down into the dark woods in +search of this fire and had gone clear around the camp and come out +up at the end of the lake where Tenderfoot Cove is, only to see the +glow reduced to a little glinting patch on the water. + +The boy who was not a scout had come along the road looking for the +camp. At Leeds, the nearest village, he had been told where to turn +down into the woods. But now that he had reached the spot he +hesitated, for the two bright areas down there in the woods told him +that the camp people were still about. It was his intention to enter +the camp unseen. He was very weary and was not averse to sitting on +the bench and waiting. Now and then he glanced furtively up and down +the dark road as if fearful that he might be discovered, and once +when an auto sped by, throwing a momentary glare over the spot, he +cringed and breathed quickly. + +He was about sixteen, this boy, and tall of stature with a litheness +about him which suggested the cautious stealth of an animal. His +eyes were gray and large, but he kept them half closed and used them +with a kind of darting agility. When he arose and stepped across the +road for a better look at the glowing areas, there was a certain +elasticity in his step, a silent springiness, very suggestive of wild +life and extraordinarily graceful. He laid his hands against his +hips and narrowed his eyes in studious concentration on those distant +spots of light. It was a fine, unconscious posture. + +The path of least resistance for a boy's hands at this moment would +have been his trousers pockets, but the trousers worn by this boy had +no pockets. They were gingham trousers and afforded their wearer not +one single carrying facility. This boy had grown used to pocketless +trousers and accustomed himself to that picturesque way of standing +with his hands against his hips. + +For several minutes he gazed steadily at those distant glowing +patches. His narrowed eyes became steely in this concentration. A +fine, inspiring figure of a scout, baffled and yet resolved, he made +as he stood there. Suddenly some little creature of the woodland +made a sound in its nightly prowling and the boy turned with +lightning rapidity, listening fearfully. Then he resumed his study +of the distant patches of light. He was vivisecting them at long +distance, comparing the flickering movements one with another. + +"I'll be--Those aren't two fires," said he. "There's only one. The +other's just a reflection. The two of them move alike." + +It was not so bad for a boy who was not a scout. Still, when this +boy set about doing a thing he usually succeeded. The very night +before he had essayed to do a daring thing, a dreadful thing. And he +had succeeded. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +EARS THAT HEAR + +It was a desperate business, but he had succeeded--so far. He was +not going to jeopardize his success now by an ill-considered move. +So he resolved to rest on the bench till the last distant flicker +disappeared and he could feel certain that every one in camp had +retired. Then he would follow the path down through the woods. + +He removed his hat and took an empty cigarette box from inside the +crown. There were no cigarettes left in it, but a certain devilish +instinct of caution had prompted him to save the little pasteboard +folder with removable matches that had accompanied his forbidden +purchase. Then he took off a shoe and withdrew from it a damp and +soiled slip of paper containing a memorandum which he read by the +light of a match. _Martha Norris Memorial Cabins. Up path from fire +turn left--second cabin_. He knew the words by heart, but scanned +them finally before crumpling the paper and throwing it away. + +As he dropped it under the bench he saw a little square of white +lying on the ground and picking it up found it to be an unopened +letter. It was close to one of the legs of the bench and almost at +the foot of the post supporting the mail box. He struck another +match and read the typewritten address on the envelope: _Temple Camp, +Black Lake, Greene Co., New York_. In the corner was an imprint: +_Bently's Family Hotel, Wave Crest City, Florida_. + +He now made a discovery which was destined to give a turn to his +fortunes and start an altogether singular series of adventures. He +found that the heavy dew had dampened the envelope and melted the +glue of the flap so that the envelope lay limp and open in his hand. +He could not forbear to examine a missive which lay thus exposed. +The thought occurred to him that the letter could not have lain long +on the ground without being discovered by those who frequented the +spot. It had probably been brought by the rural carrier that very +afternoon and dropped by the messenger who had emptied the box to +take its contents down to camp. In the dim light of his few +remaining matches, he read the letter. + + + Wave Crest City, Fla., + June 27th, 1927. + + Board of Councilors, + Temple Camp, + Black Lake, N.Y. + +Gentlemen: + +This is to notify you that my son, Danville Bently, who was to have +spent the month of July at your camp will not be able to begin his +vacation with you until August second. He is to accompany his mother +and myself to Europe. + +We are closing our place here for the summer season to travel abroad +and I have taken the liberty of assuring our boy that the reservation +made for him for July (for which check was sent to cover) may be +shifted to August without prejudice to your summer arrangements. + +He is looking forward with high anticipations to his promised month +at your famous camp and we have arranged for him to return with his +older brother on a steamer which will arrive in New York on August +first, so that his trip with us may not interfere with his scouting +activities. + +Will you kindly wire me upon receipt of this whether the check +forwarded in recent communication may be applied to accommodation for +August instead of July? If that is satisfactory he will report on +August second. + +I sincerely hope that this will be agreeable to you as he would +suffer a very keen disappointment if compelled to forego this first +season at a scout camp. + + Very truly yours, + Roswell T. Bently. + + +As he followed the path down into the woods he had no other thought +in regard to this letter than to see that it was delivered into the +proper hands. He knew well enough how he was to accomplish this +without making his presence known to these strangers. The faintest +glow of the distant fire still burned and by this tiny beacon he saw +that to reach the site of the camp-fire he must leave the beaten +path. He now began to pass isolated cabins, the scattered advance +guard of the growing camp. They were all in darkness, but in one he +heard laughter and singing. Now he passed a row of tents; there was +a dim light in one of them and a figure silhouetted on the canvas. +As he passed the light went out. He moved silently, cautiously +pausing now and again. There was no sign of life. + +Presently he was shockingly made aware of the need of stealth. +Pausing before a cabin in front of which was planted a staff with a +white pennant he saw a figure appear suddenly in the doorway. + +"No, you don't," said the apparition. + +"Did he get away with it?" some one within asked. + +"Not so you'd notice it," said the figure in the doorway. + +"What's the idea!" the newcomer asked. + +"The idea is you didn't get away with it," laughed the boy in the +doorway. "Just keep away from that pennant." And he disappeared +within. + +Here was a strange business. They evidently slept with one ear open +at Temple Camp. But why should they think he intended to take +something! Why should they suspect him? Was there anything about +him that enabled strangers to discern his secret? At all events he +must be careful in this uncanny place. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BY THE DEAD FIRE + +Of course no one suspected him of trying to steal. He had just had a +glimpse of a little nocturnal game that was popular in camp. Whoever +could remove this pennant was welcome to it and might plant it in +front of his patrol cabin. These midnight raids were very common and +not infrequently successful. Our stealthy visitor had chanced to +pause before the pennant cabin. + +He now came to the main body of the camp and saw the whole expanse of +the dark lake with the great bulk of wooded hills beyond. He glanced +about at the cluster of rustic buildings, the main pavilion, the +storehouse and cooking shack, the "eats" pavilion, Administration +Shack. Cautiously (for now he was fearful of the slightest sound) he +approached the lake and stood on the float looking off across the +black water. Close by him the rocking boats knocked one against +another; there was the metallic sound of clanking oar-locks now and +then. How strange seemed all these evidences of life when deserted +and wrapped in darkness! + +The diving board pointed out into the lake like a big, ghostly +finger. Slanting upward as it did, it seemed to be pointing at the +precipitous hills across the lake which cast their inverted shadow in +the water, making the dark surface still darker. At night there +seemed always to be two shades of blackness on that enclosed lake, +caused by the vast shadow of the rugged heights beyond. Scouts had +tried to row out to where this deeper gloom in the water began, but +they could never find it. + +The prowling stranger examined one of the boats to see if it was +locked. He lifted the chain as gingerly as one would handle a snake. +No, the boats were not locked. He might take one, if he could find +the oars, and row across and baffle pursuit among those +wilderness-clad hills. He could push the boat back into the lake +again and they would just think it had drifted away from its mooring. +He was altogether too clever, this strange boy. + +But just now he had business in the camp; then he would consider how +best to proceed on his fugitive way. This was a ticklish matter that +he had now to transact. Then all would be well. So far he believed +he had done well--if you call it doing well to do what he had done. +At least good luck had smiled upon him. + +He must now find the camp-fire spot. From this point (according to +the only hint he had) he would see a hill and up that hill _to the +left_, would be the Martha Norris Memorial Cabins. But how to find +and awaken a particular sleeper in that group was a puzzle. If these +boy scouts (he called them boy scouts notwithstanding that he was +himself a boy) were all like the one who had appeared in the cabin +doorway, he would have to practice super-human stealth. He could do +that. He had, in perverted form, every physical quality dear to +scouting. + +If he had not been absorbed by very pressing business, he might have +spared a moment to flatter himself that not many boys could prowl +around a sleeping scout camp undiscovered. He was beating them at +their own game. But his only thought about this remote scout +community was that it was to serve his purpose. Two days previously +he had never thought about it. Then he had had an inspiration, two +days hence he would forget that there such a place as Temple Camp. + +He found the camp-fire spot, a circle of low masonry, about eight +inches high and ten feet in diameter. It was well removed from the +nearest building. As he looked at it, it reminded him of a tiny +circus ring. It was all strewn with gray ashes and charred bits of +log. He was in the very heart of Temple Camp. For as the camp had +grown larger and extended up the wooded hillside away from the lake, +this nightly gathering place had come to be more than just a +camp-fire. Scouts who seldom met at other times, met here. It was +the market-place of camp. + +The roaring blaze which nightly painted its counterpart in the dark +lake, embodied the very essence of scouting. And the romance of this +enchanted spot lingered in the daytime when only ashes remained +within the stone circle, and only upturned boxes and ramshackle +benches and pieces of canvas lay about outside, giving silent +testimony of the throngs that gathered there when the day was done. +The roaring fire is a feature of every camp. At Temple Camp it was +an institution. + +But our stealthy visitor had no sentiment about this merry ceremonial +of scouting. He approached the hallowed spot with caution and +glanced about. There seemed to be a hill, or spreading knoll, rising +from the neighborhood, but he could see no cabins on this rising +ground. There was a trail, however, which seemed to come from around +the cooking shack and peter out on this slight eminence. He hardly +knew what to do. He had not fancied the camp to be anything like +this, a community made up of cabin groups and rustic avenues and tiny +isolated abodes far removed from the body of the original camp. It +was like a little city with tiny suburbs. Even with the information +he had, he was hunting for a needle in a haystack. + +His foot caught in a loop of rope attached to a square of old tent +canvas on which several scouts had sprawled. He stumbled, fell over +a bench, scrambled to his feet, and was instantly aware of a dark +figure on the opposite side of the circle. It seemed to have risen +simultaneously with him, almost like his shadow. He was startled, +every nerve on edge. Was this another of those uncanny beings +appearing to challenge him? The dark figure said not a word, only +stared at him. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FACE TO FACE + +For a few moments the stranger scrutinized the figure. It moved, and +he seemed relieved. + +"That you, Tiny?" he ventured hesitatingly. + +"It's--it's _Danny_!" said the other, aghast. + +"_Hsh_, not so loud. Yes, it's Danny. I'm in luck." + +He stepped across the circle and put his arm around the younger boy. +"What are you doing here--this time of night?" he whispered. + +"I was hunting for my compass. They were making fun of me so I came +back alone to hunt for it. Did they--Danny, did they let you out?" + +"_Shh_--ut up. No, I gave them the slip. I hiked it all the way +here to see you. I'm on my way--now don't get excited and don't talk +loud." + +"You mean--you--mean you _escaped_?" + +"Yep, and you're going to pay me back for licking Dick Kinney. Don't +you know how you said you would?" + +"Yes, only I'm scared." + +"I'm the one to be scared--only I'm not." + +"Yes, but Danny," Skinny pleaded as he nervously gripped the other's +shirt with both hands, "listen--Danny--" (he almost pulled the shirt +up over the other's belt in his nervous excitement) "you, you stepped +right in the ashes and now you'll make tracks." + +"You little devil of a boy scout," laughed the taller boy in a +good-humored whisper. "Come on, where can we go and talk? This +blamed place sleeps with its ears open." + +"Are they--Danny, are they coming after you?" Skinny asked in panic +fright. "Are they coming here, Danny?" + +"Not to-night, kid." + +"But to-morrow--Danny?" + +"I'll be gone before to-morrow." + +"Yes, but they'll get you, Danny," Skinny said, jerking in a panic of +fear at the shirt he still gripped. "I know how you licked Dick +Kinney, but----" + +"Come ahead, where can we talk, kid?" + +"Maybe they don't know you've got a brother here, hey?" Skinny said +hopefully. + +"Naah, they don't know that. They're a bunch of yimps." + +"Yes, but--all right, come on up this way." + +You would never have supposed that the diffident, bashfully smiling +little fellow who had blushed scarlet at the rumpus he had caused at +camp-fire was the same as he who now hurried silently up the wooded +hillside away from the main body of camp, expressing nervous +excitement in every look and move. Little did his scout comrades +know of the fire that burned in the soul of this forlorn little scout +whose quaint discomfiture they so much enjoyed. + +"Come on up here," he breathed excitedly, looking fearfully back +toward the area of peril. "Now I'm glad they jollied me--you bet; +I'm glad I went back there. Come on up this way and don't speak when +we go past that cabin. There's a scout in there that's got the one +eye cup. That's for sleeping with one eye open. It don't mean that +exactly--shhh. He's the one makes fun of me, because I didn't have a +scout suit----" + +"He'd sleep with both eyes black if I was here," said Danny. This +was quite a boast, but I dare say he would have made it good. + +"Hsh, we have to be good and scared of that feller." + +It was no wonder that this dubious brother treated Skinny with a kind +of protective kindness. Such an odd, likable, temperamental little +bundle of nerves he seemed, when aroused. It was his fate never to +be at his best in public; his sadder fate to be at his very best with +this fugitive adventurer when secrecy was imperative. A queer little +hobgoblin of a boy he seemed without one single evidence of the scout +in his appearance. + +He led the way up the hill till their progress was interrupted by an +old railroad cut, which at that point was so overgrown that it seemed +a natural hollow. Clambering down the side with the aid of trees and +brush, Skinny stood triumphantly beside a tiny shanty which had once +been a shelter for a switchman. It was now quite fallen to pieces, +but its board roof had been propped up, and the dense brush that +tumbled over it effectually concealed it and kept it from leaking too +freely. As a romantic retreat there was much to be said for it. +Skinny had discovered it and made it his own; it was his private +retreat. + +Within there was nothing but a shelf and an old red lantern hanging +on a rusty nail. But there was oil inside the lantern which Skinny +had once fetched thither in a tomato can. The smell of this lantern +when lighted was like unto no stench that ever assailed human +nostrils. To this remote refuge Skinny was wont to repair when he +wanted to pretend that he was a pioneer, and when the banter at camp +was too vociferous for him. + +The very sight of this place was a relief to Danny, and he perched on +the shelf while Skinny lighted the lantern. "Listen here, Tiny," +said he. "Do you remember when you was just a little bit of a shaver +and you said I was half a brother----" + +"I didn't mean it that way--honest----" + +"I know you didn't, you thick little dub. Do you remember how pop +told you I was _half-brother_, not half a brother! Then when Dick +Kinney said you were only about a quarter of a brother and he took +your ball away, do you remember how I landed him one? Knocked him +goofy? And you said you'd pay me back?" + +"Sure, I do, Danny, only----" + +"Naah, there's no _only_ about it kid. I got a letter from pop and +he said how he sent you fifteen dollars--I got it at Blythedale. He +says when I get out next year he hopes I'll work. Get a picture of +me sticking around a reformatory till next year! Listen, kid, they +had me out fixing a grape-vine over an arbor, tying it up. They even +give me a ball of cord, the poor simps! So listen to what I did. I +picked out a nice long stem of grape-vine--_a nice long one_. Nice +and long--and thick. And that one I didn't wind around the new +arbor; I only laid it nice and easy on top. You'd think it was all +wound up like the other branches and things but it wasn't. +Camouflage! About--oh thirty or forty feet, maybe, of the cord I +rolled up and put in my pocket. Of course those wise guys had to +have their ball of cord back. + +"Well--don't get scared. Any one would think it was _you_ doing +this. Well, as----" + +"I'm not _scared_, only----" + +"Wait till you hear, kid; it's good. It was so easy I'm sorry now I +didn't go and say good-by to Punkhead; he's got charge of my floor." + +Skinny's expression seemed to say that he thought it just as well his +half-brother had not done that. + +"After supper I did my little job carrying ice in from the ice-house +and dumping it in the box in the outside pantry. Then I went +upstairs with the ice-tongs--don't laugh at them, kid, they're simps. +At Blythedale Home all those managers need is a mother's care." + +Skinny was far from laughing at this dreadful recital. + +"So I put the ice-tongs under my mattress. Then I stayed awake till +I heard the church clock in Blythedale ring two. Then I tied the +ice-tongs to the cord and dropped it down out of the window and +pulled up the grape-vine and tied it good and fast to the shutter +hinge. Zip goes the fillum. I wrote on a piece of paper, _Get two +hunks of ice to-morrow so you can cool down. So long_. Then I slid +down the grape-vine. + +"I had some stuff I kept from my supper and I got as far as Tonley's +Corners before it got light. Then I hid under a lunch wagon that was +all boarded up till last night and then I started hiking again. I +grubbed some eats and got a hitch with a wop in a flivver--he can't +even speak English. So here I am and it's just exactly fifty-one +miles from Blythedale Home to Temple Camp and you're looking great, +kid. + +"All I want is that fifteen bucks so I can get a good start. I was +thinking I'd bang down to New York and get a job on a ship. But I +can't chase around in these blamed calico things, I'll get pinched +_sure_. Say, kid, how about that lake; what's on the other side! +Could I get through to Catskill that way without going on a road? +Hsh--_listen_." + +"That's only a bird house that kinder creaks in a tree when the wind +blows. Collie Edwards put it there; he's a Star Scout." + +"Didn't you hear voices--men?" + +"No, it wasn't voices, Danny. Now I'm sorry I bought a scout suit +and some things, because I haven't got that money. I only got eleven +cents of it now--that's all I got." + +"You got a suit and things?" Danny asked, aghast. + +"Yes, because I never had any and they kept saying how I have to have +one, because I'm a scout. Honest Danny, I'm sorry." + +The elder boy sat on the shelf dangling his legs and contemplating +his half-brother in a daze. + +"If you're mad I don't blame you, but it isn't my fault," said Skinny. + +"Now what am I going to do? _Now_ what in blazes am I going to do?" +was all that Danny could say. + +"Could--maybe you could wear the suit," Skinny ventured. "Then +people wouldn't know you got out of a reform school. You can have it +if you want it; anyway, it's too big for me. Curry had to laugh at +me in it. They don't make them like the shape I am." + +Something in this last wistful remark touched the brother. Even in +his troubled preoccupation he reached out and ruffled the younger +boy's hair. "Who's Curry? Did you tell him what I did to Kinney for +making fun of you?" + +"No, because he's a nice fellow; he's an assistant scoutmaster. They +all kinder laugh at me, but just the same I'm good friends with them." + +"I couldn't pay railroad fares with a scout suit, kid." + +"Maybe you could hook a ride, you're so smart. I guess you could do +it if you wanted to like the way you do 'most everything. I never +told them about you 'cause I couldn't." + +Danny only gazed at him in a kind of blank abstraction. Sometimes +great anxiety finds relief in a trifling, irrelevant act. "Here," +said he impulsively, "here's a letter I picked up. You better chuck +it on the counter or somewhere. Who's Danville Bently; did you ever +hear of him?" + +"There's lots of fellers come here I never heard of," said Skinny. +"Anyway, most of them don't bother with me; even my own patrol +doesn't." + +"Well that's a guy that isn't coming," said Danny. "He's giving them +a stall till August. Maybe I might be him, huh?" He laughed at the +absurdity of the idea. "Hide inside of somebody else. Ever hear of +that? Go ahead, read it, it's open." + +It was then that Skinny, all in innocence, made a remark much deeper +than his wit had intended. He was great for blundering remarks. His +sober and literal answers were one of the jokes of camp. "You can't +hide inside of a scout if you're not a scout; you can't do that," he +said, looking wide eyed at his half-brother. + +Danny reached forward and ruffled his hair again. Skinny was +accustomed to that. It was done to him twenty times a day. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN THE DIM LIGHT + +"Just the same I think I can," said Danny. "And just the same I +think I will." + +It was in just that casual, reckless spirit that Danny McCord first +proposed the impersonation of Danville Bently at Temple Camp. He +thought of it as a joke, and then the idea captivated him. He was +amused by Skinny's terror at the very thought. It would be hard to +say just when or how he passed from humorous to serious consideration +of this preposterous enterprise. But once decided, the terrified +Skinny could not dissuade him. He had unbounded confidence in +himself, this fugitive boy, and he knew nothing whatever about +scouting. + +Skinny's disbursement of his funds had dashed the brother's hopes. +He had not the wherewithal to make good his escape. But he might +remain at camp, pretending to be this boy whose coming was postponed +for a month. It was such a bit of daredevil effrontery as left +Skinny speechless with fear and apprehension. + +"You'll--you'll be sorry," was all he could stammer, as he stood, a +pathetic little figure, in the dim glow of the smelly old red +lantern. "Remember what I said when you were going to take Mr. +Burt's Ford for a joy ride--remember what I said." + +"You said you wouldn't tell," said Danny, ruffling the little +fellow's hair in that fraternal way he had. I dare say the best +thing about this dubious brother was his condescending but genuine +fondness for Skinny. He trusted him. "And you didn't either, +because you're a little brick." + +"Even if they had _killed_ me," said Skinny emphasizing the word with +nervous tension; "even then I wouldn't tell. Even if they had +_killed_ me!" + +"Don't get excited, Tiny," Danny laughed, pulling Skinny toward him +and unclenching the little fellow's fist; he had even dug his nails +into the palms of his hands. "Sure you didn't tell. And am I +blaming you because they chased me up to Blythdale? And I'm not sore +because you haven't got any money, kid." + +"No, but now you're going to get into more trouble. If you stay here +they'll come and find you." + +"Not if I'm Danville Bently, kid. Do you want me to start away from +here without any money? I was going to go and get a job on a ship. +How can I do that now? This is my only chance, Teeny-weeny; don't +worry." + +"That's what you said before and you went to reform school." + +"And I got away from there, too." + +Skinny gazed at his half-brother, admiringly, trustful, but +panic-stricken. "You're going to get in a lot of trouble, Danny," he +said in fearful agitation. "I know you licked Kinney and he was +bigger than you, and you climbed over the fence of Garrett's Field +with me so I could peek under the circus tent, and I know you got +away from the Home----" + +"Hey, don't call it a home, kid." + +"I don't blame you for it," said Skinny loyally, "only now you're +going to get found out, because being a scout is--kinder you got to +know all about it, how they do and everything. I know you're all the +time laughing at them, Danny, but anyway, you got to know how they do +and everything." His panic apprehension was pitiful, but Danny only +laughed. + +"Give us the letter, kid, and I'll burn it up. Now I tell you what +you do; you're going to be a bully little kid and stand by me like +you always did; hey?" + +"Yes, but----" + +"You chase down and get that primer or whatever you call it, that you +kids use." + +"That's the Scout Handbook, it ain't a primer." + +"Yere, you get that. How much oil is there in this blamed magic +lantern; will it burn a couple of hours? Gee, it makes your face +look red kid----" + +"I gained two pounds, Danny, up here." + +"_Yere_? The blamed thing makes us look like a couple of Indians----" + +"Now I got a thought, Danny. A red light means danger. There's +danger waiting for you Danny." + +"All right, tell it to wait. Now you chase down and see if you can +sneak in and get your book and your new suit and bring them up here. +Bring anything you've got that you don't need. Go on, chase yourself +now and if you wake them up I'll know you're a ham scout. That gosh +blamed bird-house--are you sure that's what it is?" + +They both listened. In the stillness of the night was a creaking +sound followed by another like the breaking of twigs. "Is it +somebody walking!" Danny whispered. + +"I never heard it just like that before," Skinny whispered in terror. +"Shall we look out?" + +"If I start running, don't you say who I am," said Danny. "They +might have dogs out, I don't know. _Shh--ut up_." + +Skinny McCord had many times been hurt by boys who meant him no harm. +Occasionally his pride had been touched when bantering comrades had +referred to his humble origin and poor abode in Bridgeboro. But when +Danny mentioned the possibility of dogs being on his trail, something +in that narrow chest of little Skinny McCord rose and he flushed with +anger. Instinctively he felt what officialdom does not feel, the +degrading character of setting a beast to catch a human being. +Truly, indeed, human nature can sink no lower than this. To the +powers of law enforcement belongs the contemptible distinction which +places them below the level of the vilest criminal. + +"_They wouldn't do that!_" whispered Skinny. + +"Oh, wouldn't they, though!" + +"I'll do what you want me to," Skinny said. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DARK PLANS + +There came a time when they said of Skinny that he had been +frightened into participation in his half-brother's bizarre and +daring plan. But that was not true of him. He tried, as we have +seen, to dissuade Danny. When the worst came to the worst and he +knew that he could not dissuade him, he was loyal. He was loyal in a +dastardly business. + +This wonderful big brother of his could not teach him anything in the +matter of stealth; he was a little demon at that. He had accustomed +himself to stepping carefully and making no noise in the days when he +went barefoot in the slummy east end of Bridgeboro whence he had +emanated one day to stare wide eyed at the scouts practicing archery. +There happened to be a vacancy in Connie Bennett's patrol (Elks), so +they took him in. He was their mascot. They didn't even mind his +not having a scout suit. He had a winsome smile when they jollied +him and they liked him immensely. He was not only glad, but proud to +run on errands. + +When the McCords moved to Bridgeboro and hired three rooms in +Corkscrew Alley down near the marsh that bordered the river, Danny +was not with them. He had already taken his departure, under escort, +to Blythedale Boys' Home, which he was right in saying was not a home +at all. He had been sent thither because of his escapade with Mr. +Burt's Ford, though this had by no means been his first escapade. +But it was the crucial one. So the scouts of the First Bridgeboro +Troop, of which Skinny was an obscure and lowly member, had never +seen the enterprising Danny. His colorful career came to a halt in +Irontown and soon afterward the hapless family moved to Bridgeboro, +where Mr. McCord had secured a job in the paper mill. Danny's mother +was dead and Skinny was the child of Mr. McCord's second wife. +Whatever else may be said of Danny, he had always afforded Skinny all +the sturdy advantages of a big brother. + +Skinny missed him when he moved to Bridgeboro. The hoodlums down in +Corkscrew Alley called him _Owleyes_ and _Jumbo_ and other piquant +appellations. Once or twice he was moved to tell them that things +would be different when Danny returned. When he got in with the +scouts he never mentioned Danny. He had too much pride and these +strange, wonderful boys of the upper world would not understand. +They would not appreciate the knock-out blow administered to the +unhappy Kinney. And now, at last, when Skinny had attained to the +glory of a real scout suit, here was this brother come to Temple +Camp, a fugitive, and with all his wonted assurance proposing a +scheme for hiding which struck poor Skinny dumb with terror. + +Silently he sped through the woods back to camp and stealthily, ever +so stealthily, up to the Martha Norris Memorial Cabins, where his +troop was quartered that season. A splendid organization was the +First Bridgeboro Troop, with four full patrols, and they held sway in +these four cabins which represented one of the camp endowments. In +the Elks' cabin all was still. + +With every nerve on edge, Skinny crept to the rustic lockers at the +end of the building. He was so fearful that he jerked his foot up in +nervous excitement as he turned the key of his own locker. He paused +after the slight click, listening. His heart beat like a +trip-hammer. No sound, no stir. Only the audible breathing of Vic +Norris. One of the other boys turned over and settled down in deeper +slumber. Somewhere outside an owl hooted. Skinny stood stark still. + +The plaguey hinges! He eased the swing of the locker door as he +opened it inch by inch. There was his old pasteboard suit-case; he +was the only boy in the patrol who had not a duffel bag. On top of +it lay the bundle containing his scout suit and hat just as he had +brought the treasured purchase back from Kingston. He had not dared +to wear this flaunting regalia nor even to tell his patrol about it. +He did not know whether or not they knew about it. Would the paper +rustle as he lifted the bundle? No; he lifted it out carefully. +Then he opened his suit-case and got his Handbook. So far, so good. +Softly he closed the door and locked it. Then with his precious +Handbook and the bundle he crept stealthily over to the trail which +led up through the woods. + +Now his heart beat more easily. Action is always stimulating, and +being launched on this perilous business it was not so hard to go +ahead. He had not done much so far, but what he had done had been +successful. He had done what Danny had told him to do and it had +been easy. It seemed to Skinny that this was a dreadful thing his +brother was about to attempt, but Danny must know what he was about. + +"Why it's going to be a cinch," his brother assured him when he had +donned the suit; it fitted him much better than it fitted poor +Skinny. When he tossed the hat on, he looked like a scout indeed and +poor Skinny was even moved to feel a certain pride in him. He was a +fine looking boy, there was no denying that, with an easy nonchalance +about him that was captivating. + +"You--you won't be a really truly scout," Skinny warned him. The +warning seemed to include a confession that Danny did look like one. +"And what are you going to do when he comes--that other feller?" + +"I'll be on my way," said Danny lightly. + +"You'll be using up the money that's going to pay his board, too," +Skinny said. + +The answer did not comfort him. "Sure, he'll be out of luck," said +Danny. + +Skinny gazed at this daring brother of his in mingled admiration and +terror. "Will you--Danny, will you--if I get fifteen dollars, will +you _not_ do it?" + +"Where would you get fifteen bucks, kid? You should worry," he +added. "Let's take a look at that book. Does it tell all about it +and everything? How you drill and everything?" + +"_Now you see_, you don't know anything about it," Skinny said +excitedly, in a pitiable way of triumph. "They don't drill at all; +they track and stalk and all like that, and win merit badges, and all +like that. Now you're going to get in trouble." He clenched his +little hands nervously and almost cried as he spoke. "You're going +to get in trouble Danny. They're smart, scouts are, and they'll find +out. Just because _I'm_ not so smart and they make fun of me like; +and just because _I_ can't do all the things they do, you needn't +think they're not smart. That's where you're all the time wrong, you +think boy scouts----" + +"Who makes fun of you?" Danny asked with a queer scrutiny in his eyes. + +"Now you're going to get into scraps, too," poor Skinny said. +"You're going to call them kids and everything. Even if they make +fun of me they're not mad at me." + +There was a grim look in Danny's eyes and a menacing sneer in his +voice as he said, "_Is--that--so!_" In the lowering comment was real +feeling for Skinny and a high contempt for Temple Camp and all its +scouts. + +"You should worry, kid," he said. "Go on back and go to bed. All +you've got to do is not notice me. Don't be coming around. Act just +like if you didn't know me. All I want to do is just lay low for +three or four days; I'll get away with it that long, don't worry. If +you had the money I'd beat it, but I can't bang out of here without a +red, and that bunch after me. What am I going to do? I know what's +troubling you, kid. You think it's kind of like stealing, using up +that what's-his-name's board money. You're a little brick, kiddo. +But I'll only be here two or three days. And when he gets here next +month--why these guys won't know till then there was anything phony +about me! And _you_ won't be hooked up with it at all. Now trot +along and turn in, Tiny, old pal." + +"Won't I see you any more after you go away from here? Maybe you'll +go all the way around the world on a ship, hey?" + +"_Suuuuure_, you'll see me again. And you'll get paid back for your +suit too. Don't I line up pretty nice as a boy scout. How do you do +that--what is it, a salute they've got?" He wriggled his thumb +against his ear in a funny way and laughed at Skinny and gave him an +affectionate shove. "Go on back now or you'll be walking in your +sleep," said he. "And whatever you do, don't let on when you see me +again." + +"I can look at you, can't I?" said poor Skinny. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +STEALTH + +Well, if it was for only two or three days it would not be so bad, +poor Skinny reflected as he went back through the darkness. Still +his conscience troubled him and he was beside himself with fear. The +only gleam of light he saw in this sorry business was that Danny did +have a way of succeeding in the things he undertook. He trusted +Danny to avert the catastrophe which would naturally ensue in such a +daring and perilous business. + +He hoped that during those dreadful two or three days the scouts at +camp would not overstep their prerogative of banter where he was +concerned. Or at least that Danny might not see them in full swing +with their raillery. The historic Kinney of Irontown had got over +the licking that Danny had given him. But poor Skinny had never got +over it. + +As he wandered, fearful and conscience-stricken, down the wooded +slope a thought came to him. There was a rich boy in camp, Helmer +Clarkson. That boy wanted a canoe and had tried for the Hiawatha +Prize--a fine canoe to win which a scout must swim across the lake. +Helmer had started (according to rule) with a rowboat escort, and +like many another hopeful candidate had returned in the boat. So +Helmer had decided to fall back on the less heroic plan of asking his +father to buy him a canoe. If he had not already done this, then +Skinny had a plan. He would swim across the lake, win the canoe, and +sell it to Helmer Clarkson. Then he would give the money to his +erring brother. + +He knew the camp people would regard him contemptuously for selling a +prize, but at least he could help Danny, and put an end to this +dreadful thing that Danny was doing. All this might be done +immediately--the next morning. The only difficulty would be that his +comrades would laugh at him as soon as he proposed the heroic +enterprise. Alas, they would not know how heroic it was! They would +make a great joke of his trying for a prize--especially this prize. +They would decline to accompany him with a boat. They would probably +tell him, as they had so many times told him, that if he had to be +taken into the boat it would probably sink it. Skinny weighed +sixty-four pounds, not counting his heart, which weighed tons just +now. + +Well, he thought as he trudged along, if Danny could do such +wonderful (albeit dreadful) things, he, Skinny could do this. And it +would straighten everything out. Perhaps he could even do it before +Danny presented himself to the powers in Administration Shack and +signed up. That would be between ten and eleven in the morning. He +wondered if Helmer Clarkson had any ready money; surely he must have +some. Fifteen dollars was all that Danny had demanded. He would +sell the prize canoe to Clarkson for fifteen dollars. Well, that was +settled and things were not so bad. + +As he passed down through the dark woods, he thought of his fugitive +brother hiding in that little dank switchman's shanty. What would be +the first thing he would do in the morning? Thus preoccupied with +his thoughts, Skinny found himself approaching the cabin before which +the white pennant flew. In there they would be sleeping with one eye +open, as the saying is. If he could--if he only _could_--"lift" that +pennant. What a glory for the Elks! It would raise him in their +esteem; they might take him seriously. Then perhaps they would +listen when he talked about trying for the Hiawatha Prize. He was +elated; he believed that the whole situation was in his hands; Danny, +all unknown to the camp, might be on his way in the morning. This +whole business was not so bad after all. + +Never in all his trembling little life had Skinny moved with such +stealth and caution as when he now approached that coveted pennant, +He was about to try to do what Warde Hollister had failed to do; what +Ellis Carway (who was an Eagle) had failed to do. He retreated a few +yards, and sat down on a stump. He knew that he was out of his +sphere, that this sort of thing was not expected of him. He felt +that he was intruding into the heroic field where he had no business. +He removed his shoes, tied the laces together, and hung the shoes +around his neck. They were almost worn out; you could have stuck a +finger through the soles. + +Now, trembling in every nerve, he approached the cabin. The door +stood ajar. He advanced a pace and paused listening. No sound. He +took another step. No sound. He could reach out now and lift the +staff. He paused, fearful to move. Straining his eyes he looked all +about the staff. Then, ever so cautiously, he stooped, and shuddered +as the clasp on his belt clinked. He felt all around on the ground, +for he had heard scouts speak of cord attached to the staff and tied +to the arm of some drowsy slacker on his cot. That was not +considered good scouting, but it had been done. + +But here there was no cord; these unknown scouts were playing the +game right. The usual way with the patrol holding the white pennant +was to sleep in turns, with one scout always awake to listen. In a +full patrol no one scout would have to remain awake very long. + +Skinny stood up and with trembling hand reached out and grasped the +staff. Still no sound. There was a cricket chirping and he wished +it would keep still. He had heard of rocks laid against the staff so +that when it was lifted one would fall upon another. But nothing +happened as he slowly raised the staff up, up, up---- + +What a queer little goblin of a boy he seemed, as he reached one foot +far forward so as to cover all the ground he could with every pace. +With each grotesque straining of a leg his face unconsciously assumed +an aspect of demoniac fear. Then all of a sudden he started to run, +his shoes flapping back and forth against his chest and shoulders +like an outlandish bulky necklace. He held the white pennant in his +trembling hand. + +[Illustration: SKINNY STARTED RUNNING WITH THE WHITE PENNANT.] + +He had done it! + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +FOR DANNY + +He would have been proud of his achievement in any case, but he was +doubly elated now, for it simplified the matter of Danny. With this +"really and truly" scouting triumph to his credit, the Elks could not +take him otherwise than seriously. They would escort him in his swim +for the Hiawatha Prize and perhaps that very next morning Danny, his +secret hero, would be on his way. The criminal and dangerous +character of what Danny was going to do at Temple Camp impressed +Skinny, but his conscience was not troubled about Danny's final +exploit at the reform school. + +When he reached the Elks' cabin, he found his patrol leader, Connie +Bennett, waiting for him. It was well that he returned with the +white pennant for this saved him the embarrassment of explaining his +absence. The white pennant was always an excuse. It was a midnight +passport even with the powers of Administration Shack. + +"_I got it, I got it!_" he said excitedly. "_Look what I got!_" + +"You little demon," said Connie. "So that's what you went after." + +"_I got it, I got it!_" was all that Skinny could say. + +"They didn't chase you?" + +"They didn't hear me--even." + +Connie softly closed the cabin door so as not to awaken the sleepers +and together he and Skinny stood outside. + +"Calm down," said Connie; "you're all excited. Bully for you, but +calm down." + +"Wait--wait a minute and I'll calm down. I--can't do it all of a +sudden. Now--now I'm going to do something else--wait till I tell +you----" + +Connie put his arm over the quivering form of the little Elk mascot +who seemed now to be launched upon a wild debauch of heroism. "Hsh, +all right, Shorty. You did fine; gee, I have to laugh. The patrol +won't believe you did it." + +"Now you got to help me do something else," said Skinny, gulping with +excitement and satisfaction. + +"Surest thing." + +"You got to--to-morrow morning early I'm going to swim across the +lake and get the Hiawatha Prize." + +"Goodness me!" + +"Yop--I'm going to swim across and get it. So will you get all the +patrol up early so some of you can row across while I swim?" + +"Listen, Shorty," said Connie. "You did one peach of a stunt; the +patrol will go crazy when they hear it. Why Hunt Ward tried for +that; you remember. The Silver Foxes tried for it--Roy Blakeley. +That was the time he didn't do all the laughing." + +"And maybe now they won't make fun of me, hey?" + +"Listen, Shorty; go in and go to sleep now. And don't be thinking +you can do everything just because you did this." + +"I'm going to, I'm going to----" + +"No you're not. You're not going to try for the Hiawatha canoe, +because that isn't in your line. See? You little sneaky devil, you! +Went in your bare feet, huh? Go on in and go to bed now and don't +talk ragtime. What's the matter, aren't you satisfied?" + +"I got to go----" + +"Yes, you _got to go_--to bed. To-morrow we'll go over to +Administration Shack and have them take your picture. You can put on +your new togs, dress up in your regular scout suit, all dolled up +like a Christmas tree. You know they want pictures for _Boys' Life_, +fellows that win awards and do stunts and all that. You go to bed +now and when you get up in the morning put on your new scout duds. +What the dickens are you afraid of? Nobody's going to kid you. And +we'll go over and let Mr. Wainwright take a snapshot of you holding +the pennant. _Alfred McCord of the Elk Patrol, Bridgeboro, New +Jersey, holding the white pennant taken from a cabin where it was +supposed to be guarded at Temple Camp, New York_. How does that +sound? Go on in now, and remember when you get up in the morning put +on your scout suit. That's your patrol leader's order. You're all +right, Shorty, you're a little winner!" + +So this was the sequel of his triumph. "_Put on your scout suit._" +A fine mess he had made of it. He knew Connie Bennett for a sober, +sensible boy, who more than most patrol leaders had some notion of +leadership and discipline. So Connie had known about the scout suit +and had just not pushed him in the matter of wearing it. But now +there was to be no more nonsense. Here was the penalty of heroism. +What was he to do? It was clear from the way Connie spoke that the +try for the Hiawatha Prize was quite out of the question; they did +not regard him as a swimmer. What he would be expected to do, would +be compelled to do, was put on his new scout suit and go to +Administration Shack with his patrol and have his picture taken as +the capturer of the white pennant. And all his fine plan of helping +Danny to get out from the shadow of fearful peril would go for +naught. This was Skinny's first experience in being a "really truly" +hero. + +There was a vein of something running in the McCord family. I don't +know whether you would call it a vein of the heroic or just a vein of +recklessness and rebelliousness. Diffident and sensitive little +Skinny had a touch of it. Perhaps it was this that bound him to +Danny. At all events there was this about him. His temperament was +one of sweet diffidence, of a smiling shyness which made him a +subject both for banter and affection. At the other extreme in his +strange make-up was the capacity for utter frenzy. I suppose you +might say that he was highly strung and afraid to show it until +something tipped the scales of his delicate nature. There was no +such thing as authority then. + +They would not take this capturer of the white pennant seriously. +Well then, he did not care. There was only one person in the world +who could have dominated him then, and that was Danny. But it was +for Danny that he was now possessed by a will so strong that it made +his poor little body tremble. Danny could not help him; he was going +to help Danny. He was possessed, inspired, this little fellow who +smiled quaintly when they made fun of him. He did not sleep that +night; he lay trembling with a towering resolve. + +Early in the morning, while still his comrades were sleeping, he +crept out of bed, pulled on the only clothes he had and started out. +The grass was all covered with sparkling dew; the air was crisp and +clear, the birds were making a great chorus in the trees as if they +had over-slept and were in a hurry. Skinny had a queer little trot, +something between a walk and run, that boys took delight in +imitating. He did not look in the least like the scout on the cover +of the Handbook. + +He went down the hill on which the memorial cabins stood, casting a +glance up through the woods to the point where the little shanty was. +So clear was the morning that he might even have glimpsed it through +the trees, only it was in the overgrown cut and below the line of +vision. He wondered what sort of a night Danny had spent. The +thought recurred to him (it had recurred many times in that eventful, +sleepless night) that maybe bloodhounds had found him--found his +half-brother who had knocked Kinney senseless--and had barked their +beastly exultation to human pursuers. But that could not be; +Blythedale Reform School was too far way for that sort of pursuit. +Nevertheless Skinny's blood tingled at the thought. + +He was barefoot, for the business he was on required no shoes. He +trotted down around the main pavilion, cut through the big open +"grub" shed and pattered along the board walk to Administration +Shack. This was the holy-of-holies of Temple Camp, sanctum of +officials, where there was a safe and a counter and a young man +forever playing away at a typewriter machine. Skinny had never +before ventured upon the veranda of this official lair, and he trod +with reverence. Above the bulletin board near the door was a framed +set of rules for the information of guests. Skinny wanted to confirm +his knowledge by one of these and he read it with delight: + + XI The office will be open for the + transaction of general business + from 10 to 11 o'clock A.M. and + from 2 to 3 o'clock P.M. + + +So Danny could not enroll as Danville Bently until ten o'clock. He +hoped that Danny had not yet destroyed the letter and that it might +still reach the office. He went around to the side of the building +and tried to look through the window, but it was too high. So he +dragged a bench over from the "grub" shed and stood on that. + +Within was a large glass case filled with forest trophies. And there +in a corner (he had seen it before) stood the Hiawatha Prize canoe. +He just wanted to make sure that it was there. Down he jumped and +off he ran toward the float where the boats were knocking and +clanking their chains. The water was rough and looked cold. He +pulled off his faded shirt and shabby trousers and walked out to the +end of the springboard. Even his light weight caused its metal parts +to squeak; it always squeaked in the morning owing to the dampness of +the night and the few hours of disuse. For just a moment he paused, +then plunged into the lake. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +WON + +Over near the opposite shore of the lake there was a man fishing from +a boat that morning. He sat motionless in the early solitude, a +lonely figure against the somber background of wooded shore. Across +the lake was a ribbon of light, like a silvery stream flowing in the +dark water. It seemed to scatter into bits of tinsel where it +touched the base of the densely covered heights. The lone fisherman +was not in its path. + +Suddenly he raised his rod, swinging the long line far off from the +opposite side of his boat, and just then something caught his eye. +About fifty yards distant an object was moving across the shimmering +band. At first he thought it was a freakish manifestation of this +glimmering sheen. Then he saw that it was a foreign object, +progressing slowly, steadily. It reached the clearly defined border +of this shining area; then he lost it for a few moments. + +Now it appeared again coming straight toward him; by-times he caught +a glimpse of a face; an arm appeared and disappeared regularly. On, +on the swimmer came with slow, unswerving progress. The fisherman +heard a distant bell; like an answering peal it echoed from the +solemn heights near by. Distant voices could be heard, thin and +spent. The man could not hear what they said as they seemed to +dissolve in the air. But the bell continued ringing. He felt rather +than heard distant excitement. The ringing and the voices were +mellowed by the intervening space, yet he sensed that something was +wrong over at the big camp. + +The swimmer was now in plain view of the fisherman--close at hand. +He did not seem to be in trouble, but a swim across Black Lake was by +no means an easy feat, and the man hauled in his line and sculled +over to intercept him. + +"Don't touch me--keep away!" Skinny fairly yelled. + +"Don't you want to come aboard?" + +"No, you keep away from me!" + +The boy seemed in a frenzy; it was evident that he was nearly +exhausted with only his will power to keep him going. The man, +apprehensive of disaster, sculled alongside him. Soon the little +fellow's feet were on the bottom and as he staggered through the +shallow water it was evident that he was at the point of collapse. +"_Keep away, don't touch me!_" he kept saying. Then he groped +blindly for the branch of a projecting tree, and so guided his +tottering way to the steep bank, where he sank down unconscious. He +could not quiver in every nerve as he did in his former triumph, for +oblivion came and he knew not that he, Skinny McCord, had won the +Hiawatha prize canoe! + +The fisherman did not know that this drenched and ghostly pale boy +had done anything more than a rash stunt. He lifted him gently and +laid him in the boat and started to row across toward camp. But he +did not have to go far. Across the lake at top speed the camp launch +came chugging, filled with eager, shouting passengers. + +"Is he all right?" a voice called. "Isn't drowned, is he?" + +"No, but he's fainted," the man called back. + +"Did you pick him up?" + +"No, he made the shore." + +Up she came to the old flat-bottomed boat that rocked in the swell as +Councilor Wallace caught hold of the unpainted rail while two scouts +lifted Skinny into the launch. All the Elks were there, and Doc +Carson, first aid scout of the Ravens, and Tom Slade, the young camp +assistant. Yes, the little devil was all right. He opened his eyes +and closed them again. Connie Bennett, his patrol leader, brushed +the soaked hair away from the small white forehead, and the eyes +opened again and the quivering lips smiled at Connie. "You're all +right, kid!" said he gently. He pulled away a bit of water-weed that +was plastered across the little fellow's face. "Want to try to sit +up?" + +"I see him a comin'," said the fisherman, "an' I kinder surmised +somethin's wrong. He wuz swimmin' all ragged--I never see nuthin' +like it. But he yells to me not ter touch 'im. Just screeches at +me. Then he goes reelin' up the shore 'n' grabs hold on a tree 'n' +goes twistin' roun' 'n' down he goes. Maybe he wuz escapin' thinks +I." + +"No, he wasn't escaping," said Connie. "He just had a kind of a +craze on. He did a stunt and he thought he'd like to try a still +bigger one." + +"He's a lucky kid," said the fisherman as he rowed away. + +"Lucky patrol," said one of the boys. + +They took him over to camp and into Administration Shack and laid him +on the couch there. And in a little while he was quite restored and +able to go up the hill to his patrol cabin. His slim little form +looked funny in a bathrobe as he trudged along, tripping now and +again. The Elks clustered all about him proudly. Stut Moran +playfully pulled the tasseled cord tight about him and tied it in a +knot; it made him look still funnier, and he smiled that bashful +smile of his to see them amused at his expense. "Looks like a +champion prize-fighter on his way to the ring," said Stut. + +"Well you've got a nice new dry suit anyway," said Connie. "And +you're going to put it on and have your picture taken for both things +that you did. Jumping jiminies, kid, you sure did break loose! What +are you going to do next? Why, you crazy little midnight sneak! How +the dickens did you suppose you were going to prove you swam across +the lake when you got up at about fourteen-twenty A.M. and started +off without any escort. Suppose that man hadn't been there. It's +all right, kid, we're not kicking; we've got the Hiawatha canoe, gee +we've got no kick. I'll say that. But cut out the hero stuff for a +couple of days. Why, you skinny little grasshopper, you've been +running wild!" + +"Can I get it right away?" Skinny asked. "The canoe, can I get it +right away quick? Right away now, can I get it?" he persisted, +tripping over the bathrobe which was as much too big for him as his +lost scout suit. "Can I honest and true get it right away _now_?" + +"Who's going to stop us!" laughed Connie. + +"We'll be out paddling in it this afternoon," said Vic Norris. + +"Do you know what I was thinking?" Bert McAlpin asked. + +"Skinny doesn't think, he acts," said Connie. + +"No, but on the level," said Bert. "I never took such an awful lot +of interest in it before--I mean the regatta--but, _jiminies_, as +long as we've got the Hiawatha canoe why can't a couple of us train +up and go in for the Mary Temple Cup? Skinny's too small, but it's +all in the patrol anyway. You know what Roy Blakeley's all the time +saying--united we stand, divided we sprawl. I say let's a couple of +us train for the canoe races. Skinny's got us started now and we'll +do big things. _Oh boy_, the white pennant! And now the canoe. Oh +boy, Skinny's the big noise in camp." + +He did not make much noise as he sat down on the edge of his cot, his +clamorous comrades all about him. He had never tasted glory before. +He had not only made a sensational hop, slap and jump into fame; he +had aroused in his patrol the thirst for still greater achievement. +He was bewildered, frightened. + +"Listen here, kid," said Connie, "I'm so blamed excited I can hardly +talk straight. Listen here. The breakfast horn will be sounding in +a few minutes. We're not washed up yet, we got called up in such a +hurry. While we're getting ready for breakfast you get on your new +scout suit and we'll meet you over at 'eats.' Now no more blamed +nonsense, you do what I tell you and put on your scout suit, and come +over to 'eats' all dolled up right so the bunch will know the fellow +that did these things is a scout. Understand?" + +Skinny understood, and he just sat on the edge of his cot, nervous +and anxious to be left alone. To these enthusiastic, planning +comrades, his achievement was a climax. But it was no climax to him; +it was just one step in what he intended to do. He was bewildered +and nervous at their talk about future triumphs with the prize canoe. +Connie's order to him about the new scout suit troubled him. You +see, Skinny had not intended to be a hero. He was a hero worshipper, +and his hero was Danny. He had never thought to complicate matters +by being a hero himself. Now he saw that being a hero was a nuisance. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +IF + +Skinny knew that Danny was wise, that he would not appear in camp +before half past nine, because there was no boat or train which would +permit his arrival before that time. Danny's attention to detail in +his free and lawless progress commanded admiration if not respect. +He never committed a silly blunder. Also Skinny knew that this +runaway brother of his could not commit the perilous act of false +registration until the office opened at ten o'clock. So there was +time enough for what he had planned to do. + +Hurriedly opening his old suit-case, he pulled out the only extra +shirt and trousers that he had and put them on. Then he locked the +suitcase again so that no prying comrade might discover that the new +suit was not there. Just as he started from the cabin the breakfast +horn sounded. He hurried along with that funny shuffling sideways +gait of his and paused at the cooking shack to get an apple and a +sandwich from Chocolate Drop, the colored chef. Any scout +contemplating a short hike was welcome to this customary refreshment. +He wanted it for Danny. He wondered how Danny had spent the night +and hoped he had not been aroused by all the fuss caused by his early +swim. At cooking shack he took occasion to ask Chocolate Drop if he +knew where Helmer Clarkson stayed. + +"He dat boy wots folks done send 'im big grapefruit 'n' boxes wi' dem +figs. Sho he done sleep up dere yonder in one dem woods cabins. You +know dat cabin wi' de skunk skin tacked on de do'? Lor' Massa +Skincord, dat boy am rich! Him folk send him _great big_ crate full +of fruit. Dat ain't good fer no young boy, dat ain't. Bein' +diffrent, _dat am bad_. I say ter Massa Slade, I say, dat ain't no +camp scout business. Share one, share all, in dis yer camp, dat's +wot I say. You gwine straight up dat path, you'll find it." + +It was little enough that poor Skinny knew about the unwise procedure +of rich parents with their sons at camp. I dare say Chocolate Drop +was right; there was too much pampering. Certainly no one had ever +sent Skinny a grapefruit or a box of figs. Something in the little +fellow's wistful look touched the kindly heart of Chocolate Drop, who +reigned unquestioned monarch in the fragrant cook shack, and he made +up an extra sandwich and handed it to him together with four cookies. +"You watch out you don' get bit by dem rattlesnakes," he warned. +Rattlesnakes were the terror of Chocolate Drop's life. "You jes' +good as dat Clarkson son. Now you scamper off ter breakfast." + +But Skinny did not go to breakfast. He started up the hill, +encouraged, elated. He was going to do business with a boy who had +expressed a desire for a canoe, and whose people were so rich that +they sent him figs and grapefruit. He did not know just exactly how +he would approach such a boy; he dreaded this more than he had +dreaded his swim across the lake. But, of course, rich boys could be +talked to. + +He was not exactly afraid; he felt that luck had favored him thus +far. He had lifted the white pennant and had been able thereby to +conceal the real purpose of his absence at night. He had won the +Hiawatha canoe. And now he was going to sell it to a boy who was so +rich that he received delicacies by parcel post. That would be easy. +Then he would hurry on up to the old shanty in the cut and give Danny +the food and the money. After that he would, of course, worry about +Danny's escape from the reform school. But at least the dangers at +Temple Camp would be averted. + +On arriving at the cabin with the skunk skin tacked on the door, +Skinny was astonished to find that it was the very cabin from which +he had taken the white pennant. The place looked different in the +daylight. He had not seen the skunk skin on his nocturnal raid, nor +the quaintly worded sign above the door which read: + +THE ALLIGATORS OF ALLEGHANY + +But he saw clearly the hole from which he had so stealthily lifted +the pennant staff. The Alligators had not gone down to breakfast; +there were voices inside. He wondered whether his little +masterstroke would leave them prejudiced against him. Hardly that, +he realized, for scouts are good sports and cheerful losers. Perhaps +they would even give him credit, as the saying is. He was not +doubtful about scouts, but he was a little afraid of a rich boy. + +The voices inside were loud and angry; the occupants of the cabin +seemed all talking at once and excitedly. + +"Awh, forget it, and come ahead down to eats, will you?" + +"I'm through," said another boy. + +"If you're talking of breakfast I haven't even started yet," said +still another. "For the love of Mike, will you cut it out and come +on down." + +"I'm through," said the boy who had made this pronouncement before. + +"All right, we're satisfied," another said. + +"Do you take back what you said?" + +"No, I don't take back what I said." + +There was a pause and Skinny tremblingly knocked on the door. It was +opened by a tall scout whom he had seen before. + +"Does Helmer Clarkson live here!" he asked, his voice shaking a +little. He had quickly decided that he would not mention the affair +of the white pennant. + +"Sure, you're welcome to him," said a boy from within. "We give six +coupons free to anybody who'll take him." + +"Cut that out," said another boy. + +"Here, put him in your pocket and take him home," said still another +as he pushed a rather small boy through the open door. It was +evident that the victim of this hearty eviction was the Rockefeller +of Temple Camp, Helmer Clarkson. He was an effeminate looking boy; +rather sissified, Skinny thought. It was easy to believe that he was +of a sort to be the recipient of dainties from home. + +Skinny, in his simplicity, went straight to the point. "Do you want +to buy a canoe!" he asked. + +"What canoe?" asked a boy from inside. + +"The Hiawatha Prize canoe," said Skinny, addressing Clarkson, as they +all gathered about the doorway staring and listening. "I heard you +wanted to buy a canoe and I'll sell you that one for as much--I +mean--only fifteen dollars." He was too simple to place the price at +a little more than Danny needed. The canoe was actually worth +seventy dollars. + +"What's the big idea?" somebody asked. + +"_You!_" laughed another. "What are _you_ doing with the prize +canoe? You mean that one in the headquarters building?" + +"I won it by swimming across the lake," said Skinny, blushing to the +roots of his hair, "and I don't want it because--because it's my own +business why I don't want it. So do you want to buy it for fifteen +dollars? I heard you wanted one." + +"I'm leaving this camp and I don't want it," said Helmer Clarkson. + +"He hasn't got the price," a boy taunted. + +For answer Helmer Clarkson displayed the contents of a neat wallet +which almost staggered poor Skinny. "I've had enough of this camp," +he said, "and I'm going home on the noon train from Catskill." + +"It's only fifteen dollars," poor Skinny said. "Maybe I'd take ten." + +"If you gave me the canoe for nothing I wouldn't stay here," said +Helmer Clarkson in a very mincing manner. "If you'd come around two +or three days ago--even yesterday--I might have given you twenty-five +dollars for it. I can spend fifty dollars for one if I want to. But +I've had enough of this crowd, thank you. I'm going home." + +Poor Skinny's hopes were dashed. He cast a forlorn look at the +scouts, who were laughing heartily. They were not laughing at him; +for once he was not the victim. They were laughing (and that with a +kind of tolerant contempt) at Helmer Clarkson. + +"Yes, we got no canoes to-day," one boy sang. + +"I don't want to play in your yard," sang another. + +"Tell him why you're going home, Ellie," a third shouted. + +"I'll tell him," another volunteered. "You know we had the white +pennant up here--we took it away from that Virginia troop over near +Turtle Cove. Each one of us is supposed to stay awake forty minutes +every night and listen. Last night our little sleeping +beauty--_that's him_--falls asleep at the switch. Somebody walked +away with the pennant. We even knew somebody was hanging around, +because just a little while before that I sneaked out and caught a +fellow nosing about. On top of that Sweet-dream Ellie has to go to +sleep when his turn was on. And--listen, get this--when we jump very +gently on his neck he gets sore and says he won't play any more." + +During the recital of this indictment, Helmer Clarkson held himself +aloof in silent dignity. "I'm through with the scouts for good," +said he. "It was only an experiment anyway. But I certainly do love +canoing----" + +"Sure, in the bathtub," interrupted one of the boys. + +"_Chief Dead-to-the-world_ sailing down the Alleghany River," mocked +another. + +"If it wasn't for my leaving," said Helmer, ignoring them, "I'd be +only too glad to buy your canoe. I'd have given you more than +fifteen dollars for it." + +Skinny looked from one to the other of this cheery group; they seemed +an interesting patrol, notwithstanding their family disturbance. +Then his eyes fell on Helmer Clarkson in a woebegone, incredulous +gaze. He realized that by his own act of "lifting" the pennant he +had effectually prevented the sale of the canoe. If he had not +stolen up in the dead of night, so softly that the dozing Helmer +never heard him, he might now have fifteen dollars--thirty +perhaps--with which to speed his erring brother forth to safety. + +What a tragic word is IF! + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SCOUT LAW NUMBER TWO + +He had taken the white pennant. He had won the Hiawatha Prize. He +had brought glory to his patrol. But all he had to give Danny was +two sandwiches and four cookies. Hero though he was, he could not +face his colleagues, for he had no scout suit to put on. So long as +there was hope of selling the canoe, he had not considered what his +patrol would think of this. He had thought only of Danny. But now, +as he trudged on up through the woods, a forlorn little fellow, he +wondered what Connie and the others would say when they heard that he +had tried to sell the prize canoe. They would certainly hear that, +and he could not tell them why he had attempted such an unscoutlike +business. There was never any buying and selling of prizes at Temple +Camp. + +He trudged up through the woods, cautiously looking back now and +then. It seemed to him a very long time since he had seen Danny, so +much had happened in the meantime. He found him sitting on the shelf +in the shanty, his knees drawn up to form a reading desk on which the +Scout Handbook lay open. + +"Hey, Tiny, this is some book," said he. "Honest, do they do all +these things, or is it just bunk? Here's a good one on +page--page--here it is, sixty-six. This is the one for me. Here's a +gold medal you get for saving a guy's life, only you've got to risk +your own. If you lose your life you're out of luck. If you get away +with it they hand you this----" + +"I know all about it," said Skinny. + +"That ain't so worse," said Danny, idly running over the pages. +"Wait till I find--oh here it is, here's a pippin! Here's where a +guy makes out he's a smuggler--page four hundred and thirty--and the +bunch has to track him. If he gets to the nearest town he's K.O. I +ought to be able to get away with that, Tiny." It was certainly in +his line. "They got some good dope here, all right," he added. "You +can even be one if you're not in with a bunch." + +"That's a pioneer scout," said Skinny. + +"Here's a nifty--listen to this one. They got a lot of badges you +can win. Here's one on riding a horse----" + +"I know all about them," Skinny repeated. + +It was evident that scouts had merits which Danny could admire, but +had no desire to imitate. His rather nonchalant attitude toward +scouting troubled poor Skinny. He had spent the whole night in +nervous tension, planning and striving to save Danny from his own +folly. And here was Danny leisurely inspecting the Scout Handbook, +commenting upon its features with eminent fairness, and apparently +without a care in the world. It must be admitted that so far as +looks were concerned there was not a boy at Temple Camp more +scoutlike than he. Poor Skinny's suit fitted him to perfection; it +was in line with this blithesome young scapegrace's luck that his +ungainly little half-brother had in his innocence bought the suit too +large. Though, indeed, poor Skinny would never in any suit look as +natty as this self-sufficient brother of his. The only false note in +Danny's ensemble was a rakish tilt of the scout hat, which gave him a +rather too easy-going and sophisticated air. + +"I brought you something to eat," said poor Skinny. "I was afraid +they'd find you, those reform school people, but I'm glad they +didn't. There's two sandwiches here, and four cookies. I bet you +didn't sleep much--I bet." + +"You lose your bet," said Danny. "I was dead to the cruel world. +Some blamed bird or other, that was screaming like Hail Columbia, +woke me up." + +"Those are blue jays," said Skinny. + +"They'd be black and blue jays if I caught them," said Danny. "I +went over there to a spring and washed up. Then I came back and +started giving this book the once-over. What time is it anyway? Can +I go and do my act yet?" He ate the sandwiches while Skinny talked. + +"I tried to get fifteen dollars for you so you wouldn't have to stay +here and I swam across the lake so as to win the prize canoe; I did +it early this morning, Danny, and I won it. But the feller I tried +to sell it to because he's rich and has grapefruit sent him and +everything--that feller wouldn't buy it, because he's mad at his +patrol and he's going home, because they're sore at him on account of +his not staying awake so nobody could take the pennant. I'm the one +that took it. So I'm the one to blame, because I can't give you +fifteen dollars." + +Danny was a boy who was always ready to do anything. Consequently +nothing that any other boy did astonished him. He was interested in +propositions to do things. He was not so interested in things that +had been done. So all he said was, "You should worry." + +"I got to worry," said poor Skinny. + +"And I've got to stay here and I might as well have some fun," said +Danny. + +Poor Skinny was aghast at Danny's utter inability to perceive the +peril in which he stood. This impersonation of another boy at Temple +Camp was to be merely another casual adventure in the blithesome +career of Danny. He had lost no sleep over it, he apprehended no +complications. He would cross bridges when he came to them. He was +not annoyed by Skinny's near success in the matter of the canoe. +What Skinny had done did not seem to impress him as an exploit. +Since he was not able to supply fifteen dollars, Danny accepted +scouting as a means of escape. And he was not going to worry about +it. + +"Will you promise--cross your heart--that you won't say I told you to +do it?" Skinny asked, with panic fear in every feature. "Will you +promise--honest and true, cross your heart--that you won't ever even +look at me?" + +"Go on down and get your breakfast, kid," said Danny. + +"I tried to get you the money so you could go away." + +"Sure, you should worry; go down and eat, Tiny." + +"And you won't go to the office till about half past ten, because on +account of the train?" + +"Leave it to me, kid." + +"You're going to get in a lot of trouble," Skinny warned, +pathetically apprehensive. + +Poor little fellow, he had done the best he could to avert this +bizarre and perilous undertaking of Danny's. He had risked his life. +He was doomed to trouble with his comrades because of the missing +scout suit, and because of his attempt to sell the reward of his +heroism. They would not even laugh at him and make fun of him any +more. He wondered if he had better go ask the Alligators of +Alleghany not to mention the offer he had made at their cabin. But +that would only discredit him with them; it would look sneaky. + +Such troubles to arise from good intentions and deeds of skill and +prowess! Poor Skinny, his excursion into the field of heroism had +not been propitious. And pressing down upon him more heavily than +all these perplexities was the terrifying thought of Danny. What +might happen there made Skinny shudder. Such an act of effrontery as +his half-brother was launched upon quite unnerved this poor little +scout who had been so humble and obscure. Yet he was staunch in +loyalty to Danny. He would bear the scornful taunts (as he had +always borne the humorous taunts) of Temple Camp if that were +necessary. And when the worst came to the worst he would be loyal to +Danny. It was odd that through all this disheartening mess, he did +not once recall with pride and elation that he was the winner of the +Hiawatha Prize. He had forgotten all about the canoe. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ALIAS DANVILLE BENTLY + +He hurried along with his queer, shuffling gait to the big shed where +meals were served in pleasant weather. He was always insignificant +looking unless you looked straight into his eyes. There was +something indescribable about those eyes that haunted one. They +bespoke a latent frenzy that could carry that homely little frail +body to any heights of heroism. But all you saw as he hurried along +was a little codger who somehow reminded you of the slums. He had +the scared look so familiar in homeless dogs. + +As he moved between the long tables a few scouts who had never +noticed him before, turned and stared at him. "Honest!" one scout +asked his neighbor. "Sure, that's him," said another; "that's the +one." By no means all of them knew of his triumphant swim. At one +table they were talking about the "lifting" of the white pennant, but +no one seemed to know that he was the hero of that affair. One would +have to be a pretty big hero to divert the attention of the Temple +Camp scouts while they were eating breakfast. One remark he did +overhear as he made his way to the tables of his own troop. "Special +bargain sale in prize canoes," he heard a boy say. "Business is not +so good today," another boy answered. Skinny flushed but did not +glance at the authors of this cheap sarcasm. + +The Bridgeboro Troop occupied two tables, the Ravens and the +Chipmunks at one, the Silver Foxes and the Elks at the other. As +Skinny edged into his seat only one voice greeted him. The exuberant +Roy Blakeley of the Silver Foxes called. "Hey Skinny, you were in +the swim all right, but not here. + + Sticks and stones can break your bones, + But looks can never hurt you." + + +But there Roy Blakeley was mistaken. Looks did hurt Skinny; they +were like blows to his sensitive nature. And now nothing but black +looks greeted him. Something was wrong evidently; something very +serious. For there was no criticism, no half-humorous slurs and +sallies. The members of his patrol passed him things at the table, +and once or twice asked such service from him, and it was pitiful to +see him respond with such alacrity. But no one talked with him--with +this boy who had "lifted" the white pennant and won the Hiawatha +canoe. He thought it must be because he had not donned his scout +suit. + +After breakfast he went off by himself and wandered up into the +woods. He often did that to get away from the bantering scouts, but +this morning he was beset with forebodings. Something was wrong, +everything was wrong. The atmosphere he had felt at breakfast +pervaded the whole quiet woodland. Something played on the strings +of his delicate nature, causing them to vibrate with strange +apprehension. He felt nervous, ill at ease; he knew something was +going to happen. Up in the woods was an oriole's nest which he had +been watching, for he intended to take it when it was deserted and +claim the Audubon Prize. He sat down on a stump and looked at it +now, hanging up in the tree like a dried rag. He had no more +interest in the prizes. He had won the hardest one of all to win, +and it had brought him nothing but trouble. + +After a little while, he wandered back to camp again, haunted by that +strange sense of foreboding. A lonesome, forlorn little waif he +seemed; hopelessly an odd number; not one single sign of the scout +about him. Just a little codger from Corkscrew Alley. Passing a few +yards from Administration Shack he saw the usual coming and going by +which he knew that the office was open. There were the usual +loiterers on the porch, scoutmasters hurrying in and out, new boys +glancing around as they emerged and pausing to read the notices. + +Suddenly a rather tall boy with his scout hat tilted at a rakish +angle came out, folding a paper. That was the set of rules that they +gave to every new arrival. He also held a red card and Skinny knew +what that meant, It meant he was registered as a scout without troop +affiliation and was assigned to the big dormitory which, with several +group cabins, formed what was called Pioneer Row.* So Danny had come +through the routine of enrollment without trouble. Skinny was even +proud of him, he looked so natty, so self-assured, so different from +those bewildered looking new arrivals who glanced bashfully about +seeming not to know what to do with themselves. There was one whole +patrol of them and they seemed as helpless as a pack of sheep. + + +* A pioneer scout is one without a troop or patrol. See page 24 of +the Scout Handbook. + + +As Danny stepped down off the porch he passed between two scouts who +were catching ball and he raised his arm in an offhand way +intercepting the ball and throwing it to a third boy. How proud +Skinny would have been of this charmingly nonchalant brother, except +for that frightful secret! Even as it was he felt relieved and a +little proud, Danny was so attractive and seemed so safe--so equal to +any emergency. + +Skinny hardly knew where to go so he went down to the springboard. +Still that vague feeling of presentiment beset him and made him +nervous. Sitting on the springboard were Connie Bennett, his patrol +leader, and several of the Elk Patrol. Seeing Skinny approaching, +Stut Moran and Vic Norris strolled away. "Cut that out," Connie said +to them, but they paid no attention. + +Skinny could not bear the tension; his little frame was trembling +with nervous excitement. "What's the matter?" he forced himself to +ask. "If I don't want to wear my--a--scout suit I don't have to, do +I? If I don't want to have my picture taken in it, I don't have to." + +Hearing him speak, Stut and Vic turned and paused, Vic calling, "Come +on, you scouts, let him alone. Don't you know what we said?" + +The others started from the springboard to join Stut and Vic. Skinny +remained on the springboard, scarlet with embarrassment. Like a +little statue of lonely poverty he stood there on the board from +which he had plunged for his sensational swim. + +"Can't you tell me if it's about the suit?" he called almost +imploringly. + +They seemed to be conferring and he waited. Then Connie beckoned and +he went to them, like a dog doubtful of its welcome. Thus it +happened that one of the most memorable events of Temple Camp +occurred on the grassy patch near the shore, just under the big +willow tree where they painted the boats before launching them. +Scouts will show you the spot now. + +"I'm going to give you the chance to deny it, that's only fair," +Connie said. "Did you try to sell the Hiawatha Prize to a patrol +from out in Pennsylvania?" + +"Yes, I did," Skinny said. He was trembling, not in fear, but in the +pride of his frankness. + +"You did!" + +"Yes, I did--I said I did." + +There was a tense pause. + +"A prise! You tried to sell it for money," exclaimed Vic Norris +incredulously. + +"Didn't you know those scouts are going in for the canoe races the +same as we are!" + +"No, I didn't know that," Skinny protested, breathing heavily. + +Such an altercation could not fail to attract lookers-on and perhaps +a dozen boys were now standing about listening. + +"Well, you knew we were going in the races with it," Connie said. +"And you knew that prizes kind of go to patrols. You ask anybody in +Temple Camp--ask Tom Slade--if he ever _heard_ of a scout trying to +_sell_ a camp award. Jimmies, I didn't believe it when I heard it. +You sneaked up to those fellows' cabin and asked them if they wanted +to buy the Hiawatha canoe for fifteen dollars. Did you or didn't +you?" + +"If you can prove you didn't, we won't chuck you out," Bert McAlpin +said. + +"I said I did," said Skinny, standing his ground, but with a tremor +in his voice, "but I didn't sneak." + +"Good night!" groaned Hunt Ward disgustedly. + +"What did you want to do it for?" Connie asked. He alone seemed +disposed to be considerate. + +"Because--it's none of anybody's business what I did it for," Skinny +said. + +"Why it's like the gold medal; would you sell that?" + +"Yes, I would if I thought--if I was sure it was right to do it," +Skinny said. + +Perhaps some of the onlookers sympathized with him, he was so small, +so insignificant looking; and withal so eager and earnest. Tears +were rolling down his cheeks now and he raised his shabby little +sleeve to wipe his eyes and still stood his ground in trembling +defiance. "I would and it's none of nobody's business," he said. + +"_Oh, is that so?_" sneered Stut Moran. "If you wanted money as bad +as all that why couldn't you steal it like you did apples from +Schmitter's Grocery when you'd have got in trouble if Mr. Ellsworth +hadn't taken you into the troop?" + +Skinny trembled, but said nothing. "Did I--I--did I act all right +since I was in the troop?" he finally managed to get out. + +"Sure, trying to sell prizes," Vic Norris shot at him angrily. "Gee +we've had enough of Corkscrew Alley in our troop. You don't belong +in the troop anyway, you dirty little slum rat, you----" + +There was a slight stir in the group and there in front of Victor +Norris stood a boy he had never seen before, a boy whose scout hat +was tilted at a rakish angle and whose half-closed eyes were like +cold steel. + +"Do you take that back?" said he. + +"You mind your own business; I take nothing back," said Vic. + +The blow fell so swiftly that he was sprawling on the ground before +the onlookers knew what had happened. They will tell you now at +Temple Camp that that blow sounded as if it fell on a wooden surface, +so terrific was the force of it. The dazed victim rubbed his eye +half-consciously and made as if to rise. Like lightning his +assailant brushed aside an interfering spectator and looked behind +him to see if any official might be approaching. "Don't get up till +you take it back," he said in quick, businesslike fashion. "You'll +just go down again. Keep away, you fellers. Well?" + +"I take it back," cried Vic Norris. + +"Tell him, don't tell me," said the strange boy, indicating Skinny. + +And he strolled away as if the matter no further concerned him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE PIONEER SCOUT + +But it was not Vic Norris who was hurt; it was Skinny. He would not, +he could not, tell them the truth. He must live in the shadow of +their cruel thoughts. Mr. Ellsworth, scoutmaster of the troop, +arrived in camp on Friday for the week end, and tried to smooth over +the difficulty. But Skinny would not tell him why he had made his +astonishing offer to the departed Helmer Clarkson. Nor would he say +why he would not wear his scout suit. He was as stubborn as a little +mule in those matters. Mr. Ellsworth told the Elks that they would +just have to take Skinny as they found him, that there was no +explaining him. He reminded them that at all events they had the +canoe, and the white pennant. + +So they took Skinny as they found him, and they found him different. +He seemed worried and preoccupied, and took little interest in the +patrol. They never asked him to wear his scout suit and he continued +to be, what he had always been in camp, an odd little figure in a +faded blouse. Those in the Bridgeboro troop who were most discerning +noticed how he seemed always in fear. But when they made fun of him, +as they were wont to do at camp-fire, he smiled bashfully in the same +old way and was delightfully ill at ease. + +He occasionally went out in the prize canoe with scouts of his patrol +and sat wedged into one end like a funny little figurehead. You +would never have dreamed that he was the boy who had won that trim +craft which skimmed so lightly in the water. But he seemed to +appreciate being taken out in it. Perhaps after all it was not +Skinny who had won the canoe. It was the frenzied and despairing +soul of Skinny which had done that. Anyway, they often took him out +in it and he sat very still and upright as he was told to do. + +The Elks soon lost the white pennant; a scout in a Vermont troop +walked away with it one night during Vic Norris' watch, so Vic had +two black eyes in a way of speaking. Bert McAlpin tried to get it +back and was caught red-handed. Then Connie himself tried and got a +good laugh from the Vermonters. Skinny was not particularly +interested in these attempts; he was too much worried about Danny to +concern himself with patrol exploits. He saw Danny every day and +occasionally spoke with him, but they were not much together. The +terrible thing that Danny was doing made Skinny afraid of him; he +stood in awe of such daring and effrontery. + +As for Danny, he was not in the least troubled. On the very day of +his arrival he hiked to Catskill, keeping off the highway, and sent a +telegram collect, in the name of Temple Camp, advising the father of +Danville Bently that his son would be expected on August Second. +Having come safely through the formality of enrollment, no +embarrassing questions were asked him and indeed he had no further +intercourse with the management. Temple Camp is a big place and he +was soon absorbed in its life. Nobody cared where he lived or +anything else about him; they were all too busy with scouting. + +And he was busy with scouting too. He might have taken his second +class tests, he might even have qualified for the first class, but he +cautiously refrained from any step which might bring him face to face +with trustees and councilors. Since he did not seek the first class +ranking he could not try for merit badges. He became, in short, one +of those nondescript scouts who are to be found in every summer camp, +boys who have taken the scout oath and put on scout suits and let it +go at that. He was too large to be thought of as a tenderfoot; +moreover his prowess and skill lifted him out of that class. He was +good at everything, but he did not fit his exploits into the scout +program. + +He bunked in Pioneer Row with that miscellaneous company whose +members had come to Temple Camp without troop or patrol. Many of +them were instances of the one lucky boy in some homekeeping scout +unit. Some of them were active and clever, but they were deprived of +the advantages of group spirit. A boy scout is better off with his +patrol in a vacant lot than alone at the best of scout camps. The +big sleeping quarters of Pioneer Row had more the atmosphere of a +boarding school dormitory than of a scout camp. In a sense they did +form one big troop--too big. + +After the first few days of his life in this rather inglorious +department of the spreading community, Danny lost all fear of being +found out at camp. The whole thing had been so easy! And Temple +Camp was so embracing and friendly! He was an adaptable boy and he +felt quite at home. He still feared the grim authorities of the +reform school, for he knew that he had been committed to that hated +institution by the State and that the long arm of the law was +reaching out for him. But as the days passed and nothing happened, +his fear subsided. He was so cozy and remote that discovery from +either quarter seemed an altogether unlikely sequel of his good +fortune. And August Second was so far away! + +Once or twice he feared that Skinny might inadvertently, or in a +spasm of outraged conscience, say something. But nothing happened +and whatever fears he had were lulled to sleep. Yet there was one +person there whom he should have feared and that was himself. But he +not only did not fear himself; he did not fear anybody. The only +trouble was that he would have to sneak away before August Second. +Well, he thought, the authorities would have ceased their search for +him by that time, and he would go away on a ship. + +All the boys in Pioneer Dormitory liked Danny. He was more +sophisticated than most of them and they stood somewhat in awe of +him. He seemed to know a good deal about the world and they +respected him for it. His rather nonchalant attitude toward scouting +had something engaging in it; but there was one serious boy who was +not too ready to fall under his spell. + +This was Holman Sharpe, a pioneer scout from a farm in New Hampshire. +He was not summering away from his troop; he had no troop. Nor was +he, as so many of those boys were, the single remaining member of a +disintegrated troop. He was a registered pioneer. In the lonely +section where he lived there were no boys to form a troop. So he had +sent to National Headquarters for blanks and had been enrolled as a +pioneer scout, which was a very different thing from the unattached +scouts of Pioneer Row. + +This boy went in for scouting with both hands and feet and the +easy-going Danny was greatly amused by him. He was one of those boys +who take themselves very seriously. Such boys are found in schools +and colleges, wrestling with their studies to the exclusion of +everything else, forgetting life in the interest of learning. +Scouting is not a good field in which to do this. There is nothing +about scouting to study; it is just a form of life. But this boy +conceived it as a sort of curriculum and the Handbook as a sort of +text book. He was certainly born to be a student. It is not so +certain that he was born to be a scout. + +To this serious New England boy, Temple Camp was a sort of +university, the merit badges all representing study courses. He was +out for promotion; he did not care so much about fun. His Handbook +was all marked up with memorandums of his progress and notes of his +plans. He was a canny boy and did not forget about the future. He +even took into consideration the time when he would be too old for +scouting and had his plans all made for joining the _Veteran Scout +Association_. In an envelope he had three dollars laid away with +which to buy the veteran pin several years hence. + +Everything in the Handbook was law and gospel to him and he had set +about the strenuous labor of squeezing it dry. He would get his +money's worth at Temple Camp by doing every single thing that was +even casually suggested in the scouting program. He had never had +any give and take with other boys and he could not conceive of +scouting being carried lightly and airily, as Roy Blakeley of the +Silver Foxes, carried it. He went in for scouting with a vengeance. + +What Danny did, he did easily, and he was highly entertained by the +way Holman would come in carrying his Handbook and some maps and +papers, and sit down on his cot, which was next to Danny's, to go +over them and enter notes in his field book. + +"Busy with your homework?" Danny would quiz. + +"I've just hiked fourteen miles," Holman answered him one day. "I'm +going to write it up to-night, and there's test four all finished on +the first class badge. If you took all the miles you've used up +flopping around in the woods to-day, I bet they'd run over fourteen +and you'd have a seven mile double to lay up on your first class +tests. I mixed some dough and cooked my dinner, too, while I was +off, so I'm claiming the cooking badge on that. I don't know whether +I'll get it or not." + +"Did you ever study algebra!" Danny queried. + +"Well, it's not exactly a part of scouting," said Holman. + +Danny, sitting on Holman's cot with his knees drawn up, pulled his +hat down over his forehead, which gave him a sophisticated, even a +tough, look. "But I had the fun of flopping around in the woods," +said he. "You hike so fast you never see anything." + +"Make hay while the sun shines," said Holman in his businesslike way. +"Why, you were telling me about following those marks and you came +plunk on a rattlesnake; he's a pretty big one, I guess." + +"He was; he isn't any more," said Danny. + +"You've got to look out how you kill those fellows. But what I was +going to say was, you could use that stuff on the stalking test if +you wanted to. Did you have any witnesses?" + +"Only the rattlesnake and he's dead," said Danny. + +"I'm only telling you how you waste your chances," said Holman. "You +can do things, all right, only you don't think. I heard a scout over +at the Kit Carson tents say you jumped over Outlet Brook." + +"Yere?" + +"I've got it planned out so I can use one stunt on two tests." + +"Wholesale only, huh! What's that red book?" Danny asked, kicking it. + +"That? That's the English Handbook. I'll wager you that's the only +one in camp. I guess you never even read the American one, do you?" + +"Oh, I gave it the once over; there's some pretty good dope in it. +Ever think you'd like to make a stab for the Gold Cross?" + +"Life saving with imminent risk?" (Holman quoted accurately). +"That's something pretty high up; that's out of the ordinary." + +"I was thinking I'd grab it--just for a stunt," said Danny. + +Holman shook his head, "That's one of the big things--that's the very +biggest," said he. He knew all about it. + +"That's the one for me," said Danny. + +"I sort of don't like the way you refer to it," + +"That's the snappiest one in the book," said Danny. + +"Talking about books," said Holman, "you ought to look over this +English Handbook; it's by General Baden-Powell. There's a section in +it about deduction; deducing facts from clues and signs. Why you can +even look at a scout's shoes and tell where he has been if you know +how." + +"I don't care where's he's been," said Danny. + +"It's an interesting phase of scouting just the same." + +"Phase, huh? That's just detective stuff. You don't want to be one +of those guys, do you?" + +"Oh, that's part of scouting--mental effort." + +"Yere?" + +"Now, for instance, I've noticed something. I even made a note of +it." + +"I bet you did." + +"I don't believe there's a scout in this camp ever noticed that +tattoo mark on your arm." + +Danny started. + +"Surprises you, eh!" Holman laughed. He did not often laugh. "Yes +sir," he said in a way of small triumph, "I noticed it when you +rolled up your sleeve; the time you reached down in the water after +the compass that little big-eyed youngster is always losing. You +rolled it away up--remember! I noticed. I said, 'That boy has known +a sailor.' Now am I right?" + +"Right--the first time." + +"I wondered why the letters were D. M. since I knew your name was +Danville Bently. But I hit on it. Now tell me if I'm right." + +"Sure, you're always right." + +"They name ships the _Molly B_ and all like that. If a ship is +called after a woman named Molly B. Smith, they just call it the +_Molly B_. I'll wager that M is your middle initial--Danville M. as +you might say." + +"_Geeee_, that's wonderful!" said Danny. "That's _simp_-ly +wonderful! I bet you're going to keep it to yourself too." + +"Oh, trust me for that," said Holman Sharpe. + +Their talk was interrupted by the little tenderfoot office boy from +Administration Shack who called from the open doorway at the end of +the long row of cots. + +"Danville Bently, you're wanted in the office," said he. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE SERENADE + +Danny was nervous, but he did not show it. He had never before been +summoned to the office. He had thought that by keeping out of scout +activities he would be safe in the refuge of self-imposed obscurity. +Lost in the nondescript company of the big dormitory, and keeping as +much as he could out of touch with the management he had hoped and +believed that his daring stunt of impersonation would succeed. + +Now, as he made his way up toward the main body of the camp, he +wondered, almost tremblingly, what was amiss. Had poor little +Skinny's conscience given way under the strain? No, he knew better +than that. The thin cord would never break. Would he find himself +face to face with the warden of Blythedale School? Or perhaps with +the real Danville Bently? There is many a slip.... + +The usual group was lolling about the steps of the official building. +From his place on the railing, Roy Blakeley called, "Hey what are you +doing up here at the hole of holes? (meaning holy of holies). And +how are things down in Pie Row? How is Sophomore, Senior, +Post-graduate Sharpe these beautiful days! I hear he's going to hire +a bookkeeper. Hey Bent, why don't you come up to camp once in a +while so we won't forget what you look like? Don't remember to do +your good turn daily." + +In the office the young clerk in khaki showed Danny into the sanctum +of the powers, where he waited nervously while Councilor Wainwright +finished reading a letter. "Well my boy," said that official, +glancing up pleasantly; "how do you think you like camp?" + +"It's one camp, all right," said Danny. "It's big enough, I'll say." + +"We thought perhaps we'd hear from you--see your name up on the board +or something, glorifying Florida." + +Danny winced a bit at this. "We've got a scout down there that takes +care of all those things for us," said he. It was this good-humored +nonchalance of his which drew people to him. Discerning men +construed his slightly sneering attitude to mean that he was +impatient of little people and little things. The councilor chuckled +appreciatively. "It takes all kinds to make a square mile of camp," +he said. + +"Now, Bently," he continued, deliberately going to the matter in +hand, "this is what I wanted to see you about. Sometimes things get +around to headquarters rather late. I understand you punched a boy +the first day you were here." + +"Did he tell you?" + +"Of course he didn't. That was a good scout you punched." + +"It was a good punch I gave him." + +"I heard it was. But, of course, he had just lost his temper." + +"I did a good turn, I helped him to find it." + +"Well, my boy, we won't go into that now. We usually find up here +that a boy who is free with his fists is--well, it's a kind of a +habit with him. There are those who hit and those who don't. I +think I can't recall a single instance up here of a boy hitting +another boy who didn't before the season was over do the same thing +again. Now, honor bright, you've slugged fellows before, haven't +you?' + +"Sure, a guy named Kinney back in----" + +"So you see. Now I just want to warn you not to do that sort of +thing again. If you do, you'll go right back to Florida, Bently. +This camp isn't the Madison Square Garden or the Chicago Stadium. We +don't expect our guests to take the law in their own hands--ever. Of +course, what I say to you applies to every boy here, and there's +going to be a notice out there on the board so none of you young Jack +Dempseys can come back at us. Any boy that uses his fists leaves +this camp--quick. Just you read what it says in the Handbook on +being a gentleman. You ever get any hints out of the Handbook?" + +"There's some pretty good dope in that," said Danny. + +"I'll say there is." + +"And there's a lot of play-in-the-backyard stuff too." + +Councilor Wainwright laughed heartily at this frank young critic. +"Well, let's hear from you on some of the good stuff," said he. "You +scouts down in the dormitory,--we hardly know you're alive up here. +All right, my boy, no hard feelings." + +Danny went out, greatly relieved. More than that, he inhaled a kind +of fresh assurance that everything would be all right. Loyal little +Skinny was like the Rock of Gibraltar. Blythedale Reform School was +so far away. Danny felt more secure than ever in this woodland +refuge. And Danville Bently, the real Danville Bently was--why, by +this time he was in Europe with his people. The only person that +Danny had to fear was himself. Well, that would be all right, he +would keep his fists where they belonged. No danger. He even felt +that he had gained something; Councilor Wainwright seemed to like him. + +But there was a black cloud on the horizon. You would not think of +calling Roy Blakeley a black cloud, yet he was the black cloud in +this instance. He was a boy who would sit contentedly on a fence +thinking of nothing in particular, then suddenly be aroused to +mirthful enterprise as by an inspiration. Surely he was one of the +spirits of Temple Camp. Boys returned home in the autumn and talked +of him all winter. His patrol, the Silver Foxes, shone by his own +reflected light. They were (to quote the voice of Temple Camp) a +bunch of jolliers. + +If Danny had not been called to the office it is probable that Roy +would never have conceived the mischievous idea of descending with +his bantering cronies upon the defenseless Pioneer Row. But his +piquant sallies to Danny upon his visit to the seat of the powers +reminded him that he had neglected Pie Alley, which was his name for +that lowly suburb. Roy invariably acted upon every random +inspiration. + +"Come on, let's go down to Pie Alley and kid the life out of +Sophomore Senior, the Student Prince of scouting," said he. + +"We'll tell him he's awarded a typewriter machine," said Warde +Hollister. + +"We'll tell him all the tests for merit badges have been changed," +said Ralph Warner. + +They would have been accompanied by a clamorous escort except that it +was rest hour and most scouts were either asleep or reading in +reclining postures in their cabins. So no one went upon this +memorable expedition but Roy and two of his patrol, Ralph Warner and +Warde Hollister. Reaching the big, sprawling, shingled dormitory, +they serenaded the subject of their call like knights of old. They +knew that Holman Sharpe would be resting. Holman did everything that +was on the scout program. He was getting his money's worth. + +Roy was something of a balladist and he saluted the victim with a +minstrel lay: + + "Oh Sharpy, dear Sharpy, come out of the door + The badge list is changed and there's ninety-six more." + + +This failing to arouse him they tried again. + + "Oh Sharpy, dear Sharpy, get up and come out + And the fourth test on plumbing we'll tell you about." + + +Still again they tried to lure him with soft melody. + + "Oh Sharpy, dear Sharpy, come out with scout stealth + And we'll hand you the medal for personal health." + + +Holman Sharpe did not come out, but he looked out through the open +window. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE ACCUSED + +"Don't you scouts know it's rest hour?" said Holman. "You'd better +look in your handbooks and see what's on page three thirty-seven. +What are you scouts doing down here at this time of day?" + +"It's a lie!" said Roy. "You can't believe a word the Handbook +says--you can't even believe the punctuation. It says you can find +comfort in the woods and we looked all around and didn't find any--we +even used our searchlights, I'll leave it to Warde. Hey, Sharpy, +come on out, the National Council has decided that a hobby-horse +isn't an animal so you can't name a patrol after it. Honest, I'll +leave it to Ralph Warner. You can't press the leaves of a hat-tree +either--there's a new rule--so if you have any you better throw them +away. The rules are all changed, you can't get the printing badge by +finding footprints any more. Hey, come on out, Sharpy." + +Holman did not immediately respond to this merry summons, but Danny +who was in the dormitory strolled out smiling and sat on the steps. +Holman's methodical activities amused him, but he had never poked fun +at him. + +"Hey, Florida," said Roy; "how 'bout it--isn't it true they're going +to give crutches for veteran scouts? You better put in your +application while you're young, Sharpy. You better start saving up." + +Holman emerged upon the porch. There was nothing sissified about +this boy; it was not for that reason that they took delight in +"jollying" him. It was that he was so terribly sober and earnest. +He was going to be a scout by the book; he thought that if he could +pass an examination in scouting he would be a scout. He was studying +it, cramming, and he thought that boys who were just naturally scouts +and did not study it very hard, were slackers. + +Roy had fifteen merit badges and had enjoyed the fun of getting them. +But this serious boy was not having the time of his life being a +scout. He should have been at boarding school, where he would have +won honors. Handbooks and tests and awards will help, of course, but +scouting is a matter of fine spirit. The scout who thinks only of +getting ahead, of swimming fifty yards because the book prescribes +it, is apt to forget about his comrade scouts. A curriculum is a +pretty poor sort of a pal. + +"I should think you scouts would know this is rest hour," said +Holman. "If you want to get anywhere in scouting you've got to +relax. You come around here with your nonsense when I'm supposed to +be storing up a little energy." + +"Tell us all about that," encouraged Ralph Warner, winking at Danny, +who was highly amused. + +"On account of your yelling I'll have to make it up to-morrow when I +ought to be stalking," said Holman. + +"There may be some truth in that," teased Warde. "Hey, Sharpy, why +don't you go out on a hike with your friend and neighbor some night +for no reason at all?" + +"With Bently, you mean? I'd never accomplish much. I guess he's a +sort of more of a tramp than a scout. I'd never learn much from him. +I've only got eight weeks here." + +"You let him say that about you, Florida?" Warde asked. + +"Sure, let him go as far as he likes," laughed Danny. "I don't claim +to be a scout." + +"I don't see what you're here for then?" said Holman. + +"I can tell you the reason," said Roy. "He's here because he's here. +Am I right, Florida?" + +"Surest thing," laughed Danny. He was hugely entertained as he sat +on the steps watching this show. + +"He's wasting his father's money," said Holman. "If that's any +comfort to him." + +"How do you know his father's got any money!" Warde shot back. + +"He deduced it by deduction," said Danny. + +"If he'll let me help him on scout stuff, I'll be glad to do it," +said Holman. + +"There's your chance, Florida," Warde and Ralph shouted together. + +"I don't believe I could make the grade," said Danny. + +"You could if you tried; you don't try," said Holman. + +"Hey, Sharpy," said Roy, "there's something we came here to see you +about. Let's quit fooling. These two silver-plated foxes and myself +were appointed a committee to come here and ascertain--did you get +that word, _ascertain_? We have to find out if it's true what all +the fellows are saying that you went down to Catskill with Tom Slade +in his Ford and then came back and said that you crossed Valley Creek +by means of a ford and then claimed the _new discovery prize_ on +account of finding a way to get over Valley Creek not by the bridge. +If you did that it was dishonest and conduct unbecoming to a scout. +Are you claiming that prize or not? Yes or no--or both. Did you +deliberately accidentally deceive the Council or not?" + +"You'd better look out how you talk about dishonesty and deceiving," +said Holman rather heatedly. + +"I call your attention to law one on page something or other of the +Scout Handbook," Roy persisted. + +"That's the wrong page," said Warde. + +"Then it's page sumpty-sump," said Roy. "A scout's honor is to be +toasted--trusted. If he violates his honor by telling a +lie--comma--or cheating--comma--he may be directed otherwise told to +hand over his scout badge--period. Holman Sharpe of Pie Alley, if +you did that we demand that you hand over your scout badge to this +committee of solid-silver foxes. Lying cannot be tolerated in Temple +Camp--unless you're lying down so as to relax and store up energy." + +By this time Danny was laughing aloud; there was just the faintest +suggestion of Skinny about his countenance when he laughed. But +Holman Sharpe was clearly ruffled and he advanced, not exactly +menacingly, but with something in his manner which showed that he did +not at all catch the humor of their reference to dishonesty and +deception. He was a serious and literal boy and construed the use of +these words in any case as a slur and an insult. + +"You said something about a scout's honor," he said. "It's on page +thirty-four if you want to know where it is. You better look out how +you talk about mine. The first thing you scouts know, one of you +will get what he good and plenty deserves." Granted, this boy knew a +good deal about scouting; but he did not know much about scouts. + +"If I said anything I'm sorry for, I'm glad of it," said Ralph. + +"Well you said--your leader said that lying isn't tolerated at this +camp. That's as much as calling me a liar." Now he did advance, +flushed and angry. + +"Cut it out," said Roy good-naturedly, seeing which way the tide was +setting. + +"As long as you spoke of a scout's honor--" Holman began. + +"Cut it out, you blamed simp," said Ralph, his tone changing suddenly +to disgust. + +"I'll remind you of law ten,* too," said Holman. + + +* This law refers to bravery and standing up for the right. + + +"Yere, we know all about it," said Ralph. "Don't tell us about +scouting. We were here before you ever heard of this camp. You +better learn to take a joke----" + +"Sure, that's another law," said Roy. + +"And as long as you're making such a fuss about lying," said Ralph +contemptuously, "if you want me to make you out a liar, I'll do it. +How about calling Florida a tramp? Who the dickens do you think you +are, calling scouts tramps? _Wasting his father's money_; can you +beat that? _Gee_, as long as you want to be serious, I'll say you +were lying." + +This was intended more as a compliment to Danny, whom they all seemed +to like, than as a slur to Holman. Certainly nothing was further +from the minds of these young Silver Foxes than to start a quarrel. +But the serious Holman always carried his "honor" around with him as +he did his field book. He chose to take Ralph's remark as an insult +and he struck him more from a sense of duty than from anger. + +Scarcely did the astonished Ralph realize what had happened when +Danny sprang between, spreading his arms to separate the two. +"That's enough, cut it out," he said. But indeed there was no chance +of a fight. Holman having done his duty stalked into the dormitory. +Warde and Roy, highly aroused by his act, followed him protesting. +So there for the moment stood Ralph, his hand against his face with +Danny standing before him saying, "That's enough, no more." + +Just at that moment Councilor Wainwright, carrying his big flat chart +book and inspection record, came around the corner of the building +and paused suddenly. + +"At it again, Bently?" he queried with grim cordiality. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE MASQUERADER + +The councilor did not wait for an answer. "Not hurt much?" he +commented rather than asked. "Suppose you come along to the office +with me, Bently." + +To Ralph Warner's astonishment, Danny accompanied the councilor +without so much as a word. When Warde and Roy presently reappeared, +there stood Ralph recovering from his surprise rather than from the +hurt, which was not serious. + +"He won't come out," said Warde, referring to Holman. "He did his +duty--can you beat it? Where's Florida?" + +"Gone with Wainey," said Ralph. "He went before I knew it. I guess +Wainey thinks he did it." + +"What did he want to go for?" Roy asked. + +"Search me," Ralph answered. + +"Come on, don't bother about Sharpy," said Warde. "Gee, I'm sorry +Wainey had to come along just then. Honest, isn't that just like +him?" + +"Can you beat it?" Roy asked. "If the world should come to an end, +he'd sure be the first one there. Jiminies, Ralph, don't be sore, it +wasn't Sharpy hitting you, it was the Scout Handbook." + +"Sure," laughed Warde. + +"I understand," Ralph agreed. "Gee, that feller must be crazy." + +"He's troubled with static," said Roy; "come on, let's beat it." + +None of the three of them had the least notion that Florida, as they +called him, was deliberately posing as the culprit. Councilor +Wainwright's threatened warning had never appeared on the bulletin +board and the three Silver Foxes did not apprehend any very serious +sequel to the little affair. They supposed that the councilor did +not intend to take notice of it; certainly not to act upon it at that +time. They inferred that he wished to see Danny about something +else, and encountering him by chance, had asked him to go along. +That was the way they saw it, and they thought no more about it. Or +if they did, it was in a way of humorous dismay at Holman Sharpe's +unexpected conduct. You may say they were not ideal scouts. You +may, if you choose, say that Holman was a true scout. Those are +matters of opinion. In any event, Roy and his comrades cherished no +malice. "Only there ought to be a badge for that," said Roy; "the +slugger's badge. Otherwise, Sharpy will think he wasted his time. +Forget it. He saw his duty and he did it nobly. I hope young +Snoopy, the boy councilor, forgets it." + +But Councilor Wainwright was very far from forgetting it. En route +to Administration Shack he said what he had to say and it was a model +of cordial brevity. "Well, my boy, you'd better pack up and get +started; you know what I told you. And we won't have any +explanations, eh? It seems you and I don't understand each other--no +hard feelings. Maybe we'll hear of you as a heavyweight champion +some day. Let's see, you were paid up for the month, I think?" + +"That'll be O.K," said Danny. + +"What was it, another one on the eye?" the councilor asked cheerily, +as he hurried along. You would have thought him a fight fan. + +"N--not so good," said Danny, "I've done better." + +"Well, now you see Temple Camp can make good its threats too." + +"Fifty-fifty," said Danny. "Don't aim unless you'll shoot." + +"That's the idea," said the Councilor, in great good humor. Danny +rather liked this man who was as good as his word; he had a +sportsman's respect for him. For Danny was always as good as his +word. Scout or not, he was that. + +In the office the business was very brief. Up to the point of +judgment Temple Camp was easy-going. But after that the procedure +was summary. The board of the absent Danville Bently had, as we +know, been paid by check for the month of July. The letter from +Florida which Danny had found and destroyed, shifted this payment to +cover the month of August. It was now the middle of July and Danny +had used up two weeks' value of Mr. Roswell Bently's money. The +unused balance of thirty dollars together with forty dollars to make +up the amount of his transportation home, was given to him, and this +extra forty was billed to his supposed parent. + +Thus, after two weeks of masquerading, this escaped inmate of a +reform school stood expelled from Temple Camp wearing a scout suit +and with seventy dollars in his pocket. + +With the same nonchalant air that had made him a leader at Blythedale +School he ambled out of the office and back toward Pioneer Row. +Seeing Roy and his two companions near the wig-wag tower he strolled +over to them. His pace was random, his general demeanor idle. He +had that about him which seemed to say that nothing was of very much +importance; a kind of sneering sophistication. By the record he was +certainly not a good boy. When he did a good thing it was with a +certain appearance of mockery at goodness. He had not much use for +the fuss and feathers of scouting. + +"Hey, you guys," said he, pausing in a kind of half-interested way. +"Can you all keep your mouths shut? That little racket is all over; +see? Keep away from the office and those bosses. No matter +what--keep your mouths shut." + +"Was Wainey talking to you about it?" Warde asked. + +"Now what did I say about keeping your mouth shut?" + +"Is he going to jump on Sharpy?" Ralph asked. "Gee whiz, I don't +want him to." + +"For what?" Danny asked. "Sharpy didn't slam you, you only dreamed +it. Forget it. None of us know anything about it. Nobody's going +to talk to you and you don't have to talk to anybody. It's all +settled. If you want to pull the scout stuff now's your chance. +Nobody's going to talk to you about it, so just keep your mouths +shut. Go on down to the lake and kid somebody along and forget it." + +It was odd how silent and respectful they were, these boys who were +never able to keep still. They did not even pester him with +questions. Somehow they felt that this boy, who had not a single +scout achievement to his credit, was their superior. "Sure we +won't," Warde said. + +"Don't make a lot out of nothing," said Danny, as he walked away. + +He ambled down to Pioneer Row and into the big dormitory. He had +been told to get his things, but of course, he had no things to get. +He strolled down the aisle between the cots till he came to the one +on which Holman Sharpe was propped up, reading. In the interval +since the altercation the bell had rung and the rest period being +over the place was rapidly deserted. Only Holman remained in the big +bare place, engrossed with his clerical labors. Danny rather +disrespectfully threw a book or two out of the way and kicked another +to the floor, clearing a place so that he could sit on the foot of +the cot and talk. + +"That the English one?" he asked, poking Sir Baden-Powell's book idly +with his foot. "Never mind, let it alone; won't hurt it to be on the +floor. How you feeling, Harpo-Sharpo?" + +"I'm just finishing; I'm going to take my twenty yard swim this +afternoon." + +"Can't swim the lake yet, huh?" + +"No, but I will." + +"Sure you will. Listen here, professor. They've got some kind of +darn crazy rule in this summer resort about scrapping. Not that +you're a scrapper, because you don't know how to hit. They're +putting up a notice about it, I understand. If they find out you +passed one to that feller--what's his name--they'll can you. It's +not a part of the game. You can stick out your tongue at a scout, +but you can't paste him. That's the only thing I know about +scouting, but I know that. You can take that one lesson from me. So +as long as I'm not a boy scout anyway--I mean a regular feller like +you--I'm going to be the one that hit foxy silver polish or whatever +his name is. You get the idea? I'm only here for two weeks more +anyway, and you've got work enough on hand to keep you here till New +Year's. On the dead level I don't see how you're ever going to get +away with it unless you cash in on that astronomy stuff and eat your +meals by deduction. So I'm starting----" + +"You mean you're going to take the blame?" + +"Sure, I haven't got anything else to take away with me. I suppose +I'm entitled to a little disgrace if I want it. Now--now, just a +minute! You have to do your good turn, don't you? All right, now +don't go shouting about your upper cut--it was a punk hit anyway--and +you're all hunk here till they close the show or your health breaks +down from over study. You see I'm not losing anything, because I'm +not booked up for rewards. Now I've got those silver gold dust +triplets or whatever you call 'em, fixed. All you have to do is just +remember that you had a dream about slugging a boy scout. So long, +Sharpy, old scout, and good luck to you." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +TO PASTURES NEW + +One might suppose that such a boy as Danny would have at least the +quality of understanding himself; he was nonchalant and self-assured; +so easily the master of a situation. But strangely enough, now that +he had plenty of money and could go upon his way with comparative +safety, he felt neither safe nor comfortable. He had suffered no +scruples at masquerading at the expense of an unknown scout, but now +that the unused balance of this board money was handed him, he felt +like a thief. Such is the strange quality of money! There are those +who will accept favors of every sort, except money. As long as he +had been a guest (?) at camp he had not thought of himself as doing +anything dishonest. Risky no doubt, but not stealing. But now his +act was reduced to its common denominator. He held the money, not +simply what the money represented. And he felt exactly as if he had +stolen it. It needed only these crisp bills to remind him of the +outrageous fraud he had been perpetrating.--Money to return to +Florida. + +This climax of affairs troubled him, for it showed him that he was +not so sure of himself. In a way, Temple Camp had found him out, or +at least revealed him to himself. He had avoided scouting so as to +keep under cover. Then he had deliberately sauntered to his own +destruction by accepting the dismissal which should have been Holman +Sharpe's. That is, he had done a good turn, which of course, is +scouting. In the course of this renunciation he had found himself in +possession of seventy dollars. And he could not keep it. He was +thoroughly annoyed with himself at this. He was found out--he had +found himself out. He had tracked himself and found himself. He +alone had done the whole business! + +"They must think I'm joy riding in a baby carriage, needing money," +he said to himself. He was not willing to put his act of returning +the money on the somewhat weak and "kiddish" grounds of honesty. +Such a resourceful, skillful boy as he, could travel without money. +And so forth and so on. Anyway, he sauntered with his finest +nonchalant air into Administration Shack, giving a little sneery look +at the stuffed birds and snake skins displayed there. He could +never, never go in for scouting. Oh no! He pulled out one of the +chairs around the big writing table, sat down, pulled a Temple Camp +envelope to him, put the money into it and addressed it, "To the +Managers of Temple Camp." + +He scaled it over to the young clerk at the desk as he went out. +"Here's a love letter for Wainey and the bunch," he said. "Tell 'em +I didn't need it." + +"Sorry you're going, Scout Bently," said the young scout clerk. + +"That's all right, so long, old man." + +"You'll find it pretty hot in Florida this time of year, won't you?" + +"I'm not there yet." + +"You going down on the bus?" + +"No, I'm going to hike down and get the six thirty-two." + +"Well, hope to see you again." + +One thing he wanted to do and that was to find Skinny. Poor Skinny, +he would be relieved by the departure of this unconcerned young +masquerader. In that two weeks he had obeyed Danny's order and not +sought him out. He had smiled shyly on the two or three occasions +when they had passed each other by and once at night, when all the +scouts were at campfire, he had ventured down to the deserted Pioneer +Row to have just a few words with his dubious hero if Danny were +there. But he could not find him. "He's scared, because he thinks +maybe I look like him," Skinny said to himself. As if he, Skinny, +could look like that resourceful and daring adventurer! He had +thought much about Danny, and worried about him, in those two weeks. +Once he had seen a strange man coming along the path west of the +storehouse holding a boy by the collar and he had been seized with +panic fear that it was Danny in the clutch of the Blythedale +authorities, until he saw that it was just a visiting parent +indulging in pleasantries with his son. + +But Skinny was not to be found on that afternoon of Danny's sudden +departure, and Danny took the trail around the lake without seeing +him. He went that way because he wished to avoid villages and the +open roads. The route was longer and much more difficult than that +via the highroad, but he could get to Catskill without passing +through Leeds. His intention was to hook a ride on a train to New +York and then, having no money, to use his wits. But, of course, +Danny never knew from one minute to another what he would do. + +So Holman Sharpe was able to proceed uninterrupted with his strenuous +cramming in the interest of scouting. We should not be too severe +with Holman. Realizing what Danny was doing for his sake, he tried +to find him and insist that they tell Councilor Wainwright the truth. +But Danny had already gone. That was the great thing about Danny, he +was always as good as his word and acted promptly. Whether it was +hitting a boy in the eye or making a sacrifice, it was all the same. +He hated talk and posing. + +Thus baffled in his effort to make amends, Holman contented himself +with the comfortable view that after all his "studies" were more +important than the unprofitable loitering of a boy like Danny. +Making good use of one's time was surely the paramount virtue, +greater than generosity and sacrifice. We shall meet Holman again +some day and it will be interesting to note how his studious +concentration worked out. He cared more for scouting than he did for +scouts. + +Nor should we be too lenient with Danny. He had a kind of +sophisticated contempt for the prescribed routine of scouting and it +was not exactly in the spirit of self-sacrifice that he saved Holman +from summary dismissal. It amused him and annoyed him to see this +smug candidate for scout honors delving in books and planning to do +things which he, Danny, could do so easily. As long as Holman liked +that sort of baby play, Danny was quite ready to assure him his +continuance of it. But it was with a tolerant sneer that he did it. +And generous acts are not done with a sneer. + +Moreover, Danny knew that in a couple of weeks the real Danville +Bently would arrive and a crisis occur. He had done his stunt of +masquerading, and had been able thus to lie low in the perilous days +following his escape from the reform school. He went away owing +Temple Camp (or the real Bently) the amount of two weeks board, but +he had balked at taking the cash that had been proffered him, and had +gone penniless. + +It may be added that he succeeded in finding the trail through the +mountain pass across the lake, which Holman Sharpe had tried four +times to follow in doing test four for the first class scout badge. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE NEW ARRIVAL + +Perhaps poor little Skinny's big eyes stared a little more than usual +on his hearing of Danny's departure. But he did not fear for Danny. +He knew that Danny was equal to anything, that he led a charmed life. +He did not know why Danny had left (nobody seemed to know that) but +he was not greatly surprised. Back home, Danny had always been the +true free lance, coming and going at will. He had followed a circus +as far as Ohio and come safely home. To Skinny he was superhuman. +Down in that stout little heart, Danny, with all his dubious +qualities, was the real hero. He could do anything he wanted to do. +All that troubled Skinny was that he wanted to do such dreadful +things. + +Early on the afternoon of August Second he trembled as a little group +of new arrivals came down the woods path from the road where the bus +had set them down. He stood, a poor, shabby little figure, on the +porch of Administration Shack watching those khaki clad boys with +suit-cases and duffel bags, as they were piloted into the office. He +was just the queer little mascot of camp, a law unto himself, and no +longer bothered because he did not wear the scout regalia. They took +him around with them, rowing and hiking, because of a superstition +that he brought good luck. Sometimes they took him out in the canoe +that he had won in an insane frenzy, and he was always shyly pleased +to go. Ask any scout in camp about that phenomenal exploit and he +would tell you that Skinny did it in a fit and could never do it +again. But he was always on hand on Administration porch to gaze at +new arrivals. He was the court fool, the camp pet, always in +evidence, staring in amazement at the great world. + +Among these new arrivals on that day was a tall, merry faced boy, +whose natty scout suit set off his trim, slender form. He was +distinguishable from the others (a patrol and a two patrol troop) by +a spotless white scout scarf which, instead of being tied in a knot +was drawn through a wide silver ring. His belt was white, too, a +noticeable variation in the scout raiment. He climbed to the porch +rather hesitatingly behind the others, but he was not embarrassed at +the patrol of authority, for he gave Skinny a funny wink which +aroused the little fellow to eager laughter. When Skinny laughed the +skin of his thin face tightened about his mouth, giving the +appearance of an older person's smile, but his big eager eyes +redeemed this rather pitiful effect. + +"What's the white scarf for?" he ventured to ask upon the strength of +that pleasant wink. + +"Polar Bears of Florida," said the boy. + +"They don't have polar bears in Florida," Skinny ventured. + +"No, that's the funny part of it," the boy laughed. + +Skinny did not realize till this boy had gone inside that he was the +real Danville Bently of Wave Crest City, Florida. He did not venture +into the office for there was a rug on the floor and somehow he was +always timid where there were rugs. But he stood at the window +looking in. He wondered if something involving himself would now +happen. His nerves were all on edge. There would be an explosion, +he thought. The tall boy stood aside waiting till the others were +enrolled. Skinny felt that this was for a purpose. The boy looked +very conspicuous in there with his white scarf and belt in striking +contrast to his khaki attire. Skinny now noticed that the hat he +held had a white cord on it also. He seemed to be waiting just from +politeness, but Skinny's little hands trembled in panic excitement. + +The others emerged, singly and in groups, and now the tall boy was at +the counter. There was evidently some trouble and the clerk began +running through a card catalogue. Councilor Tenny was called and +together the three talked at the counter. Then Tom Slade, the young +camp assistant, appeared among them. Pretty soon he began laughing +and Skinny was relieved. The new boy laughed too. But Councilor +Tenny did not laugh. He shook his head as if puzzled. Then they got +a letter and read it. Pretty soon the new boy came out laughing. + +"Well you don't have to worry," Tom called after him. "But it's +blamed funny we never got that letter." + +"I know my name if I don't know anything else," laughed the boy. "I +wish I was as sure of my first class badges as I am of my--what d'you +call it--identity?" + +"Beats me," said Tom, pausing on the steps. "All right, Bently, +don't worry; we like mysteries here." + +"I'll write to my dad and he'll straighten it out," the boy said. + +"This is a great place, Bent, we have dark and bloody mysteries," +said Tom. "Long as you know who you are, you're all right. Get +busy--eats at six." That was just his off-hand, hearty way with new +arrivals. + +So the worst was over and Skinny had not been torn to pieces or +struck dead. Temple Camp survived the dreadful fraud. Tom Slade had +even laughed; he loved so to have a joke on the office. + +"Will you let me show you where you're going to go?" Skinny asked. +"Are you going to the dormitory? I'll show you. 'Cause my patrol +went on a hike, so I'll show you." + +"I'm going to Tent Village, wherever that is?" + +"I'll show you--it's dandy there. Is your name--what's your name?" +he asked, hurrying along by the new boy's side. + +"Danville Bently." + +"Have you got a patrol?" + +"Sure, but I don't carry it around with me; I just came from Europe. +A chap was here for a couple of weeks and gave my name, that's what +all the fuss was about. Nobody seems to know anything about him." + +"Will--they won't catch him, will they?" + +"If he was slick enough to do that, I guess they won't if you're +asking me." + +"He was smart, hey? Even if he wasn't maybe kind of a hero, he was +smart, hey?" + +"There have been lots of worse ones; look at Robin Hood." + +"Even he was bad, but he was a hero, hey?" + +"I'd kind of like to know who he was. I hope I'll turn out to be as +smart as he is." + +"You're not mad at him?" Skinny asked. + +"I never get mad at anybody. My dad's the one that loses, and he'll +have a good laugh over it." + +"Why do you wear white? It looks awful different?" + +"Why do kids ask questions?" + +"You're a second class scout?" Skinny asked, noticing the badge. + +"I'll be a first class one in a few days or I'll kick myself. Have +you got seven miles around here that you're not using, so I can hike +it?" + +"That's in test four," Skinny said. "Do you want me to go for a +witness?" + +"Sure, you're always welcome." + +"I know a good test four hike and I can always go, because mostly my +patrol are away doing all kinds of things. I can always go--if you +want me to. I won the Hiawatha canoe for swimming across the lake; +I'll show it to you, but most of the time it's out." + +"Ever hear of Dutch Henny's Cave?" + +"Sure I did. I bet you read about it in the Temple Camp booklet, +hey? It's just seven miles. I'll show you Spook Falls too, because +they make a noise like crying at night. That's a good test five hike +for second class, because it's just a mile; they go scout pace." + +"How 'bout twelve on the first?" + +"You mean getting a new scout? That's hard, because they're all +scouts up here. If you ask me things, I can tell you." + +"Good." + +"Now we're coming to Tent Village," said Skinny. "It's good it's all +full in Pioneer Dormitory, so they don't put you there. Can I be +special friends with you? Are you going to get prizes and awards?" + +"Search _me_; I'm going to get a lot of fun," said Danville Bently. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +SKINNY'S PROTÉGÉ + +The next day a notice somewhat more lengthy and conspicuous than the +usual hastily written announcements appeared on the big bulletin +board at Administration Shack. It was typewritten and signed by the +two resident trustees. Skinny gazed at it, appalled. + + +The management of Temple Camp is mortified to make known that the +honorable uniform of scouting has been lately used to perpetrate a +gross and criminal fraud in this community. On July First a boy +representing himself to be a scout, enrolled and secured assignment +to quarters at this office. He registered the name of Danville +Bently of Florida, a scout who was expected at that time. This +unknown boy was lately dismissed from camp for sufficient reasons at +the end of two weeks enjoyment of the camp's hospitality. A letter, +deferring the arrival of the true Danville Bently, failed to be +received at this office and was probably intercepted. + +The management of this camp has regretfully had occasion to warn its +guests against canvassers representing themselves to be connected +with the movement, but never heretofore against any one wrongfully +impersonating a scout. + +Loyalty to this camp and jealousy for the honor of the scout uniform, +will prompt any one who has any knowledge or suspicions of the +whereabouts and identity of this miscreant, promptly to bring same to +the attention of the management. + + +This certainly set the matter forth in its true colors and Skinny was +aghast. What would they say if they knew that this "miscreant" was +also a fugitive from a reform school? But the affair was over and he +would not worry any more about it. The bulletin was just a random +shot in the dark and nothing happened. Danny was safe. No one knew +Danny as he did or they would not put out such notices. + +He became devoted to Danville Bently. The only way that Skinny could +make friends with a boy was to catch him early, before he was drawn +into the activities of the camp life. Every newcomer had a rather +slow day or two before becoming acquainted, and this was particularly +so with boys who came without their troops. After a new boy became +involved in the camp life, he saw Skinny simply as the little mascot +and was content to "jolly" him as every one else did. He was not +likely to take this queer little fellow seriously and to make a pal +of him. Skinny knew this from bitter experience and he capitalized +his knowledge of camp and the neighboring countryside with every new +arrival. New boys were glad enough to hobnob with this eager little +guide while there was nothing else to do and had no scruples about +deserting him as soon as they were drawn into the camp life. Skinny +knew that he must strike while the iron was hot, as the saying is, +and he was always to be found, a gaunt little figure, waiting on +Administration steps when the bus came in. No boy could possibly +dislike Skinny. But on the other hand no boy could possibly make a +permanent comrade of him. + +But Danville Bently did just that. The contrast between Skinny and +himself was ridiculous, but he seemed not to notice it. A boy who +deliberately chose Skinny's company was apt to get himself laughed +at. But no one dreamed of laughing. Perhaps no one dared to laugh +at this tall boy with the white scarf and belt who ambled about with +the cadaverous little gnome who took such conspicuous delight in his +company. Once again Skinny had done the unexpected and won a real +prize. Truly indeed he never did anything on a small scale. + +At first the camp paid no attention while this shabby little janitor +showed the new tenant around the enchanted place. That was Skinny's +customary job. But when Howell Cross, of the First Vermont Eagles +(and an Eagle Scout) asked Danville to go on a point hike and he +pleasantly declined, the big heroes of Temple Camp began to sit up +and take notice. + +"Sorry," said he, "but I'm going out on the lake with Alfred McCord. +Tell your patrol I appreciate their asking me." Howell and the +others who stood by were astonished not only because it was a +compliment to the new boy for the Eagle Patrol so to honor him, but +because none of them had ever before heard Skinny called by his real +name Alfred. They were to hear that name a good deal in the future. + +"Can't you go out on the lake with him any day?" one of these scouts +asked. + +"Sure, so why not to-day?" said Danville. + +"It's up to you." + +"How do you like it in Tent Village?" + +"All right." + +"If you don't like it with the singles you can be a season member of +my patrol," said Eagle Scout Cross. "I'm one short, he's away with +his folks. They let you do that up here, you know." + +"Oh, he knows," laughed another scout. "I guess little sqeedunk told +him everything." + +"He never told me he stole the white pennant," said Danville not +unpleasantly, but with just a touch of sharpness. + +It was the first time these well known scouts of camp had come face +to face with the tall boy with the soft southern accent, and they +observed him closely. They were all scouts of achievement; the +Vermont Eagles were a crack patrol and Howell Cross, their leader, +was a hero with a following. There were, alas, drones at camp, but +this circle was finely representative of scouting. They saw nothing +about Bently to suggest the laggard or slacker, or mere "guest" at +camp. He had what even Howell Cross had not, and that was a certain +picturesqueness; but it was of a sort that revealed no crink or +cranny where boyish ridicule could penetrate. An odd hat, or even +too much attention to ostentatious details of scout attire (shades of +Pee-wee Harris) was pretty sure to arouse mirth and banter in this +big community. But the full white scarf with belt and hat cord to +match, worn by this tall, self-possessed boy, excited no humorous +comment. They asked him respectfully about it. + +"Polar Bears," said he. "And I know there aren't any in Florida and +that's the funny part. I bet I've said that fifty times since I came +here." + +"We can sure tell you a long way off," said Howell pleasantly. "Does +the silver ring mean anything?" + +"It only means my sister gave it to me when I joined the scouts." + +"Gee, it's nifty all right. It's not a patrol ring?" + +"Yes it is, we all got them." + +"You don't have to tie it in a knot, gee that's good." + +Ordinarily the mention of a sister would have given Temple Camp just +the chance it loved. They would have used the sister to belittle +their victim. They would have said, "Oh joy, he's got a little +sister." But they just were not moved to do that. They looked at +his white scarf gathered into the shining silver ring, and at his +belt, and everything about him. They were interested, respectful. +And a trifle puzzled. That he should have an engagement with Skinny +McCord! And that he seemed to have every intention of keeping it, +just as if it were a real engagement. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +TEMPLE CAMP TAKES NOTICE + +They even lingered in group form, watching him as he ambled off down +toward the lake. He had been at camp nearly a week, and he was still +quietly devoted to Skinny. He had not exploited Skinny nor made any +ostentatious show of being his champion. Yet he was devoted to him +in an easy-going unpretentious sort of way. He had never said, nor +even thought, "I might as well be nice to the poor kid." Evidently +he did not know that Skinny was just a poor little codger--a mascot. +Somebody would have to tell him about that. The funny part of it was +that he did not get himself laughed at. + +Skinny's winning of the Hiawatha canoe had not brought him any +lasting glory. The white pennant had been lifted many times since he +had scampered off with it, eager and trembling. But now scouts began +to wonder how he had secured this permanent award of the tall, +polite, easy-going boy with the white scarf. They did not exactly +begin to take Skinny seriously, but they were puzzled. They tried to +find a weak point in Bently, some idle or effeminate quality, but +there was just nothing to get hold of. + +Skinny was waiting at the lake, eager and anxious. He lived in +perpetual dread that Bently would "fall down" on him. But Bently +never did. He came ambling down with that pleasant smile which +always reassured Skinny. + +"Did they ask you to go on bee-line with them?" + +"Point to point, you mean?" + +"Yes, they call it bee-line for short. I never went on one, but I +know all about how they do; you have to go across brooks and climb +over things and everything; you'd have a lot of fun. That feller +that was kidding me at camp-fire last night--you know that fat +feller?--he went through a house, even. Are you sure you're going to +go out with me?" + +"I ought to be the one to know," said Danville. + +"Did they try to get you to not do it?" + +"No, why? How are we going; in your canoe?" + +"Yes, but it's out, my patrol is using it. Maybe we better take a +boat, hey? That's it, over in the middle of the lake." + +"Seems to be coming in, let's wait for it." + +They sat down on the springboard to wait. The lake was dotted with +boats; every one seemed to be out fishing. + +"I couldn't swim across again, because I was crazy that time," said +Skinny. + +"You can do things when you're crazy," Danville said. + +"_I_ can," said Skinny, "but not any other time. I got to get all +crazy like. Do you? It don't count so much if you're crazy like. +That's why everybody forgot about it. They said I was lucky." + +"They said that about Lindbergh." + +"If I get good and mad, then I can do things. Only most of the time +I can't get mad. They're nice to me up here, that's sure." + +"Yes, that's good." + +"Are we going to stay friends like! I don't mean just jollying me, +but are we going to stay friends like this?" + +"Why not?" + +"Because I'm a mascot. Do you mind if I don't have a regular scout +suit?" + +"I never noticed." + +"Here they come now, they're coming in. That feller paddling in +front is Hunt Ward. That other one paddling is Connie Bennett, he's +my patrol leader. That other one belongs in a troop from Rhode +Island; he goes around with them a lot; he likes my patrol." + +The Hiawatha canoe, with its merry trio, glided toward the float, +Connie brought it around, and it paused rocking alongside. "H'lo +Skinny," Hunt called. + +"Can I go out in it now?" Skinny asked. "This feller's going with +me, can I use it?" + +They glanced at Danville who stood by, watching them. "You ought to +have been down here an hour ago," Hunt said to him, "and you could +have gone along. We've got some perch." + +"Now is just as good," said Danville. + +"She's all full of water, wait till we get her on the float and tip +her," Connie said. + +The three voyagers proceeded with the rather clumsy task of hauling +the canoe up on the float and turning it over. + +"You don't need to haul her up," Danville said. "Here, let me show +you." + +He kneeled on the float, and reached over, pulling the opposite +gunwale up and toward him. By a quick application of dexterity and +strength the canoe was tipped up sideways against the edge of the +float, and the water poured out of it. Then Danville eased it down +into the lake again. By this trick he did a two man job while the +others stood watching and feeling a little superfluous. Yet it was +more than a trick, for when Connie tried to do the same thing he +could not with all his strength raise the canoe to the necessary +angle. "That's some wrinkle," he said. He preferred to view it as a +trick rather than as an exhibition of extraordinary strength. "I +guess you've got to know how," he said. + +"Oh, yes," laughed Danville. + +They had intended to jolly Skinny and discourage his project of using +the canoe. The Elks thought a good deal of this canoe. They liked +to see it safely in its locker when they were not using it. They had +intended to say as usual, "Oh, you don't want to use it." But here +was an embarrassing complication. The tall, smiling boy with the +white scarf had modestly shown them a trick and a strength of arm not +to be ridiculed. This was no time or place for authority or banter. +He was quite master of the situation. It would be quite absurd to +remind Skinny of dangers. + +"I suppose it's all right for us to go out in his canoe, isn't it?" +Danville asked. There was no hint of sarcasm in his remark and his +handsome open face was wreathed in a friendly smile. But just the +same these Elks felt a rebuke. A strange, uncomfortable feeling was +upon them that this boy was their master, mentally and physically. +If they had been sure that he meant that pronoun Ids in a sneering +sense, they could have got back at him. But they did not know what +he meant, any more than they knew how he had tipped the canoe. They +were wise scouts and they made no mistake. Somehow or other no boys +ever made a mistake with Danville Bently. They sensed something. +They were embarrassed--and respectful. + +"Sure, it's his. Why can't he use it if he wants to?" Connie said. +He seemed inclined to be reasonable. + +"That'll be dandy," said Danville. + +Just as Howell Cross's group had watched him rather puzzled, so now +these three returning voyagers lingered there on the float watching +him as he paddled away with Skinny wedged up in the bow like an +uncanny little doll. He paddled, as he did everything else, without +the slightest fuss or effort. He had that about him which suggested +that he could make up his mind without the slightest fuss or effort, +that he would jump off a roof without the slightest fuss or effort. + +"I can't make _that_ guy out," said the scout from Rhode Island. +"Gee, that white scarf looks plain out on the water huh?" + +"Notice how he holds his left hand!" said Connie. "I think he +compensates with his right wrist, honest." + +"No, it's the long back sweep," said Hunt. "Geeeee! Look at the +reach he's got!" + +"He kind of reminded us it was Skinny's canoe," said Connie. "Did +you notice how nice he did that?" + +"Sure, and he paddles the same way," laughed Hunt. "He _does_ things +the same way he _says_ things. You never know what he means. Looks +easy till you try to do it." + +"Any other scout came up here with a bib around his neck they'd kid +the life out of him," said Connie. + +"Nothing about him looks like a bib to me," said the scout from Rhode +Island. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +PARTNERS + +"Just flop around, hey?" + +"Yes, that's the way I like to do," said Skinny. "If I was in the +bow of a rowboat I couldn't look at you, because you'd be facing +backwards. I like to look at you with your white scarf. I like +canoes better than rowboats, don't you?" + +"They're not so good for dancing or scrapping." + +"That's the way you talk, and it's why fellows can't make you out," +said the simple Skinny. + +"Well, as long as you can make me out it's all right," said Danville. +"How 'bout it, are you going to help me?" + +"Will you let me! You mean getting your first class badge? Are you +going to do it?" + +"Might as well, hadn't I?" + +"And that's all you've got to do? I mean just test four?" + +"N--no, I've got two things to do," said Danville as he paddled idly, +occasionally letting the paddle drip. "This scouting is a blamed +nuisance." + +"Now I can tell you're fooling. Kind of sometimes you remind me of +my brother, only he's only a half a brother. Anyway, you're not so +fresh like he is. He gets in a lot of trouble being reckless." + +"That's the way to do it," said Danville. "Where's the other half of +him?" + +"I mean we got different mothers," said Skinny. "Once a feller got +fresh with me and he knocked him kerplunk. Another feller----" + +He was about to stumble into a reference to Danny's pugilistic +exploit at camp, but caught himself just in time. He could not trust +himself talking about Danny, and it made him feel false and +dishonorable, so he changed the subject. + +"Only just one test you've got to take to be in the first class? +Two, you said two." + +"Yep, the other's missionary stuff, training a boy to be a +tenderfoot--twelve. I'm not so stuck on twelve except when it's +twelve gumdrops for a cent. You don't happen to know any boys that +want to be trained as tenderfoots or feets, whatever it is? I +suppose we might kidnap one from a farm. But first how about Test +Four? Tell me about that seven mile hike, or if it turns out to be +any more than seven miles the boy scouts will have to give me a +rebate. I've been climbing up the Alps this summer and I'm tired." + +"Those are in Europe, hey?" + +"And they're up in the air--in Switzerland. Where is this lion's den +or whatever you call it? Maybe I could go in a taxi. I've got to do +it before my dad comes up or I won't be able to stick him for a pony +next winter." + +"I can never make out whether you're honest and true for scouting or +not," poor Skinny said. + +"Oh, I'm honest and true," said Danville. "Tell me and let's plan it +out and get it over with." + +"You got to be serious about it," Skinny warned. + +"All right, I'll start crying if you say so. As I understand it I've +got to hike seven miles and seven miles back and write up an account +of it--all the time being serious. Now is this cave just exactly +seven miles? I don't want to make that hike and then find I didn't +go far enough. And if I should find I hiked farther than necessary +I'd be good and mad at you. I'm not going to give them any more than +they ask for; I'm a stingy chap." + +"Is it a real pony--a live one!" Skinny asked. + +"If it isn't I'll have my dad arrested for swindling." + +"Would you have anybody arrested?" + +"I might if I happened to think of it. Let's talk about something +pleasant. If I do that fourteen mile hike and close up on the first +class tests, will you find me a boy to train as a tenderfoot! +That'll be the only thing left to do. Maybe you could leave the +scouts and then I'd start in training you--no?" + +"They wouldn't let us do that. Just the same we'll find some feller +that's not a scout." + +"All right then, I guess I might as well take a hop, skip and jump +into the first class. Will you go with me to-morrow morning and hold +my hand?" + +"Sure I will; then I can tell them I was the one that went with you, +hey? I can be the one to prove it." + +"Sure thing; you tell 'em." + +"Are you all excited about it?" Skinny asked. + +"Oh I think I'll sleep to-night." + +"And to-morrow you can write to your father that you're a full first +class scout, hey?" + +"Don't forget about the boy I have to catch and train for a +tenderfoot." + +"Yes, but that isn't exactly a test, kind of." + +"Now if you weren't such a little peach of a scout I might use you." + +"And I could go in your patrol, maybe; hey? Because my patrol +wouldn't be mad if I did." + +"Oh, is that so? Well, we'll have to be careful not to make them +mad. I suppose they'd beat us up if they got mad; and they wouldn't +let us use your canoe." + +Skinny seemed to be thinking. "If you're breaking in a new feller +then maybe you won't bother with me any more; hey?" + +"Then again maybe I will." + +"I bet when you get your first class badge, then you'll start getting +a lot of merit badges; I bet you'll win a whole lot of them." + +"Six or eight at a time, huh?" + +"And when you've got your first class badge you can try for camp +specials too. Those are things that are not in the Handbook, like +the Mohawk Archery set for tracking; you get a target easel and a lot +of targets and a real Indian bow and arrows and everything. You've +got to track somebody, or an animal, five miles through the +woods--then you get it." + +"I kind of like that." + +"First you've got to find tracks--I'll help you. There's a feller up +here named Roy Blakeley; don't you let _him_ help you. He told one +scout where there were some tracks and they were nothing but railroad +tracks. So do you want to try for that prize after you get your full +badge?" + +"That's the one for me. Tell me about this canoe; how did you win +it?" + +"I was all kinder crazy like--kinder like my fingers were asleep. So +I even couldn't hold myself back. Do you say a feller can be kinder +good even if he's reckless. You don't have to be so terrible if +you're bad, do you?" + +"Guess not." + +"If you like me a lot----" + +"That's it." + +"If you like me a lot and I do something--kinder--maybe--if I'm kind +of not so good all of a sudden--then would you like me just the same?" + +Danville Bently gazed amusedly at the poor little fellow wedged into +the point of the canoe. There was something pathetic about Skinny's +very posture as he sat there, serious, eager, insignificant. He +looked out of place and uncomfortable in this beautiful canoe, as if +he did not yet comprehend how he had even won it. + +His own spectacular excursion into the field of heroic enterprise was +like a fairy tale to him now. But he was strong on hero worship. +Danville lifted the paddle and poked him with it; Skinny was used to +that sort of thing. + +"No, I only like Sunday School boys," said Danville. "They've got to +be perfect to suit me." + +Skinny looked at him as if he did not know whether to believe this or +not. + +"So if you've been committing any murders or robbing any banks, it's +all over between us. Shall we flop around toward camp again now, and +wash up for eats?" + +"To-morrow morning you'll go on Test Four!" + +"To-morrow morning. Then for the archery set and the new recruit." + +"Can I be partners with you while you're doing all that?" + +"Sure--or falling down on it." + +"Sometimes fellers forget when they have dates with me." + +"Well I've got a good memory." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +HENNY'S CAVE + +Skinny did not quite comprehend this rather whimsical boy. But here +was a prize he had every intention of keeping. He no longer worried +about Danny. That dreadful affair which had cost him sleepless +nights was at last over. Danny had triumphed (if you call it +triumph) and gone upon his dubious way. All that remained of that +fearful nightmare was Skinny's love and admiration of the checkered +hero. + +Danny was far away and safe. His genius for beating any game would +carry him through every difficulty. There was one place where he +would always be safe and that was in the stout little heart that beat +beneath the the shabby and faded shirt of his little half brother. +There Danny dwelt, but nobody knew it. Only Skinny wished that they +would take that dreadful notice from the bulletin-board. + +But now he had a new worry. He feared that he would lose this scout +of the white scarf, just as he had lost his prize canoe. Because he +knew that prize canoes and tall scouts with white scarfs were not for +him. He made no complaint that his canoe had been absorbed into his +patrol, even if he himself had not been absorbed into it. He had +never quite comprehended the glittering romance of his induction into +scouting and that fine patrol. + +But he did want to "keep in" with Danville Bently. And he lived in +mortal fear of losing him, even as he had lived in mortal fear of +Danny's being found out during that awful fortnight of his presence +in camp. He saw that Danville was admired, that the whole camp was +puzzled at his choice and he feared that any moment this splendid, +picturesque boy would be lured into the maelstrom and be lost to him. +Particularly he was afraid of the Vermont Eagle, Howell Cross. What +had he, Skinny, to offer as against the delights of comradeship with +that crack patrol! He slept hardly an hour that whole night, fearing +that something might happen to ruin his sponsorship of Danville's one +remaining test for first class rank. His high strung nature was all +worked up with fear and expectancy. Again his "hands felt as if they +were asleep kinder, all tingly," the same as when he had plunged into +the lake, and when he had lifted the white pennant. Because, you +see, the whole thing was too good to be true. That night they +"kidded" him at camp-fire, but he did not mind. He went up to Elks' +cabin and lay restlessly all night, waiting for the morning. + +He did not dare to approach Danville at breakfast where he sat with a +group from Tent Village. But after breakfast he went down to the +lake and there was Danville waiting. Again his hero of the white +scarf had not failed him. + +"I thought maybe I only dreamed it," said Skinny. + +"I guess it will turn out to be a pretty strenuous dream," Danville +answered. "Well, are we all set?" + +"Sure, and I got Chocolate Drop to make me some sandwiches; see? +He's a good friend of mine." + +"One cook is better than a dozen scouts; huh?" + +"Sure, but are you going to join Howell Cross's patrol for the +season?" + +"Don't you know I've got a patrol of my own?" + +"That's what I can never remember, because kinder you seem all by +yourself, as if there weren't any fellers like you. Do they all wear +white scarfs and belts like you?" + +"Yep. Come on now, for the big parade." + +"I'll show you," said Skinny eagerly. + +Henny's Cave was an ideal destination for scouts making the fourteen +mile hike specified in Test Four. It was exactly seven miles distant +through the woods and supplied en route much material for the +required written description. An observant scout would not miss the +crooked willow tree with the two trunks a few yards east of the path. +If his hearing was keen he would find Spook Falls down in the hollow, +and note this crystal cascade as one of the things observed. But few +were the scouts who saw in the chewed and broken branches at one spot +a clue to the location of a beaver dam a quarter of a mile or so off +the trail. + +The cave itself was an interesting natural phenomenon with a rocky +entrance as well concealed as that of any pirate's lair. Inside it +was as large as a small room, dank and dark. But if you directed a +search-light here and there against its wet, rocky walls you would +see scores of names and initials scratched upon the surface to prove +that the weary artists had achieved their seven mile hike and might +claim credit for Test Four. The verification was usually enough for +the presiding powers. + +It was nearly noontime when Danville and Skinny approached this +romantic destination after their long hike over mountains and through +dense woods. "I'm glad I don't have to write up the account of it +with my feet," said Danville. "This is some spooky place; I bet +ghosts live here. Let's take a look inside and then we'll sit out +under this tree and eat." + +"You have to stoop down and crawl under that rock," said Skinny, "and +then you walk between those two others; it's really one big rock +that's split; then you're on the inside. In the middle it's water so +you have to step around the edge, but there's plenty of room where +it's dry. There's lots of little red lizards inside. If you catch +one by the tail it's good luck." + +"Not for the lizard." + +"No, for the feller that catches him by the tail." + +"You got a flash-light!" Danville asked. + +[Illustration: HE LED THE WAY, CRAWLING ON HANDS AND KNEES.] + +Of course Skinny had no flash-light; he had nothing mentioned in the +alluring scout equipment list. But he did try to "be prepared" in +his humble way and he had a metal shaving-stick box containing a few +matches. This gloomy cave was his exhibit and he proudly led the +way, crawling on hands and knees under the slab of overhanging rock +which was a sort of vestibule leading under an uprooted tree. Part +of this great root (enough to keep the fallen tree alive) still had +anchorage in the ground, but the sun-baked tentacles of the rest of +it hung in air like some outlandish whip-lash curtain and through +this mass the visitor must crawl, assailed by these lifeless, +dangling pendants. This grotesque approach opened upon a cleft +between great rocks, or the parted halves of one great rock, and here +the explorer could walk erect through a passage roofed by the great +tree that had fallen over the top of the cleft. It was an intricate +entrance to the dank, secluded chamber within, an earthly and rocky +dungeon where one's voice sounded strange to one's own ears. + +Probably the disturbance caused by the breaking apart of that great +rock had forced open this tiny apartment in the dense hillside, who +shall say how many years ago? Nor did any one know who Henny was, +whose name was perpetuated in this gloomy retreat. There was a +legend that he had lived on a farm and had been buried alive here in +a quick transformation of the uncertain walls. Enterprising scouts +had searched for his bones, but there seemed to be nothing left of +the unknown Henny save only his name. Of course, the place was one +of Captain Kidd's many safe deposit vaults, but no vestige of his +fabulous treasure was ever found by Temple Camp excavators. + +"_Great Scott!_" said Danville as he looked about in the darkness, +and gropingly felt for the dank walls. "Gives you the shudders; I +feel as if I were buried alive. Where are you anyway!" + +"Here I am," said Skinny, delighted at Danville's reaction to the +place. "Look out where you step, there's all water. The ground +slants up in one place and it's dry there. Wait till I light a +match." + +To Danville the feeling of confinement in this gruesome hole was all +but unnerving. It needed only the warning that it was not safe to +move in the darkness to give him the feeling that he was indeed +buried alive in this ghostly, stifling place. One little glint of +uncertain light he did see, cheerful reminder of the bright world +without, and this was the only beacon to show where the intricate +entrance was. It was a mere speck of light leaking through under +those weird tree roots and through the rocky passage. + +"Wait till I strike a match," said Skinny. + +"_Hsh, listen!_" whispered Danville. "Did you hear a sound?" + +"No, you always kind of hear noises in here," said Skinny. + +"No, but I heard something moving. I thought it was you, but you're +on the other side of me. Hurry up, your matches won't last anyway. +I wish we had a candle or something." + +Just as he said this there was a slight rustling near him like the +sound of paper being crumpled. He knew that Skinny had no paper. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +MISSING + +The startling thing that followed, happened suddenly. Skinny struck +a match and in its brief uncertain light Danville saw him stumble and +fall. For just a second he was aware of something that looked like a +log and he supposed that Skinny had tripped on this. Then he sniffed +smoke and in less than half a minute the tiny place was full of +suffocating fumes. Yet there was no blaze, only a little red glow +which shed no illumination. + +"Quick, get out of here," Danville gasped. "See that little streak +of daylight? Follow that, it's the entrance." + +"I know, you come too," Skinny said, as he began coughing. + +"Get down and crawl," Danville was just able to say; "keep near the +ground!" He was overcome by a paroxysm of coughing but he heard, +half-consciously, a sound which he thought to be Skinny crawling +away. "All right?" he asked, his senses reeling. He heard Skinny +answer, but the words were not clear. He did not know whether that +was because Skinny could not speak clearly or because of the drumming +in his own ears. His eyes were streaming and he fought for every +breath. + +He would have fallen unconscious if he had not lowered himself to a +crawling posture. Even so the ground seemed uncertain under him, +like a yielding mattress. But he was in muddy water and the wetness +reminded him to pull off his scarf and saturate it in the puddle. +Hardly conscious of what he did, he pulled the dripping scarf over +his head and face, gathering up the end of it between his teeth. + +His head swam, his hands trembled, but with his face swathed in the +dripping scarf he was measurably restored. He was conscious of the +gritty taste of thin mud in his mouth, and the stinging in his eyes +diminished. For a few seconds he was sufficiently master of his +senses to wish that he had reminded Skinny to wet his shirt and take +it in his teeth. He called but the word he uttered did not sound +like Skinny to his swimming brain. + +He was just conscious enough to know that he must act quickly. His +improvised mask afforded but incomplete and temporary relief, and he +knew that he was tottering on the brink of oblivion. But by pulling +the scarf away from his eyes he was able to see that little glint +which told of the fresh air and the bright, clear world outside. On +hands and knees he crawled toward it. Suddenly his hand lay against +something soft; he felt cloth, then hair, then a face. His senses +were reeling now, his head bursting. He gathered more of the wet +scarf into his mouth. In a vague way he realized that this soft +object was Skinny, that the little fellow had not escaped, but had +sunk unconscious. + +He could not speak to ask a question. What he did he seemed to be +doing in a trance. But he got his arm around the prostrate form and +hauled it with him toward the tiny beacon. To his ebbing senses the +fume-filled place seemed vast, he was oddly persuaded that he had +miles of suffocating area to cross, hauling his limp burden. Even +the little glint of light deserted him. It did not disappear, but +there were other lights, not real, but in his reeling brain. They +came and went like stars and he knew not which light to follow. + +Still he moved, slowly, uncertainly; one might say unconsciously. He +fell over his lifeless burden, let his throbbing head rest for just a +moment on the soft body, then gathered the wet scarf again into his +mouth and knew that he was still alive by the gritty, earthy taste in +his mouth. He could not keep his stinging eyes open, but he thought, +or rather felt (for his mind was not capable of thinking) that he was +near the entrance. Instinctively he reached out a clammy hand and +groped for the light, as if it were something tangible that he could +get hold of. His cold, trembling fingers closed upon a bit of root +in the rocky passage. The knowledge of this inner entrance had quite +passed from his mind, but instinctively he clutched the root and +pulled with all his might, dragging the body after him. He knew (as +one is conscious in a dream) that he was pulling with one hand, +dragging something with the other, and helping his progress with both +feet, in this final, supreme, spasmodic effort. + +And it brought him to where the air was a little clearer. Even here +in the passage it was thick and stifling, but it was mixed with the +pure air of heaven. He never knew how he groped his way out. But +there came a moment when he pushed the muddy, drenched scarf from his +mouth and breathed freely, though his head pounded and his eyes +stung. He was under the tilted root of the great tree, brushing the +dangling tentacles aside with his hand as he crawled through, +dragging his burden after him. Not until he emerged on the rugged, +green hillside did he pause. He heard a bird singing. Just as he +sank back in utter exhaustion he saw several crows in flight +overhead; their cawing sounded miles away. Idly, half-consciously, +he tried to count them. + +Hazily, he looked at the face of the boy he had dragged to safety. +It was streaked with blood and dirt from contact with the rocky +earth. The eyes were closed; the body lay limp, in a way to strike +terror, with an arm extended as if the prostrate thing were making a +speech. The victim wore a scout suit which was in shreds and covered +with mud. Danville blinked his stinging eyes, trying with his slowly +returning senses to comprehend this strange sequel to his harrowing +adventure. He did not know what to make of it; all that he knew was +that the boy was not Skinny. + +And Skinny was nowhere to be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +FROM ABOVE + +At the moment when Skinny had crawled out of the cave an inspiration +had come to him. He had no idea what had caused the suffocating +fumes which had filled the place. The cave, as he remembered it, +contained nothing inflammable into which his lighted match could have +fallen; nor anything on which he could have tripped. Yet he had +stumbled on something of considerable bulk. However, he did not +pause to consider these mysteries. + +He emerged into the fresh air and daylight, coughing incessantly. He +called to make sure that Danville was following, but there was no +answer. Astonished and concerned, he re-approached the entrance, +calling. Not hearing any answer he was seized with panic fear. To +reënter the cave was quite impossible. Even the outer entrance under +the tree root was smoky, and the passage between the rocks was filled +with the dense fumes. That was at about the moment when Danville +thought to soak his scarf in the muddy water. Skinny shouted into +the volume of emerging smoke, but it stifled him, even where he stood +in the open, and he was compelled to withdraw from the entrance. + +It was then he had his inspiration. He remembered that very early +that summer he and Charlie Avery, a new boy from Long Island, had +seen a little speck of light in the low roof of the cave. Charlie +had poked his scout staff up through this and Skinny had gone out and +scrambled up to see if it had penetrated through to the open air. He +found that it had, and that by reason of a rather odd condition. +This cave was part of a jumble of dense brush and fallen trees; it +had probably been made in some terrific storm. A tree on the hillock +above the cave had been blown over, doubtless from the same cause +which had uprooted the one below that formed part of the intricate +entrance. Indeed the spot was a tangled jungle of rock and dense +brush and fallen trees, and the cave only a grotto caused by the +upheaval. + +In falling, this tree above the cave had wrenched part of its root up +and it was just in this depression, now soggy and overgrown, that +Charlie Avery's staff had gone through. If the little dungeon +underneath had been lighted one could have seen the disturbance +caused by that wrenching from above, and it was one of the standard +jokes of Temple Camp to tell a new boy there were snakes in the cave +and then direct his groping progress against a dangling end of root +that hung down into the dank, earthy vault. The startled visitor +usually reacted very satisfactorily to this. Here, you will +understand, the roof of the cave was thinnest, and the ground in the +excavation where the root had been was soft because of the water that +was continually collecting in it and seeping through into the cave. +Some day there would be a cave-in here, but no one ever worried about +it. + +Skinny knew about all this and now it occurred to him that he might +work open a hole in this soft depression and release the fumes more +rapidly than they would escape through the entrance. It was, indeed, +the only rescue work that he could do. He was already fearful that +it would be too late to save his friend. If his effort resulted in a +cave-in, even so that would release the smoke and probably not +completely engulf the victim. + +Breaking off a branch from a tree, he began churning it around in the +soft earth with feverish excitement. He became possessed, just as +when he had won the prize canoe. His emotional power (which no one +knew about) gave him strength, and he strove with maniacal effort to +get the stick down, pushing it, then working it in a circle. Soon it +broke and he secured another, so large that he could hardly handle +it. When it became blocked by rock or bits of root he actually cried +in nervous excitement and gave vent to his annoyance by screaming. +One cannot keep this sort of thing up very long; the nerves give out +if the strength does not. Skinny was on the verge of hysteria. But +still he strove like a little David with his great unwieldy Goliath +of a stick, pushing, twisting, pulling, crying, falling and rising +again, and hanging on it to pry open a hole into that stifling tomb +below. + +At last something happened. The stick plunged, Skinny lost his +balance and went sprawling into the depression. But he smelled +smoke. He had been successful, the long stick had penetrated into +the cave. Right beside him a thin column rose and dissolved in the +air. He rose, breathing excitedly, and holding a cut knee. But he +did not care. He grabbed hold of the stick again, pulling the end of +it around in a large circle to enlarge the tiny hole he had made. He +tripped, he stumbled, and again cut himself sorely when he went +sprawling on a bit of pointed rock. But he was up again, pulling, +hauling, wrenching. He was in a state of frenzy, this insignificant, +staring little fellow whom they "jollied." He seemed to be fighting +the whole universe, wrestling with the elements. Blood was streaming +from his cut leg, his face was dripping with sweat, his eyes were +wild. + +Suddenly the ground on which he stood settled, he heard a dim thud, +and the stick descended till only a few inches of it remained above +surface. Now the smoke came out freely; there was no cave-in, but +something had happened. In his small way, Skinny had changed the +face of nature. Frantic with joy he brushed the smoke away from his +face and tried to haul the stick up. Then he saw something which he +could hardly believe; it seemed like magic, and to conjure his whole +maniacal striving into a tumultuous dream. As he raised the long +stick a snake was coiled loosely about it. + +Slowly, almost mechanically the drowsy reptile included Skinny's leg +in its slow winding. It tightened around the stick and the little +thin limb binding them together like things bound around with cord. +The action of the snake was not belligerent, it seemed asleep and +made the horrible affair seem unreal. Its movement was like the +weirdly slow motion pictures sometimes shown so as to reveal detail +to the spectators. There was something appalling in its slow, drowsy +tightening. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +WITH THE SMOKE + +_Dreamy_, that was the way it seemed to the panic-stricken Skinny. +The thing was so unreal! Following immediately upon his frantic +striving, this loathsome thing had slowly emerged upon the stick and +by a kind of sluggish inevitable instinct incorporated Skinny's thin +leg in its unconscious coiling. There he was bound by this living +horror to the big limb hie had been using. + +So drowsily deliberate was the long snake that it would have seemed +not amiss to remind it of its ghastly error. But if its instinctive +action had been purposeless it was none the less effectual. It was +tightly coiled around these two dissimilar supports; it seemed as +free of malice and intention as so much binding rope. But even in +his astonishment and fright, Skinny saw that it was a great +rattlesnake; its bony appendage looked like a pine cone lying against +the branch. Bound to this branch as he was, he could not stand and +he sank down exhausted and terror-stricken in the depression. It was +the usual sort of climax to his heroic achievements. + +He was in no condition to ponder on the cause of this singular +happening, but the reader will surmise the facts. The snake was +probably in a stupor caused by the fumes below when Skinny's long +implement descended into the suffocating cave. Instinctively it had +coiled itself about the stick and was lifted out before its coiling +was complete. The depth of its stupor may be conceived by its drowsy +action of including the adjacent leg of its rescuer as it settled +into coiled inertness. + +If Skinny could have stood erect perhaps he would have had some +command of himself, would have thought of something to do. But he +was at the same disadvantage as a person is who has been knocked +down. He was powerless till he could rise; and he could not rise. +His whole little trembling body seemed involved in this ghastly +attack. If he had been bound and thrown into that little muddy +jungle, he would have felt less fearful, less at the mercy of a foe. +But this horrifying thing had occurred without a struggle on his +part. He had striven like one possessed, till his stout little heart +beat like a trip-hammer, and then, in the proud moment of his triumph +this deadly reptile had slowly, silently, probably unconsciously +coiled its slimy, clinging form around his leg, and he had gone down +in defeat--perhaps to death. + +But he got hold of his senses. Should he dare to call? If Danville +was alive and conscious, he would hear and perhaps rescue him. But +how? What could Danville do that he, Skinny, could not do? Anything +that either of them tried to do would be perilous, might precipitate +a fatal sequel. If he moved or shouted, he might arouse the torpid +thing whose clammy coldness he could feel against his torn stocking. +His leg was not bound for its whole length, but he dared not even +wriggle his foot. The reptile was so tightly coiled that the +circulation was embarrassed in his leg and his foot was asleep. Yet +he dared not seek relief by moving it about. His predicament was +appalling, unnerving, especially to a boy of his highly strung nature. + +He tried to bring himself to scream. That might either bring help or +death. Quick help or quick death. But probably Danville was already +dead. The smoke was pouring out like smoke out of a chimney; it was +a good job this little mascot had done. Why did not Danville shout, +or appear? Surely, if he was safe, he would not fail to see the +smoke rising from the jungly hillock; he would scramble up and +investigate. The thought of the smoke caused him to indulge the hope +that this mounting column he had released might be seen at camp; that +if he just lay motionless perhaps some one would come and rescue him +from this grotesque predicament. But in his heart he knew that it +would not be seen at camp, seven miles distant. + +The smoke was thinning out now and loathsome little bugs with many +legs crawled rapidly about, seeking their wonted shelter under damp +logs; they were part of the exodus from that stifling inferno, +hardier than humans in their battle with the deadly fumes. One of +them crawled aimlessly across Skinny's face, but he dared not move +his arm to brush it away. He saw one of his familiar little red +lizards making its way up the stick and across the rattlesnake as if +it did not mind this poisonous reptile in the least. + +Suddenly a thought came which startled him. This loathsome snake +would come out of its stupor now that it was in the pure, clear air. +It would realize where it was and would sting him. It would sting +him right where its horrible head lay, a little above his knee. He +strained his eyes, pressed his chin into his chest, and looked at +that frightful head. The little beady eyes were open; it was hard to +believe that the snake was stupefied. But at least it did not shoot +out its cruel, darting tongue. It remained quite motionless. It +seemed satisfied if he was. But why should it remain long inert when +these escaping denizens of the cave were able to make good their rush +to safety? + +Skinny knew that his only chance lay in prompt action; that when the +snake began to move, it would not release itself and crawl away. It +would bite him and he would die in an hour. That was what Uncle Jeb +Rushmore had said, about an hour "_more ner less_." Well, he was too +wrought up to lie there waiting for death; he must do something. The +thought occurred to him that if he had a jack-knife, he could stab +the snake. But you see he had no jack-knife, he had nothing that +scouts have. So he resolved to shout. Perhaps Danville was alive +and would hear him. And perhaps his voice would not arouse the +drowsy reptile to bite him. If it did and Danville came, then +Danville would know what had happened. He believed that if Danville +had not been stifled to death, he would be emerging into +consciousness by now. + +By rolling over just a little bit he might be able to look down into +the opening he had made. He had not directly made that opening; that +is, he had not worked it all out with his stick. He thought he must +have dislodged a stone that had fallen into the cave, and thus broken +the root-bound earth. Suppose he looked down into that dark +inferno--suppose there was light there. Something, he knew not what, +had caught fire there. And suppose the rock he had dislodged had +fallen on Danville lying prostrate and overcome.... + +Skinny had too much imagination. Well, he must not imagine things +now, but act. He made up his mind what he would do. He would shout. +That, of course, would agitate his body and probably arouse his +torpid foe to deadly action. If that occurred he would quickly +wrench his tattered shirt off, pull it around his skinny little leg, +and tie it in a knot. Then he would reach for a stick which he saw, +slip it under the encircling shirt and turn it, drawing the shirt +tighter and tighter around his wounded limb just above the point of +the deadly bite. He thought that the bite would be just about where +the head was, on the front of his leg just above the knee. He had +the stick all picked out. Suddenly the wild thought came to him of +reaching down and grabbing the serpent by the neck. But he was so +placed with relation to it that he could not apply the necessary +strength. Shouting was best, at least as a first recourse. + +So he shouted. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +SKINNY'S HERO + +Danville Bently was not fifty feet distant from Skinny. He was +bending over the boy he had rescued and was just recovering from his +consternation at finding him a stranger when he heard the shouting. +It was rather odd that Skinny's frantic call caused this prostrate +boy to open his eyes, by which Danville knew that he still lived. He +closed them again, as if he had been disturbed in slumber. + +Danville scrambled up through tangled brush to the summit of the +overgrown mound which enclosed the cave. Smoke was still coming from +the hole; the place looked like a miniature volcano in the crater of +which lay Skinny, the long branch which he had used tight against him +like a stilt. + +"Don't--don't touch me," he breathed almost in anguish; "keep +away--look--the snake." + +Danville could hardly believe his eyes. "He bit you?" he asked +quickly. + +"No he didn't--he's sort of asleep or something--don't scare him--he +came out where I made a hole so--so as to save you. He's dopy from +the smoke, I guess." + +"He's not so dopy," said Danville, as the reptile shot out his +tongue; "he's awake enough to do that. Lie still, that isn't what he +bites you with; don't get excited. I wish I had my scarf if we need +a twister."* + + +* Meaning a tourniquet, or bandage drawn tight by turning an inserted +stick. + + +For a moment he paused, thinking and glancing about. Skinny lay +trembling, not daring to stir. Somehow he was more fearful and +excited than he had been before his friend's arrival; something was +to be done and it might precipitate a fatal sequel. "Anyway you got +safe," he said. + +"Keep still--I know--now just, just a second," Danville said. + +He moved with lightning stealth now. Quickly he took out his +jack-knife, opened it, and held it between his teeth while he hurried +to the nearest tree and pulled off a large piece of bark which was +already warping away from the dried trunk. This was perhaps a foot +in diameter. He next pulled off his shirt, tore a strip from it and +looking about picked up a stick suitable for his purpose. Thus +completely prepared he stole up, motioning Skinny to lie still, and +laid the stick and the torn strip of shirt on the ground within easy +reach. Then with lightning dexterity he slipped the piece of bark +downward along Skinny's leg till it was stopped by the snake's coiled +body. But it lay between that cruel head and Skinny's flesh, and +being rounded to the curve of the tree, it fitted rather nicely. + +With another movement that can only be described as instantaneous, he +plunged his jackknife into the drowsy reptile's head. He was none +too quick, for even as he did so its horrid tongue was darting, and +scarcely had the knife touched its scaly head when its fangs were +plunged against the bark. But there ended its deadly power; it was +pinned to the protecting bark, and a trickle of blood flowed from +Skinny's leg where the knife had pierced through. There was a +spasmodic tightening of the coils around his little limb, then a +loosening bringing infinite relief. + +[Illustration: HE PLUNGED HIS JACK-KNIFE INTO THE REPTILE'S HEAD.] + +"Did he bite me?" Skinny asked pitifully. + +"No, he's gone out of that business," said Danville, lifting Skinny's +big implement of rescue with the snake hanging limply over it. "See? +Look at the size of him, will you! That was a blamed funny thing to +happen, hey! He got busy just too late." + +"Don't--don't drop him near me," Skinny pleaded, as his rescuer +dangled the loathsome body. "My leg stings, I think he bit me." + +"No he didn't, Alf; I just jabbed you with my knife. Look." He held +up the curving slab of bark and there upon it was a tiny wet spot, +appalling evidence of the deadly substance that had been ejected from +those deadly fangs. "He struck out, but it was meant for a home run +all right," Danville said. "Come on, don't be scared, come down and +see my new boy friend. I'm going to pass you up now, I've got a new +pal." + +Skinny did get up at that. "See where I made a hole?" he said. "All +the smoke came out here and maybe it saved you, hey?" + +"I think I must have been out when you started, Alf. I pulled +somebody out, I thought it was you; I guess I came blamed near +getting suffocated. I don't know how I got out, all I know is I got +out. I guess some scout from camp must have hiked here ahead of us; +he's still dopy. What the dickens happened anyway? There wasn't +anything that would burn in that damp place, was there?" + +"Whatever it was, it was damp," said Skinny; "that's what made the +smoke so thick; it was smudge smoke, like what scouts use for +signals. Even little bugs came out. I lit a match and then I +stumbled over something that was never there before. Anyway, one +thing sure, you'll get the Gold Cross. You'll get it for saving me, +and you'll get it for saving that other feller. I bet I know who it +is, too; it's Pompy Arliss in that Brooklyn troop, because he's out +for Test Four, and I was telling him about the cave. But I didn't +know he was on his test to-day. You know the feller I mean, that +wears his hair all sticking up? He's all the time kidding me." + +They scrambled down, working their way through the thick underbrush +and over rocks, making slow progress because of Skinny's bleeding +leg, which soon they had to bandage effectively before going on. + +"And how about you?" Danville asked. + +"As long as I know I didn't get bit by poison," Skinny said in his +quaint way; "as long as I know that I don't care." + +"I mean about the Gold Cross," Danville said. "Is that bandage too +tight--no? I mean about what you did." + +"I didn't save anybody, I only tried to," said Skinny. "You don't +get it for only trying. But maybe if you were still in there I'd +have saved you, hey? But you get it twice, kinder. And I'm just as +glad, too, because now I got a friend that's a hero. So are you +going to stay my friend even now I Even when you get the Gold Cross, +are you? I won't be mad if you don't--but are you? Because now +Howell Cross and all those scouts will _surely_ be after you! +Because the Gold Cross is the biggest, _specialest_ thing in +scouting. Even it's greater than being an Eagle--even. It's for +saving life when you risk your own, like you did--twice even. +Because that snake might have killed you, mightn't he? So now you'll +get your first class badge, and you'll get the Gold Cross, and will +you let me be the first one to see it? I bet you're proud, hey--that +you'll get it? Do you know who'll give it to you? Not anybody that +belongs at camp--not trustees even. A commissioner! A national one!" + +"No!" + +"Honest, I cross my heart. So will you go around with me kinder +steady, even after that?" + +"No, that's asking too much," Danville laughed. + +"I can tell you're joking." + +For answer Danville only drew the little, limping fellow close to +him, and so they picked their way down through the brambly thicket +off the eminence which enclosed the little cave. + +"Sure I'm proud, Alf," laughed Danville frankly. + +"Then why don't you act so?" + +"Do you want me to dance a jig in this jungle!" + +"You'll be the big hero of Temple Camp, that's what you'll be. Even +they print all about you in the newspapers, when you get the Gold +Cross." + +"And do you think I'm going to forget all about the pal that was with +me when I won it?" Danville asked, rather more earnestly than was his +wont. + +"Because," said Skinny with that nervous eagerness that Temple Camp +was so fond of mimicking, "now I got a friend that's a hero and I can +talk about him. Because my brother Danny, I couldn't talk about him +to fellers, but I can talk about you all I want--how you're a hero." + +"Take your time, I haven't got it yet," said Danville. + +"Sure, you've as much as got it." + +"Don't count your chickens till they're hatched. When I get it I'll +have it." + +They picked their way down by a circuitous route and around to the +entrance of the cave where Danville's rescued victim of the fumes sat +on the ground with hands clasped around his updrawn knees, blinking +and looking about in a dazed kind of way. Skinny stopped short, his +whole thin little body trembling. + +"Danny!" he cried. "It's Danny, it's my brother! It's Danny that +you pulled out of the cave! Danny, nobody knows where you are, and +they didn't catch you, hey? The reform school people--Danny?" + +"Who's the guy you've got with you?" Danny asked uneasily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY + +There was no chance of escape now. The simplicity and trustfulness +of Skinny's nature supervened and there, in the very presence of his +wretched half-brother, he told about the whole miserable affair of +Danny's masquerade at camp. Danville Bently, greatly astonished, sat +on a rock listening. He did not seem to be angry, his face was a +puzzle. He had picked up his dripping, muddy scarf and held it +dangling in the final pause when the two half-brothers had ceased +speaking. While still they talked he had glanced rather curiously +from one to the other, paying to each the tribute of friendly +attention. And now, when he spoke, his casual remark bore no +reference to Skinny's concealment, to Danny's fraud, or to his +dubious record. + +"You'd never guess that scarf used to be white, would you?" he asked, +looking at neither Skinny nor Danny. "That was white silk. Lucky +I've got a couple more of them." Then after a pause, "I'll bet you +found it pretty damp in that blamed rat-hole. What did you haul the +log in there for?" + +"So as to keep the leaves from spreading," Danny said. "I carried +them in and piled them between the log and the wall." + +"Some bed," said Danville. "You must have got good and tired of +eating fish. How'd you do, fry them?" + +"Yep, that's easy." + +"And that what's-his-name you took the blame for--Sharpe? He just +let it go at that, huh!" + +"I don't take any credit," Danny said. "I'd have been found out when +you showed up anyway. Sharpy's nothing but a flivver; let him have +his fun." + +"Look how I can wring the water out of this darned thing," Danville +said. "Lucky there was water in the cave, hey? I wish you could go +back to camp with us. It's a sticker, what we're going to do now. +We all came through with our lives fine and dandy, and now we don't +know what to do." + +"You're not mad at him?" Skinny asked. + +"I never get mad," said Danville. "Only I don't see how he's going +to go back to camp--I'm kind of mad about that. We could have some +fun." + +"Oh I'll go back," said Danny, desperately. "I'm out of luck; what's +the use trying to beat the game? You did the kid a good turn, and +you did me one too; you saved the both of us. I've got the camp +after me at one end and the school bunch after me at the other--I'm +through. Come on, we'll go back and you can get your Gold Cross, +we'll take care of that, won't we, Tiny? What do you think we +are--half-baked sports? Just because I pulled a slope* on the +reformatory? Hey, Tiny, tell him how I smashed Kinney, and that boy +scout for what he said." + + +* The elegant phrase meaning escaped. + + +"I did tell him, he knows," said Skinny. + +"Sure, I'll go back; all they can do is give me over to that bunch of +dopes at Blythedale and I'll get a couple of years extra, if I don't +pull another slope on them. They sleep standing up, that menagerie +of yaps. What I did for Sharpy, the boy detective, I can do for you. +I may be black, but I ain't yellow." + +"What color would you say I am--not counting the mud on me?" said +Danville. "I never said I wanted any Gold Cross. I saved Alf +because he's my side partner. And as long as I saved you I might as +well finish the job. I'm not going to say I came to this place at +all; I'm not going to say I saved either one of you. And I'm not +going to make a strike for the badge on this hike. It's all off. If +I say I saved Alf then there'll be a whole lot of questions, and nix +on lying. Nobody knows we came here and nobody needs to know it. +I've got twenty dollars and I'll give it to you--ten for smashing +Kinney, and ten for that other fellow for what he said. Will you +look at the mud on that twenty spot? It went right through my +clothes. You visited me for two weeks in camp only I didn't know it, +and my dad will pay the bill. Why don't you go back to reform +school?" + +"Would you?" Danny asked. + +"Hanged if I know; only won't they get you?" + +"Not if I can once get on a ship." + +"Well, you have to mind your business, and I have to mind mine. And +maybe I can't see my way clear to go by notices on bulletin boards. +Anyway, I forgot all about saving anybody's life and making the +fourteen mile hike, and you're a darned good scout only you don't +know it. I'd rather be you than Sharpy. I came up here to have a +good time and not to be a detective. I don't care a hang about the +Gold Cross. You can't prove anything by me." + +"You mean you're not going to tell--how you found him, and how you +saved us both?" Skinny asked excitedly. "You mean you're not going +to get the _Gold Cross_?" + +Danville Bently shook his head and made a wry face. "I don't like +it, it costs too much," said he. "I'm a stingy scout and I won't pay +the price. Come on, what do you say we eat! Tea for three. How the +dickens can you cut two sandwiches to make three helpings? There's a +sticker. Got a lead pencil and I'll see if I can do it by geometry." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +JUST AS EASY---- + +Thus ended the adventures of Danny McCord in the neighborhood of +Temple Camp. He had been an expensive luxury during his brief and +colorful sojourn. He had cost poor Skinny much worry, and he had +cost Danville Bently the Gold Cross for heroism. He went forth upon +his way with Skinny's scout suit (much the worse for wear) and the +twenty dollars that Danville had insisted on his taking. His +unexpired term at reform school must also be charged against his +account. + +Yet I like Danny, even though I do not approve of him. The blow he +struck the historic Kinney, as also the blow he struck Vic Norris, +was rather to his credit; he was a pretty good big brother, even if +he was not such a very good boy. And the blow that he did not strike +Ralph Warner showed him capable of sacrifice. It was because of this +sacrifice that Holman Sharpe remained at Temple Camp and filled three +note books before the season was over. + +We shall meet Danny again in a future story and you are warned not to +expect to find angelic wings sprouting on his pugilistic shoulders. +He had, I think, the raw material of a scout, but it was very, very +raw. He should not be dismissed, however, without mention of an +incident which recalled him to Danville Bently after the lone Polar +Bear had returned to his beautiful home in Florida. It was in +November that Danville received an envelope enclosing ten dollars and +a slip of brown wrapping paper on which was scrawled, "Here's a ten +spot, see you later about the rest. Danny." The envelope was +postmarked Porto Rico, so it seemed likely that Danny had succeeded +in ingratiating himself with the captain of some ship or other. He +must have made a rather interesting cabin boy. + +On their way back to camp, Danville made no mention of Danny and he +closed the Gold Cross matter with a few words that his little +worshipper, Skinny, had cause to remember. "What's the use talking +about it?" said he. "If I won it, I won it. Only nobody knows it. +And nobody's going to know it. The Gold Cross is only kind of like a +receipt and I don't need any receipt." + +"It's people knowing that counts," said Skinny. + +"What they don't know won't hurt them," said Danville. + +On reaching camp they parted, Danville going to Tent Village to wash +up. When Skinny next saw him, he wore another scout suit, and a new +white scarf, its wavy and spotless folds falling loosely below where +it was gathered into the silver ring, which took the place of the +usual scout knot. You would never have supposed he had saved two +lives and almost lost his own. And lost the Gold Cross for heroism. +His easy-going self-possession was the most conspicuous thing about +him; that and the snowy scarf which was the badge of the distant +Polar Bear Patrol. Skinny thought he must be a "specially rich +feller." And so he was, indeed, with a richness that only +generations of gentle breeding can impart. + +As for Skinny, he was pretty dirty and he shuffled up to Martha +Norris Memorial Cabins in fear and trembling lest his sorry +appearance and sore knee cause embarrassing questions. But no +questions were asked, perhaps because Skinny always had a sorry look. +"Playing in the mud?" was all that Vic Norris asked of this little +fellow who had opened an outlet for the deadly fumes in Henny's Cave. +"Must have been tracking mud-turtles," said Hunt Ward. And that was +all that any of them said on the dangerous topic of Skinny's +adventures. + +Perhaps this was because they had something else to say to him. They +had something to ask him, and they asked it in ever so nice a way, so +that their questions furnished the answer. Connie Bennett, the Elk +leader, had told them to leave it to him, that he would "fix it." +And he did fix it. He knew just how to handle Skinny. + +"Hey kid," said he, "listen. I want to ask you something." + +Skinny was not accustomed to be consulted and he gazed at Connie with +pleased and eager eyes. + +"Listen kid, do you like it in Tent Village!" + +"I only go there because Danville Bently is there," said Skinny. + +"Sure, and I bet you have a lot of fun there too. Now listen, +Shorty; you know Holly Hollis back in Bridgeboro--lives up near where +Blakeley lives, on the hill?" + +Skinny did not know; he knew nothing about the grand upper world of +Bridgeboro. He had once pushed his ramshackle little wagon up to +Terrace Avenue with a clothes basket full of washing for one of the +gorgeous houses up there. But Holly Hollis he did not know. He +listened, wide-eyed, to this boy who was paying him the compliment of +conferring with him. + +"I'll tell you how it is, kid. You know the other Bridgeboro Troop +that busted up; the one they had in the brick church!" + +Skinny did not know, but he listened. + +"Well, anyway," said Connie, "they busted up; couldn't get a +scoutmaster, I guess. You know Holly, that--he's a sort of a slim +fellow? Sure you do! Well, he's an Eagle Scout and he wants to come +up here." + +"I don't think there's any room in Tent Village, or in Pioneer Row +either," said Skinny innocently. + +"Sure there isn't, not for a new scout. This is the middle of the +season. So we were thinking--now listen. We were thinking if you +wanted to stay over there in Tent Village with Bently, they'd put up +a cot for you--we'll fix that. Then we could do a good turn to Holly +Hollis and let him come up here and bunk in with us, as long as +you're having so much fun. And I'll say that Bently's one fine scout +all right. Hey, Vic?" + +"Sure thing," said Vic Norris. + +"You're a lucky kid," said Bert McAlpin. + +"Every scout in camp is after that guy," said Stut Moran. + +"I'd like to be you all right," said Connie. "Only trouble with him +is he's so darned hard to get in with; you never know how to take +him. But jiminies, you seem to have him buffaloed, you little +rascal." + +Skinny smiled, elated, and his wonderful, eager eyes were full of +pleasure and pride. + +"How do you do it, anyway?" Vic Norris asked. + +"Do you mean I won't be a member any more?" Skinny asked. + +"Well--no, not exactly that, as you might say," said Connie, as he +motioned to the others to let him do the fixing. "You wouldn't say +exactly that. But if we form two troops when we get home in the +fall, like Mr. Ellsworth says, jiminies, why you'll have your pick of +patrols, won't you?" + +"Y--yes," said Skinny doubtfully. + +"Why sure, why won't you? I'll see to it you stay in our troop if +you want. I'm only talking about now, up here at camp. Gee, I +thought you were so strong for doing good turns; didn't you, Vic?" + +"I sure did," said Vic Norris. + +"Skinny's all right, he's one little peach of a scout," said Stut +Moran. He did not explain why they did not cling to such a little +peach of a scout. + +"Why, look at the camps at Bear Mountain," Connie argued. "They bust +up troops and patrols just like with dynamite up there. It's all +like big families in a lot of those camps. Then when they go home +they get together again. You're having a dickens of a good time over +there in Tent Village. Where Bently is, that would be good enough +for me. _Jimmy crinkums_, I don't know how you got next to that +fellow, kid. White Scarf, that's what everybody's calling him." + +Skinny was proud, elated, to hear these comments on his hero. He was +too guileless to see that what these Elks wanted was an Eagle Scout. +He honestly believed, in his stout little heart, that they were keen +for a grand good turn. Moreover he did not aspire, he did not dare, +to confer on equal terms with these colleagues of his. Yet some +little quiver of pride caused him to say: + +"It isn't like as if I was expelled is it--so people will think you +threw me out?" + +"_Threw you out?_" gasped Vic. "Say, how do you get that way! Let +any scout say that in my presence--just let me hear him. _Threw you +out_--good night! No, but we thought you'd like the idea. We +thought we were giving you a big chance. Can't you see it?" + +"Y--yes," said Skinny. + +"And you'll be up here all the time, won't you?" + +"Yes, if you want me to." + +"_Want him to_, did you hear that?" said Connie. + +Skinny's simple honesty caused them some embarrassment. They were +doing this thing artistically, lulling their own consciences, and +loading their act onto the back of that willing beast of burden, the +good turn. They did not expect anything quite so logical and +pathetic as what Skinny now did. He pulled up from under his torn +white shirt a piece of string that hung round his neck, detached his +locker key from it and handed it to Connie. He was quite too +guileless to do this for effect, but it was a little masterpiece and +it made Connie feel mean. He was jarred by this perfectly honest +response to all he had been saying. + +"Oh, you needn't give us that," he said with brusque good-humor. +"You're not exactly what you might say getting out." + +"Holly Hollis will have to have a locker," said Skinny. "Anyway, I +haven't got anything in it much." + +It is rather to the credit of Bert McAlpin that he turned away, +rather ashamed, and pretended to be busy as Connie hesitatingly +accepted the key. + +The deed was done. It was not as good a piece of work as Skinny had +done that day. But of course, nobody knew about that. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +FIXED + +Skinny did not understand, but Danville Bently did. Still the little +outcast Elk had a certain feeling of humiliation. He knew he had not +been "let out," but it might look that way, and he was afraid that +Danville would think so. What Danville really did think, Skinny +never knew. + +But the diplomatic Elks knew, for Danville told them that very +evening. Having attended to certain other matters which pleasantly +evidenced the esteem in which he was held by the management, he +strolled up to Martha Norris Memorial Cabins just before supper, a +time when he thought the Elks would be at their patrol cabin. + +It was characteristic of Danville that he seemed never to take +particular notice of things that were unusually costly and +attractive. Perhaps this was because he had been brought up in +refined luxury. In any event he seemed always quite at home. He was +one of the very few boys at camp who could enter Administration Shack +with perfect ease and speak familiarly to the trustees and +councilors. So he did not take particular note of the three +beautiful large cabins which housed the First Bridgeboro Troop. He +did not even notice the big radio set in the Elks cabin as he stepped +inside, greeting the scouts who were hurriedly brushing up for +supper. He was thinking of Skinny and not the realm from which +Skinny had been so neatly ousted. + +"I wonder if you fellows want to give me the key to the boat-locker +where Alf keeps his canoe?" he asked in his easy-going way. "Seems +he forgot to ask you." + +If it had been some one else they would probably have challenged his +right to come on such an errand, but there was something about +Danville which made them all feel a trifle ill at ease. There was a +certain atmosphere about White Scarf, as they called him, which +caused them to respect him. + +"There's only one key," Connie said. + +"Yes, that's the one he wants," said Danville. + +"How are _we_ going to get in the locker then?" Vic Norris asked. +"That canoe is patrol property; that's a rule in our troop about +prizes." + +"Tent Village has got two boats assigned to it," said Bert McAlpin. +"Gee, what more do you fellows want?" + +"You mean the scouts in Tent Village? I don't know," said Danville, +shrugging his shoulders. "I'm talking about Alf's canoe. We're not +going to be in Tent Village, we're going up on the hill; Black Hill +you call it?" + +"You mean Overlook Cabin?" Connie asked in surprise. + +"Mmm, soon as they clear it out for us." + +"That'll cost money--twelve bucks a week not counting board," Connie +said. + +"Yep, so I understand." + +"The bosses will have something to say about that." + +"I've engaged it," said Danville, then he added rather oddly: "You +don't suppose I'm not acquainted with my own father, do you?" + +"Gee, that's some perch," said Connie. + +"Not so bad," said Danville. "How 'bout the key?" + +"You going to take the kid up there?" + +"N--no." + +"Bunk up there alone?" + +"No, Alf and I are going together." + +"That's what I mean," said Connie. + +"It isn't what you said," said Danville. "How about the locker key? +They tell me in Administration Shack you'll have to hand it over. In +fact, they wouldn't let you do this thing at all if I hadn't asked +them to let us have the cabin. You can't let out a member of your +patrol up here, without your scoutmaster. But as long as it's O.K. +with Alf I don't suppose anybody cares; I'm sure you don't. Only if +you don't let him have his prize canoe you'll get the management +interested and then you won't be able to have your Eagle Scout at +all. You fellows ought not to complain at handing over his canoe; +you're getting an Eagle Scout." + +"Hey, Bently," said Hunt Ward in a sudden burst of familiarity; "is +it true that you're an Eagle Scout? A lot of scouts say you are?" + +"No, I'm not." + +"Nobody seems to know about you," Vic said. + +"Tom Slade seems to think it's all right if Alf wants to go up on the +hill," said Danville, ignoring their personal queries. "Seems to me +you Elks are getting your own way pretty soft and easy. Only you'll +spoil everything if you don't hand over the locker key." + +"You told--you talked to Slady?" Connie asked. + +"Oh, yes. I don't think there'll be any trouble as long as I hire +the cabin and you hand over the canoe; 'long as Alf has a place to +stay." + +"Did they take your word for it before hearing from your father?" +Connie asked. + +"Why, sure; why not?" + +"Scouts can't do business with the management," Connie said. + +"So? Well, I must have caught them napping, I suppose," said Bently. +"How 'bout the key?" + +"Here it is, tell him we wish him luck and hope he won't get +drowned," said Connie. + +"If he does, I'll let you know," said Danville. "And I congratulate +you on getting an Eagle Scout; that's some nifty haul." + +"Can you blame us?" Bert McAlpin asked. + +"No, an eagle's an eagle," said Danville. + +"Poor kid, he's only a little mascot," Vic said. "I haven't been up +there on Black Hill since we were having signal tests last summer. +Are there two bunks in the cabin? I thought there was only one." + +"There are three," said Danville. "So we can each have one and a +half. Well, so long." + +"Gee williger, that guy has a way of managing things," said Connie. +"I only hope Wainwright doesn't put the kibosh on it. Gee, if we +can't get Holly now, good night, I'll be sore! There's only two +other Eagle Patrols in camp. An eagle has got wings, and when you've +got wings you can fly." + +"We'll fly all right," said Bert McAlpin. "That gives us a look in +on three awards, Yellowstone Park----" + +"The kid will be just as happy," said Connie. + +"Sure, he will," said several others in chorus. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +HOLLY HOLLIS + +Overlook Cabin had not been built for season occupancy. It had been +thrown up as a little storehouse for paraphernalia used on the hill, +which was called Black Hill because it rose above a treacherous marsh +and overlooked Black Lake. The reader will find helpful the +accompanying rough sketch of the locality. Black Hill, as will be +seen, lay to the east of the camp. The slope was gradual from the +south where the highroad passed. But on reaching the brow of the +hill one looked down from a dizzy precipice. + +Between this precipice and the lake was a marsh about which weird +stories were told, but the worst that was actually known of it was +that it was the foregathering place of a choral society of frogs +whose croaking made it seem weird enough at night. From the lake you +could pole a boat into this marsh, but not all the way to the base of +the cliff. Sometimes, after heavy or prolonged rains, the marsh +would be entirely submerged, but usually it was visible as a rank and +vivid green area with patches of scum. + +The cabin on the brow of the cliff had been built for the +accommodation of certain scout activities which had been conducted +there. Close to the edge was a rather odd contrivance, conspicuous +from the lake below, and newcomers seldom failed to ask about its +purpose, though now in its time of disuse and comparative +dilapidation, few took the trouble to ascend the hill and view it at +close range. This was a square wooden frame about eight or ten feet +in size, standing upright and held by means of braces in the ground. +It was loose and rickety from the force of heavy winds. Stretched in +this was a sheet of canvas, bound to the frame with windings of light +rope, by which it could be tightened. The canvas came to within a +few inches of the frame all the way round. + +[Illustration: Map of Scout camp and surrounding country] + +This affair was known as a signal easel and had been used for +practice in signalling. Illuminated at night by a bonfire at a safe +distance in back of it the screen was as brilliant as the silver +screen of the movies. Then a scout standing between it and the +precipice was revealed in striking silhouette as he manipulated +wigwag flags. From all the way across the lake he could be seen, a +weird and vivid sight in the night time, and in this way codes were +tried out and practiced. Once, on a memorable occasion, that +redoubtable showman, Pee-wee Harris, had given a motion picture +exhibit here with his prize outfit at the appallingly low admission +fee of ten cents. But there being no gate, the place was overrun by +deadheads and the exhibition ended in a riot. + +The cabin was filled with old signalling paraphernalia, flags and +smudge buckets. It had three bunks and some rough camping +necessities used by hunters in the winter. A ghost was also said to +live there, but if so he must have been of a retiring nature for he +was never seen. The rental charge which Connie Bennett had mentioned +was made so as to limit the use of the place to older visitors at +camp, field men and the like. Eagle Scouts may come and go, but it +is probably true that Danville Bently was the only boy of scouting +age at camp who could so easily have made arrangements to use the +place. + +It was here that he and Skinny settled down to a kind of frontier +life, to a companionship which Danville regarded in a humorous way, +but never so as to belittle his odd companion. They ate down at +camp, of course, and usually attended camp-fire, but otherwise they +led a life apart, stalking, tracking and hiking about the woods. +Danville did his fourteen mile hike, but there was no boy to train +for a tenderfoot, so there he remained for the time being; he seemed +not greatly interested in scouting progress merely for its own sake. +He was easy-going and casual, a good looker-on. He seemed never to +think about how near he had come to wearing the Gold Cross; so far as +Skinny could see, that badge of the highest heroism meant nothing to +him. Perhaps he did not care for things because it was so easy for +him to get them. The pomp and fuss and honors and awards did not +appeal to him. + +He showed no resentment toward the Elks for their shabby treatment of +Skinny, but the Elks knew that he had seen them at their worst and +they avoided him. Every scout in camp felt that here was a boy of +unlimited reserve power; a boy who would never do a thing simply for +a thrill or a badge, but who would prove invincible when aroused to +act for a purpose. They all respected him and there was no hint of +banter in the nickname of _White Scarf_ by which he came to be known. +That spotless white scarf was a familiar sight in camp and singled +him out from all other scouts and made him conspicuous. + +As for the Elks, they got what they wanted and basked in the glory of +it. An Eagle Scout is a wonderful thing, embodying all the heroic +romance of scouting. He is a glory to his patrol. And at Temple +Camp such a one was an asset to his patrol since only certain +endowment rewards were open to Eagle patrols. Holly Hollis came not +unheralded by his new patrol colleagues, and it must be admitted that +he filled his place with a becomingness never achieved by poor little +Skinny. On the evening of his arrival he attracted a good deal of +attention as he passed through the "eats" pavilion with the Elks on +his way to supper. A number of scouts arose and gave him the full +salute, and there was a rather discordant attempt on the part of a +few enthusiasts to sing + + "You can't go higher than an Eagle, + As every scout should know; + You have to stop when you get to the top, + It's as high as you can go." + +He wore his full regalia with his Eagle badge above his left breast +pocket, and his sleeve was covered with his twenty-one merit badges. +A slim boy he was, with very black hair and a look in his pleasant +face that bespoke something rather more than powers--a touch of the +venturesome. No stick-in-the-mud was this Eagle of the darting and +roaming black eyes. + +And those eyes did not fail to notice things, for no sooner had he +taken his place at table than turning to the proud Connie he asked, +"Who's that fellow over at the third table with the white scarf?" + +He was to know that fellow well before his season at Temple Camp was +over. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE NIGHT BEFORE + +Again there was great excitement around the camp-fire. Again they +were making merry at the expense of Skinny. Again Skinny smiled +shyly, just as he did on that night when they made such ostentatious +show of helping him find his compass. Seeing him bashful and +discomfited, scouts who did not even know him (for now the big camp +was crowded) laughed, and added their bantering comments to the +general chorus. Few knew his last name; fewer still knew his first +name, or who he was or where he bunked. He was just the little camp +mascot. They were talking about the Eagle race, which was one of the +big events of camp, and some waggish scout had suggested Skinny to +accompany one or other of the three Eagle Scouts in this contest. +And another boy had scorned this suggestion, saying that Skinny was +too heavy. And so on, and so on. + +Each summer, at the height of the season, this gala contest was held. +It was dated to occur at that time because then there were likely to +be several Eagle Scouts at camp. Eagle Scouts are none too prevalent +and if rigid testing were the invariable rule, they would be even +less prevalent. It often happened that a whole season passed at +Temple Camp with only one or two Eagles present, and these not at the +same time. Once the race (most spectacular event of the season) had +not been held because there were no contestants. This event was the +world series of Temple Camp, establishing a supreme hero, an Eagle +Scout with a sensational triumph to top his glory. Despite the song, +one could get a little higher than an Eagle, and that was by a +thrilling victory over other Eagles. Such a victor was always the +great hero of camp. + +Just as no scout is eligible for merit badges until he is in the +first class, so no scout but an Eagle of twenty-one badges was +eligible to try for this Mary Temple Cup which carried with it a two +weeks' holiday at the Grand Canyon for the victor and his patrol. +Transportation papers were always inside the cup, a tempting beverage +indeed, proffered by the pretty hands of the young daughter of the +camp's founder. So you can hardly blame the Elks for coveting this +prize; they were not the first in this glorious republic to resort to +political maneuvers to acquire an eligible contestant. There were +just three such contestants now, Howell Cross, Ellis Carway and Holly +Hollis. + +Everything was set for the morrow and they were making merry at the +expense of Skinny. His shy smile illumined his pale, temperamental +face, and his characteristic embarrassment was amusingly evident in +the fitful glow of the mounting blaze. + +"Hey, Howell, don't you think if Skinny took off his shoes and shirt +he'd be light enough?" + +"How 'bout you, Eagle Carway? Skinny means good luck. I took him on +a hike and found an oriole's nest, honest. You can't lose with +Skinny." + +"Sure, if you should fall in a faint he'd take the oars right out of +your hands and glide to victory; he wouldn't stop till he got to the +Grand Canyon." + +"How 'bout you, Holly? Skinny used to be an Elk, honest. But he's +way above that now, he's up on Black Hill." + +"Trouble with Skinny is he'd sink the boat. If he started smiling it +would go right down. Why his smile alone weighs forty pounds, don't +it, Skinny? What are you blushing about, Skinny? What would you do +if you had to take the cup from Mary Temple?" + +"Yes, and suppose she should kiss you--good night!" + +"I'm going to have Skinny root for me," said Eagle Scout Cross. + +"Sure, the human megaphone. Stand up, Skinny, and let the three of +them draw lots for you; don't be afraid. Who wants Skinny to man the +tiller?" + +And so forth and so on. All three Eagles had chosen their steersmen +from their own patrols; they laughed pleasantly at the idea of Skinny +as steersman of a racing shell. Holly Hollis, who sat across the +fire, made a funny grimace at him. Danville Bently wondered how much +Hollis knew of Skinny's ups and downs in the scouting field, and +especially his fate in the hands of his honor seeking colleagues. +The funny grimace didn't mean much. + +"Never mind, Alf," said Danville as they walked up the hill. The +night seemed unusually black after the glare of the camp-fire. "If +you help them to have fun, what more do you want?" + +"I don't mind," Skinny said. He was perfectly at ease with Danville +and always talked freely. "Even I want them to win--my patrol, I +mean. He smiled at me, that Eagle Scout, did you see?" + +"Yep, I saw." + +"I can call it my patrol even now, can't I! Connie said I could." + +"Sure, if you want to; 'long as I don't have to call them mine." + +"Are you mad at them?" + +"No, no, Alf." + +"They're my patrol just like Danny is my brother, ain't they? I got +to be loyal." + +"Yes, sure, I understand, Alf." + +"Can I help liking Danny?" + +"No, I can't help liking him either. I have a sort of hunch that he +could win that race if he were an Eagle." + +"Then I'd have a lot of honor, hey!" + +"Sure would." + +"I bet you could win it, too." + +"I've got my job," said Danville. + +For a few minutes they walked on up the hill and neither spoke. +Then, noticing that Skinny's shoulders were shaking, Danville paused +abruptly. The little fellow was gulping. Danville broke his rule +and called him kid. + +"Alf--what's the matter, kid?" he asked feelingly. "Don't--what's +the matter, Alf! Can't you tell me?" + +Skinny couldn't tell him, because he didn't exactly know. + +"Anyway, they were right, because I didn't have any scout suit," he +sobbed. + +"Well, you've got me, haven't you? Aren't you satisfied?" + +"Yes, but I want them to win and go out there to the cannon,* because +they're my patrol and I'm not mad at them. Only I don't want to go +and see the race, because I'll get all excited like, because I want +them to win. Do you think they'll win?" + + +* He meant canyon. + + +"Who can tell who will win, kid? We'll stay up on the hill all by +ourselves and watch it from a distance. Will that be all right?" + +"Yes, but do you think they'll win?" + +"I think Hollis has got the stuff in him." + +"You've got to be an Eagle, haven't you?" + +"Yes, but you see there are three Eagles? And we can't tell who'll +be the big scream when the day is over." + +No indeed, no one could tell that. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +VICTORY AND THEN---- + +The precipice was not a bad place from which to view the finish. It +was not close enough to the excitement for most scouts, but it +afforded a good gallery seat. Danville was glad that no one came up +there. He had a big piece of charred wood with which he intended to +mark the name of the winner in big letters on the signal canvas as +soon as the race was over. Then he and Skinny would shout and draw +attention to it. He hoped for Skinny's sake that the name would be +Hollis. + +The race, as you will see by the map, began at the northwestern end +of the lake, followed a southeasterly course and ended where the +shells passed an anchored skiff in which were spectators, who had a +good view of the approaching shells. The lake was dotted with boats +and canoes and it required a constant zigzagging about of the camp +launch to keep them off the course. It was a gala scene. + +After a while the launch chugged away along the course and there were +fifteen or twenty minutes of tense waiting. Soon its shrill whistle +could be heard and Skinny was trembling with excitement as it +reappeared with its _clear the way_ pennant flying and its whistle +calling a warning to keep the course clear. + +Then they came in sight, the three shells, red and shining in the +bright sunlight. They seemed to be abreast, throwing out three white +V's of light spray as on, on, on they came. Every nerve in Skinny's +little body was on edge as he stood near the brow of the precipice +trying to identify the salmon colored pennant of the Elks. Then he +saw it--yes, he saw it. It was one of the two shells that glided +abreast; the other had fallen behind. He could see the form of the +rower bent forward and back, the long oars feathering, the slender +shell moving nearer, nearer, under the impetus of that steady, +increasing leverage. + +The third shell, manned by Ellis Carway, seemed now quite out of the +running. Its heroic Eagle was doing ragged and erratic work, never +getting the full benefit of his strokes. In that short course he +could never make up what he had lost. But the other two seemed +evenly matched. Suddenly Howell Cross's shell, with the blue pennant +of his patrol, shot ahead. Skinny trembled, his eyes stared, he +quivered with excitement. + +He might have saved his fears. Howell had his spurt, and having +spent his reserve energy, could only maintain his former speed. The +time for a spurt is at the end and Holly Hollis knew this. Easily he +shot ahead in an excess of effort that would surely carry him past +the skiff. He would not have to pause for breath till he could pause +for good. Now he was half a length ahead. Now a full length. And +then amid a wild chorus of cheers and the waving of hundreds of +flags, he swept forward past the skiff. The Eagle of the Elk Patrol +had won them the cup and the trip to the Grand Canyon, and the glory +of being the banner patrol of Temple Camp. Skinny's patrol. + +Then something happened which caused Danville Bently to run along the +cliff excitedly trying to make out just what the trouble was. There +was a sudden change in the tone of the shouting below. He came to a +point where he could descend with caution and as he did so, he +perceived the dreadful thing that had happened. Hollis had evidently +turned his victorious shell quickly so that the tremendous force of +its impetus would not carry it against the steep shore (see map) and +it had swept into the marsh and capsized. And there he was quite out +of reach of it, sinking in the treacherous rank growth. Danville +made out that he had tried to swim only to be caught in the mire. +From where Danville was descending cautiously the victim looked like +only half a boy, the upper half. He seemed standing up right in the +swamp. + +"Do your feet touch?" Danville heard some one call. + +"Help, help!" was the frantic answer. + +It had always been said that there was death in this marsh. There +was a story of a duck hunter who had been swallowed up in it. If +Hollis had not tried to swim and remained by his inverted shell, he +would have suffered nothing worse than an inglorious climax to his +spectacular triumph. But he had somehow got to the very center of +the horrible place where no boat could penetrate. The excitement on +the neighboring shore was frenzied. Some one tried to pole a boat +into the marsh; it got stuck in the thickening growth and could not +be moved either way. And meanwhile, Hollis' frantic cry for help +rose as he sank lower, lower.... + +Then suddenly a great white thing seemed to fill the sky. It +tumbled, shook, like some airplane run amuck. And with a loud sound +of splitting wood it settled flat upon the enveloping marsh. They +saw, but they hardly knew what they were witnessing. They stared +aghast. Then as they saw a little living form reach out from the +safe area of canvas that lay flat upon that frightful consuming mud a +cheer went up--and another, and another, until the heavens seemed +rent with a swelling chorus of mad acclaim. But it was not for the +victorious Eagle they were screaming their lungs out as their fears +subsided. It was just for the little outcast scout who, in such a +sublime frenzy as only his trembling body could experience, had torn +and wrenched the signal easel from its lodgment and crashed down with +this spreading parachute to the rescue of the boy who had brought +glory to the Elk Patrol. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +THE PRICE + +Given time they managed to get a boat in somehow, poling it this way +and that and finally taking the marsh, as one might say, by flanking +tactics. With the large area of resisting canvas lying upon the +yielding morass, there was no great need for hurry. The frame was +broken, but it could not sink. And the Eagle Scout, beneath whose +weight the loosened canvas sagged, was safe. No boat could have +saved him. No swimmer could have averted that imminent tragedy. But +the eager-eyed little fellow who squatted there on that outlandish, +sustaining rug, glancing at the Eagle Scout as if he were a god, had +done it. His shirt was in shreds; a great rent in his faded trousers +exposed his whole thin little leg. He did not look like a boy scout +at all; you could not find a picture on all of your scout posters +that bears the faintest resemblance to him. + +As the boat neared the canvas a tall boy with a white scarf gently +pushed a couple of scoutmasters aside and helped the bewildered +Skinny into the boat. He seemed to intimate that Skinny belonged to +him and the rest should take notice and keep their hands off. Then +he allowed them to help Holly Hollis aboard. And so they made slow +progress out of the dreadful place and nothing was left there but the +big broken frame with its soiled expanse of canvas. A very big +triumphant pennant for such a little boy! + +They were all crowding at the landing place and the diving board bent +dangerously under the weight of gaping scouts. The Elks were there. +Even Chocolate Drop, the darky cook, had come down in his white cap +and apron, gazing as if he saw a ghost. And no one said a word about +the race. + +"Can't I go up on the hill with you fellows?" Holly asked. + +"Sure, only you'll have to come down again," said Danville. "Wait +till you get your bathing trunks off and are all washed up and +rested, then come up and make us a call. Eagle Scouts are always +welcome." + +But Holly Hollis shook his head and brushed Connie Bennett aside and +interrupted Vic Norris, who seemed to have something to propose. + +"No, I mean to stay," said he. "You're the ones I belong with. I +resign from the Elk Patrol." + +"You can't do that, you're our Eagle Scout," said Connie. + +"And where would your Eagle Scout be if it wasn't for the little chap +that gave his place to him, and just now risked his life to save +him--_for you_!" said Danville Bently. "I don't know whether they +have diamond studded crosses; all I know is that the Gold Cross isn't +good enough for him. But he'll get it all right. And if your Eagle +wants to come with us, why just remember that the eagle is a free +bird; he flies high and goes where he pleases--he belongs up on +precipices and crags, with others who jump off cliffs. Do you get +that, Connie Bennett? And you're going to lose him! Look in his +face--you can tell what he's thinking. I guess he never knew that +he's filling Alf's place in your patrol. Tell him about it, why +don't you? How about you, Holly? Do you follow the Gold Cross--or +the Elk Patrol?" + +"I follow the Gold Cross," said Holly. "An Eagle is nothing but a +lot of merit badges." + +"So that's that," said Danville Bently. + + +Yes, that was that. They played for big stakes, Connie and his +patrol, and they lost. They lost both the Gold Cross and the Eagle +Scout. They paid the penalty. You dance and you pay the fiddler. +You may have what you crave, but you pay the price. And sometimes +the price is very large. You may play high for an Eagle Scout. And +the Eagle Scout may bow before the Gold Cross awarded for the heroism +that is made divine by the spirit of sacrifice. For it is not true, +as the song says, that an Eagle is as high as you can go. You can go +higher than that if there is an elemental frenzy in your soul. The +price of the Gold Cross is very, very high. For you must forget +yourself and then they will remember you. Even if you are a ragged +little codger out of Corkscrew Alley, they will scream your praises +to the sky. + +An Eagle is not as high as you can go. + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76477 *** diff --git a/76477-h/76477-h.htm b/76477-h/76477-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b057420 --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-h/76477-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9601 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + +<head> + +<link rel="icon" href="images/img-cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + +<meta charset="utf-8"> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Skinny McCord, by Percy Keese Fitzhugh +</title> + +<style> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 1.5em } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 2em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 1.5em; + font-size: 85%; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 5% } + +p.letter2 {text-indent: 0; + font-size: 85%; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 5% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 85%; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 5% } + +.smcap { font-variant: small-caps } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.capcenter { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + font-weight: normal; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center } + +img.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76477 ***</div> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-front"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front.jpg" alt="HE GROPED BLINDLY FOR THE PROJECTING TREE. <i>Skinny McCord</i>. <i>Frontispiece</i> (<i>Page</i> 61)"> +<br> +HE GROPED BLINDLY FOR THE PROJECTING TREE. <br> +<i>Skinny McCord</i>. <i>Frontispiece</i> (<a href="#p61"><i>Page</i> 61</a>) +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<h1> +<br><br> + SKINNY McCORD<br> +</h1> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + <i>By</i><br> +</p> + +<p class="t2"> + PERCY KEESE FITZHUGH<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + <i>Author of</i><br> + THE TOM SLADE BOOKS<br> + THE ROY BLAKELEY BOOKS<br> + THE PEE-WEE HARRIS BOOKS<br> + THE WESTY MARTIN BOOKS<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + ILLUSTRATED BY<br> + HOWARD L. HASTINGS<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + GROSSET & DUNLAP<br> + PUBLISHERS NEW YORK<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + COPYRIGHT, 1928, BY<br> + GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC.<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + Made in the United States of America<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + CONTENTS<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> + CHAPTER<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent" style="line-height: 1.5"> + I <a href="#chap01">Skinny Loses Something</a><br> + II <a href="#chap02">Shadows</a><br> + III <a href="#chap03">Ears that Hear</a><br> + IV <a href="#chap04">By the Dead Fire</a><br> + V <a href="#chap05">Face to Face</a><br> + VI <a href="#chap06">In the Dim Light</a><br> + VII <a href="#chap07">Dark Plans</a><br> + VIII <a href="#chap08">Stealth</a><br> + IX <a href="#chap09">For Danny</a><br> + X <a href="#chap10">Won</a><br> + XI <a href="#chap11">If</a><br> + XII <a href="#chap12">Scout Law Number Two</a><br> + XIII <a href="#chap13">Alias Danville Bently</a><br> + XIV <a href="#chap14">The Pioneer Scout</a><br> + XV <a href="#chap15">The Serenade</a><br> + XVI <a href="#chap16">The Accused</a><br> + XVII <a href="#chap17">The Masquerader</a><br> + XVIII <a href="#chap18">To Pastures New</a><br> + XIX <a href="#chap19">The New Arrival</a><br> + XX <a href="#chap20">Skinny's Protégé</a><br> + XXI <a href="#chap21">Temple Camp Takes Notice</a><br> + XXII <a href="#chap22">Partners</a><br> + XXIII <a href="#chap23">Henny's Cave</a><br> + XXIV <a href="#chap24">Missing</a><br> + XXV <a href="#chap25">From Above</a><br> + XXVI <a href="#chap26">With the Smoke</a><br> + XXVII <a href="#chap27">Skinny's Hero</a><br> + XXVIII <a href="#chap28">It Runs in the Family</a><br> + XXIX <a href="#chap29">Just as Easy—</a><br> + XXX <a href="#chap30">Fixed</a><br> + XXXI <a href="#chap31">Holly Hollis</a><br> + XXXII <a href="#chap32">The Night Before</a><br> + XXXIII <a href="#chap33">Victory and Then—</a><br> + XXXIV <a href="#chap34">The Price</a><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> + +<p class="t2"> +SKINNY McCORD +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER I +<br><br> +SKINNY LOSES SOMETHING +</h3> + +<p> +There was great excitement around the +camp-fire. Skinny McCord had lost his compass. +He had dropped it and it had rolled away, and +all the boys were making a great show of +helping him to find it. They did this not wholly +from kindness. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny was a sensitive boy and it gave his +comrades great delight to see him embarrassed, +as he always was when made the subject of +group talk or the center of interest. Not that +they would have hesitated a moment to assist +Skinny. For they liked him immensely and +would have done anything in the world for him. +But they were a mirthful lot, these scouts of +Temple Camp, and felt a certain bantering +enjoyment in seeing him uneasy, as he always was +when the spotlight was thrown on him. They +liked that diffident way of his—that bashful +smile. This was his second summer at camp +and still he was shy; he would probably always +be shy.... +</p> + +<p> +It was not much of a compass that he had +lost; just a little tin affair. He was sorry that +he had chosen to transfer it from one pocket +to another, for now he found himself the star +attraction of the camp-fire throng. "It—it +isn't much good anyway," he said; "don't +bother." +</p> + +<p> +But they did bother. They had Skinny where +they wanted him and they could not let the +occasion go by. He would have to go through +with this torture. He often suffered such +torture at the hands of these scouts who would +have knocked any one down who dared to harm +him. +</p> + +<p> +"Everybody hunt for Skinny's compass!" +called Roy Blakeley. (He was easily the worst +of the lot.) "Get out of the way," he said as +he rolled Pee-wee Harris over on the ground, +and made great pretense of scrutinizing the +spot. "Don't sit around gaping when Skinny's +compass is lost. Correct imitation of boy +scouts hunting for a lost compass that didn't +know which way it was rolling." +</p> + +<p> +"Would you mind getting up, Uncle Jeb, so +we can look under that log for Skinny +McCord?" said another boy. Poor Skinny looked +almost frightened to see the old western +trapper, master of woods lore in camp, smilingly +arise while a dozen scouts searched under +the log seat, to the accompaniment of a +clamorous chorus. +</p> + +<p> +"All fall to and hunt for Skinny's compass!" +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, Skinny, we'll find it!" +</p> + +<p> +"Go and get a couple of scoutmasters and a +few councilors." +</p> + +<p> +"Tell them Skinny McCord lost his compass." +</p> + +<p> +"We'll form a posse," said Roy. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't worry, Skinny, we'll find it." +</p> + +<p> +"Everybody hunt for the compass of Skinny +McCord." +</p> + +<p> +"Sit still, Skinny; your thousands of friends +will find it for you." +</p> + +<p> +He sat still, his face as red as the end of the +big iron poker which lay in the fire. He might +have served as a model for a statue of +embarrassment as he sat on his old grocery box +fearfully contemplating the rumpus he had +caused. Timidly he glanced at Councilor Barrows +as if to assure that smiling official that he +had not intended to interrupt the proceedings +with all this hubbub. +</p> + +<p> +In company Skinny never permitted himself +to occupy a whole seat. He sat on the edge of +a chair or box or boat seat; this was the +invariable sign of his embarrassment. "Sit back +and make yourself at home, Skinny," they +would say. But that was the one thing poor +Skinny could never do—make himself at home. +His getting into the scouts was the great thing +in his young life and he had been in a sort of +trance ever since. He had never got over the +shock. They had told him that pretty soon he +would be a patrol leader. His elevation to that +height would certainly have killed him. +</p> + +<p> +A scout from Indiana (one of those robust +jolliers who enliven camps) jumped upon a +rough seat, cupped his hands to his mouth and +shouted like a fish pedler, "Ooooooh! +Everybody! Scout McCord of Bridgeboro—First +Bridgeboro Troop—has lost his compass! +Come one, come all, and help find it!" +</p> + +<p> +They were all crawling about on their hands +and knees, fifty or more of them, upturning +boxes and throwing camp stools about in hilarious +exaggeration of helpfulness. And there sat +poor Skinny smiling bashfully. If a pack of +lions had suddenly taken it into their heads to +roar their tribute to a kitten as a member of +their family, the kitten's attitude would have +been comparable to that of poor Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +But the spasm of raillery was soon over. +They were more concerned with Skinny's +discomfiture than with finding the fugitive +compass. And they did not find it; it had rolled +gayly off and baffled all these trackers and +pathfinders. Skinny did not let his uproarious +comrades know how much he really did want to find +it. He was even glad when the excitement was +over. He hoped they would resume camp-fire +yarns and forget all about it. He had suffered +quite enough this agony of being in the public +eye. +</p> + +<p> +But the fire was burning low now and there +were no more camp-fire yarns. There was a +continuous exodus from the spot. Sitting there +one might see scouts, singly and in groups, +moving into the darkness, up the hill or along +Cabin Lane or toward Tent Village, as they +called it, to their quarters. Slowly the reflection +of the fire in the lake near by diminished +until there was nothing but a tiny red glow on +the black water. +</p> + +<p> +"So long, see you in the morning," was +repeated again and again as patrols went their +several ways off into the solemn stillness of +the big scout community, It was more than a +camp, this lakeside foundation started by +Mr. John Temple; it was a sort of scout city in the +wilderness. One could be quite alone and +unnoticed there, if he so chose, even as one may +be a hermit in the metropolis. +</p> + +<p> +Soon only half a dozen or so of the merry, +lolling throng remained, and these sat meditating +as they waited for the fire to die. There +were always a few to linger like this; a few +who had that gentle sentiment that likes to see +the old year go out, or watch beside a dying +fire. Old Uncle Jeb and Tom Slade, camp +assistant, always waited to trample out the last +embers. With them sat two or three of the +older boys. +</p> + +<p> +"Poor kid, it's a lot of fun to see him all +flustered," one said. +</p> + +<p> +"He's even got a regular scout suit," said +another. "He drove down to Kingston with +Curry in his Ford and bought it and now he's +afraid to wear it. Somebody told me he's been +saving up for it ever since last summer. And +now he's afraid to wear it." +</p> + +<p> +"Curry told me it's about forty-'leven sizes +too big," drawled lanky Brent Gaylong. "But +I s'pose Skinny figures on growing up to it. +Probably he means to wear it when he's +National Scout Commissioner. A scout has to +be prepared as I understand." +</p> + +<p> +"Look out, you'll burn your shoe," said Tom. +"If <i>you</i> dressed more like a scout it wouldn't +hurt you any." +</p> + +<p> +"I have the soul of a scout," drawled Brent. +"I don't need the tinseled regalia. What do +you suppose would happen," he said meditatively +after a pause, "if Skinny were to be +awarded the Gold Cross and all the high +dinkums of scouting were here to pull the +presentation stuff to the plaudits of the multitude! +What do you think he'd do if old man Temple +made one of his speeches about him!" +</p> + +<p> +"I think he'd drop dead," said Tom. "But +Skinny is no coward; he's just bashful and +sensitive." +</p> + +<p> +"Huh, funny," mused Brent. "He doesn't +seem to be any more at home with the Elks than +when he first joined them." +</p> + +<p> +"He's happy," said Tom. +</p> + +<p> +"Thar's cowardly animals, and thar's timid +animals," said old Uncle Jeb, "n' they ain't +the same by no manner o' means. That thar +youngster's all right, I reckon. On'y he's shy." +</p> + +<p> +Two of those who had lingered went away; +they were silhouetted as they passed the big +lighted window of Benson Dormitory, then +were swallowed by the darkness. Still the trio +waited by the dying fire, silent, meditative. +Tom was watching a particular patch of embers +as one by one little particles went out and the +tiny area of red diminished. He could have +stamped this out with one foot, but he took a +certain idle pleasure in waiting till it vanished +in the black night. "Why don't the Elks get +after Skinny about his new suit?" he mused +aloud. +</p> + +<p> +"I suppose they don't know anything about +it," drawled Brent. +</p> + +<p> +"Hmph, poor kid," said Tom. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER II +<br><br> +SHADOWS +</h3> + +<p> +Tom, Brent and Uncle Jeb were not the only +persons who waited that night for the camp-fire +to die. All unknown to each other two boys +lingered in the darkness. One was a slim little +fellow with big, staring eyes, a queer gnome of +a boy, who stole out of the Elks patrol cabin +and stood with his gaze fixed on the dying +embers, listening and eagerly waiting for the last +watchers to withdraw. He intended to steal +back alone and search for his precious compass. +For this little trinket meant more to him than +he had been willing for that hilarious company +to believe. +</p> + +<p> +Now that he had at last achieved the glory of +a real scout suit he could wear this little +appurtenance dangling from his scout belt in the +flaunting manner of Pee-wee Harris. In the +store at Kingston he had bashfully tried this +suit on (to the great amusement of his +companion, Curry) and he had looked like a bolster +in it. But no size seemed to fit him. Poor +Skinny would never look trim. As he waited +there in the darkness, watching the last faint +glow of the fire, he had not a little the +appearance of an hour glass, with his belt drawn so +absurdly tight that his clothing seemed to bulge +above and below it. +</p> + +<p> +The other boy who waited for the fire to die +was not a scout. He sat on a rough bench up +at the roadside just where the path led down +through the woods into camp. Approaching +along this road one reached a sign with an +arrow pointing down into the woods and with +the words <i>To Temple Camp</i> printed on it. A +trail wound down the wooded slope to the +sprawling scout community at the lakeside. At +this point where the trail left the road stood +the old bench and close by it a post surmounted +by a huge letter-box where the rural carrier +left the camp mail. +</p> + +<p> +The spot was a pleasant loitering place as +was evidenced by the many carved initials on +the bench and the post. No part of the camp +was visible from this spot though sometimes +a little glint of silvery water was discoverable +through the trees. But at night two distinct +glowing areas could be seen from the wayside +seat. Many a new scout had been fooled by +these. It was one of the popular jokes of camp +to take a new arrival up to the road at night, +and then send him forth to find the northern-most +glow, which was only the reflection of the +camp-fire in the distant lake. Even so good a +scout as Bert Winton, who was a Vermont +Eagle, had gone hiking down into the dark +woods in search of this fire and had gone clear +around the camp and come out up at the end +of the lake where Tenderfoot Cove is, only to +see the glow reduced to a little glinting patch +on the water. +</p> + +<p> +The boy who was not a scout had come along +the road looking for the camp. At Leeds, the +nearest village, he had been told where to turn +down into the woods. But now that he had +reached the spot he hesitated, for the two bright +areas down there in the woods told him that +the camp people were still about. It was his +intention to enter the camp unseen. He was +very weary and was not averse to sitting on the +bench and waiting. Now and then he glanced +furtively up and down the dark road as if +fearful that he might be discovered, and once when +an auto sped by, throwing a momentary glare +over the spot, he cringed and breathed quickly. +</p> + +<p> +He was about sixteen, this boy, and tall of +stature with a litheness about him which +suggested the cautious stealth of an animal. His +eyes were gray and large, but he kept them +half closed and used them with a kind of darting +agility. When he arose and stepped across +the road for a better look at the glowing areas, +there was a certain elasticity in his step, a +silent springiness, very suggestive of wild life +and extraordinarily graceful. He laid his hands +against his hips and narrowed his eyes in +studious concentration on those distant spots +of light. It was a fine, unconscious posture. +</p> + +<p> +The path of least resistance for a boy's hands +at this moment would have been his trousers +pockets, but the trousers worn by this boy had +no pockets. They were gingham trousers and +afforded their wearer not one single carrying +facility. This boy had grown used to pocketless +trousers and accustomed himself to that +picturesque way of standing with his hands +against his hips. +</p> + +<p> +For several minutes he gazed steadily at +those distant glowing patches. His narrowed +eyes became steely in this concentration. A +fine, inspiring figure of a scout, baffled and +yet resolved, he made as he stood there. +Suddenly some little creature of the woodland +made a sound in its nightly prowling and the +boy turned with lightning rapidity, listening +fearfully. Then he resumed his study of the +distant patches of light. He was vivisecting +them at long distance, comparing the flickering +movements one with another. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll be—Those aren't two fires," said he. +"There's only one. The other's just a +reflection. The two of them move alike." +</p> + +<p> +It was not so bad for a boy who was not a +scout. Still, when this boy set about doing a +thing he usually succeeded. The very night +before he had essayed to do a daring thing, +a dreadful thing. And he had succeeded. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER III +<br><br> +EARS THAT HEAR +</h3> + +<p> +It was a desperate business, but he had +succeeded—so far. He was not going to jeopardize +his success now by an ill-considered move. +So he resolved to rest on the bench till the last +distant flicker disappeared and he could feel +certain that every one in camp had retired. +Then he would follow the path down through +the woods. +</p> + +<p> +He removed his hat and took an empty +cigarette box from inside the crown. There were +no cigarettes left in it, but a certain devilish +instinct of caution had prompted him to save +the little pasteboard folder with removable +matches that had accompanied his forbidden +purchase. Then he took off a shoe and withdrew +from it a damp and soiled slip of paper +containing a memorandum which he read by the +light of a match. <i>Martha Norris Memorial +Cabins. Up path from fire turn left—second +cabin</i>. He knew the words by heart, but +scanned them finally before crumpling the +paper and throwing it away. +</p> + +<p> +As he dropped it under the bench he saw a +little square of white lying on the ground and +picking it up found it to be an unopened letter. +It was close to one of the legs of the bench +and almost at the foot of the post supporting +the mail box. He struck another match +and read the typewritten address on the +envelope: <i>Temple Camp, Black Lake, Greene +Co., New York</i>. In the corner was an +imprint: <i>Bently's Family Hotel, Wave Crest +City, Florida</i>. +</p> + +<p> +He now made a discovery which was destined +to give a turn to his fortunes and start an +altogether singular series of adventures. He +found that the heavy dew had dampened the +envelope and melted the glue of the flap so that +the envelope lay limp and open in his hand. He +could not forbear to examine a missive which +lay thus exposed. The thought occurred to +him that the letter could not have lain long +on the ground without being discovered by +those who frequented the spot. It had +probably been brought by the rural carrier that +very afternoon and dropped by the messenger +who had emptied the box to take its +contents down to camp. In the dim light +of his few remaining matches, he read the +letter. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="letter2"> + Wave Crest City, Fla.,<br> + June 27th, 1927.<br> +</p> + +<p class="letter2"> + Board of Councilors,<br> + Temple Camp,<br> + Black Lake, N.Y.<br> +</p> + +<p class="letter2"> +Gentlemen: +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +This is to notify you that my son, Danville Bently, who +was to have spent the month of July at your camp will not +be able to begin his vacation with you until August second. +He is to accompany his mother and myself to Europe. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +We are closing our place here for the summer season +to travel abroad and I have taken the liberty of assuring +our boy that the reservation made for him for July (for +which check was sent to cover) may be shifted to August +without prejudice to your summer arrangements. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +He is looking forward with high anticipations to his +promised month at your famous camp and we have +arranged for him to return with his older brother on a +steamer which will arrive in New York on August first, so +that his trip with us may not interfere with his scouting +activities. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +Will you kindly wire me upon receipt of this whether +the check forwarded in recent communication may be +applied to accommodation for August instead of July? If +that is satisfactory he will report on August second. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +I sincerely hope that this will be agreeable to you as +he would suffer a very keen disappointment if compelled +to forego this first season at a scout camp. +</p> + +<p class="letter2"> + Very truly yours,<br> + Roswell T. Bently.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +As he followed the path down into the woods +he had no other thought in regard to this letter +than to see that it was delivered into the proper +hands. He knew well enough how he was to +accomplish this without making his presence +known to these strangers. The faintest glow +of the distant fire still burned and by this tiny +beacon he saw that to reach the site of the +camp-fire he must leave the beaten path. He now +began to pass isolated cabins, the scattered +advance guard of the growing camp. They +were all in darkness, but in one he heard +laughter and singing. Now he passed a row +of tents; there was a dim light in one of them +and a figure silhouetted on the canvas. As he +passed the light went out. He moved silently, +cautiously pausing now and again. There was +no sign of life. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he was shockingly made aware of +the need of stealth. Pausing before a cabin in +front of which was planted a staff with a white +pennant he saw a figure appear suddenly in the +doorway. +</p> + +<p> +"No, you don't," said the apparition. +</p> + +<p> +"Did he get away with it?" some one within +asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Not so you'd notice it," said the figure in +the doorway. +</p> + +<p> +"What's the idea!" the newcomer asked. +</p> + +<p> +"The idea is you didn't get away with it," +laughed the boy in the doorway. "Just keep +away from that pennant." And he disappeared +within. +</p> + +<p> +Here was a strange business. They evidently +slept with one ear open at Temple Camp. But +why should they think he intended to take +something! Why should they suspect him? +Was there anything about him that enabled +strangers to discern his secret? At all events +he must be careful in this uncanny place. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER IV +<br><br> +BY THE DEAD FIRE +</h3> + +<p> +Of course no one suspected him of trying +to steal. He had just had a glimpse of a little +nocturnal game that was popular in camp. +Whoever could remove this pennant was welcome +to it and might plant it in front of his +patrol cabin. These midnight raids were very +common and not infrequently successful. Our +stealthy visitor had chanced to pause before +the pennant cabin. +</p> + +<p> +He now came to the main body of the camp +and saw the whole expanse of the dark lake +with the great bulk of wooded hills beyond. He +glanced about at the cluster of rustic buildings, +the main pavilion, the storehouse and cooking +shack, the "eats" pavilion, Administration +Shack. Cautiously (for now he was fearful of +the slightest sound) he approached the lake and +stood on the float looking off across the black +water. Close by him the rocking boats knocked +one against another; there was the metallic +sound of clanking oar-locks now and then. +How strange seemed all these evidences of +life when deserted and wrapped in darkness! +</p> + +<p> +The diving board pointed out into the lake +like a big, ghostly finger. Slanting upward as +it did, it seemed to be pointing at the precipitous +hills across the lake which cast their +inverted shadow in the water, making the dark +surface still darker. At night there seemed +always to be two shades of blackness on that +enclosed lake, caused by the vast shadow of the +rugged heights beyond. Scouts had tried to +row out to where this deeper gloom in the water +began, but they could never find it. +</p> + +<p> +The prowling stranger examined one of the +boats to see if it was locked. He lifted the +chain as gingerly as one would handle a snake. +No, the boats were not locked. He might take +one, if he could find the oars, and row across +and baffle pursuit among those wilderness-clad +hills. He could push the boat back into the +lake again and they would just think it had +drifted away from its mooring. He was +altogether too clever, this strange boy. +</p> + +<p> +But just now he had business in the camp; +then he would consider how best to proceed on +his fugitive way. This was a ticklish matter +that he had now to transact. Then all would +be well. So far he believed he had done +well—if you call it doing well to do what he had +done. At least good luck had smiled upon him. +</p> + +<p> +He must now find the camp-fire spot. From +this point (according to the only hint he had) +he would see a hill and up that hill <i>to the left</i>, +would be the Martha Norris Memorial Cabins. +But how to find and awaken a particular +sleeper in that group was a puzzle. If these +boy scouts (he called them boy scouts +notwithstanding that he was himself a boy) were all +like the one who had appeared in the cabin +doorway, he would have to practice super-human +stealth. He could do that. He had, in +perverted form, every physical quality dear +to scouting. +</p> + +<p> +If he had not been absorbed by very pressing +business, he might have spared a moment to +flatter himself that not many boys could prowl +around a sleeping scout camp undiscovered. +He was beating them at their own game. But +his only thought about this remote scout +community was that it was to serve his purpose. +Two days previously he had never thought +about it. Then he had had an inspiration, +two days hence he would forget that there +such a place as Temple Camp. +</p> + +<p> +He found the camp-fire spot, a circle of low +masonry, about eight inches high and ten feet +in diameter. It was well removed from the +nearest building. As he looked at it, it +reminded him of a tiny circus ring. It was all +strewn with gray ashes and charred bits of +log. He was in the very heart of Temple Camp. +For as the camp had grown larger and +extended up the wooded hillside away from the +lake, this nightly gathering place had come to +be more than just a camp-fire. Scouts who +seldom met at other times, met here. It was +the market-place of camp. +</p> + +<p> +The roaring blaze which nightly painted its +counterpart in the dark lake, embodied the very +essence of scouting. And the romance of this +enchanted spot lingered in the daytime when +only ashes remained within the stone circle, and +only upturned boxes and ramshackle benches +and pieces of canvas lay about outside, giving +silent testimony of the throngs that gathered +there when the day was done. The roaring +fire is a feature of every camp. At Temple +Camp it was an institution. +</p> + +<p> +But our stealthy visitor had no sentiment +about this merry ceremonial of scouting. He +approached the hallowed spot with caution and +glanced about. There seemed to be a hill, or +spreading knoll, rising from the neighborhood, +but he could see no cabins on this rising ground. +There was a trail, however, which seemed to +come from around the cooking shack and peter +out on this slight eminence. He hardly knew +what to do. He had not fancied the camp to +be anything like this, a community made up of +cabin groups and rustic avenues and tiny +isolated abodes far removed from the body of +the original camp. It was like a little city with +tiny suburbs. Even with the information he +had, he was hunting for a needle in a haystack. +</p> + +<p> +His foot caught in a loop of rope attached +to a square of old tent canvas on which several +scouts had sprawled. He stumbled, fell over a +bench, scrambled to his feet, and was instantly +aware of a dark figure on the opposite side of +the circle. It seemed to have risen simultaneously +with him, almost like his shadow. He +was startled, every nerve on edge. Was this +another of those uncanny beings appearing to +challenge him? The dark figure said not a +word, only stared at him. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER V +<br><br> +FACE TO FACE +</h3> + +<p> +For a few moments the stranger scrutinized +the figure. It moved, and he seemed relieved. +</p> + +<p> +"That you, Tiny?" he ventured hesitatingly. +</p> + +<p> +"It's—it's <i>Danny</i>!" said the other, aghast. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Hsh</i>, not so loud. Yes, it's Danny. I'm in +luck." +</p> + +<p> +He stepped across the circle and put his arm +around the younger boy. "What are you doing +here—this time of night?" he whispered. +</p> + +<p> +"I was hunting for my compass. They were +making fun of me so I came back alone to hunt +for it. Did they—Danny, did they let you +out?" +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Shh</i>—ut up. No, I gave them the slip. I +hiked it all the way here to see you. I'm on my +way—now don't get excited and don't talk +loud." +</p> + +<p> +"You mean—you—mean you <i>escaped</i>?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yep, and you're going to pay me back for +licking Dick Kinney. Don't you know how you +said you would?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, only I'm scared." +</p> + +<p> +"I'm the one to be scared—only I'm not." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but Danny," Skinny pleaded as he +nervously gripped the other's shirt with both +hands, "listen—Danny—" (he almost pulled +the shirt up over the other's belt in his nervous +excitement) "you, you stepped right in the +ashes and now you'll make tracks." +</p> + +<p> +"You little devil of a boy scout," laughed the +taller boy in a good-humored whisper. "Come +on, where can we go and talk? This blamed +place sleeps with its ears open." +</p> + +<p> +"Are they—Danny, are they coming after +you?" Skinny asked in panic fright. "Are +they coming here, Danny?" +</p> + +<p> +"Not to-night, kid." +</p> + +<p> +"But to-morrow—Danny?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'll be gone before to-morrow." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but they'll get you, Danny," Skinny +said, jerking in a panic of fear at the shirt he +still gripped. "I know how you licked Dick +Kinney, but——" +</p> + +<p> +"Come ahead, where can we talk, kid?" +</p> + +<p> +"Maybe they don't know you've got a +brother here, hey?" Skinny said hopefully. +</p> + +<p> +"Naah, they don't know that. They're a +bunch of yimps." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but—all right, come on up this way." +</p> + +<p> +You would never have supposed that the diffident, +bashfully smiling little fellow who had +blushed scarlet at the rumpus he had caused at +camp-fire was the same as he who now hurried +silently up the wooded hillside away from the +main body of camp, expressing nervous +excitement in every look and move. Little did his +scout comrades know of the fire that burned in +the soul of this forlorn little scout whose quaint +discomfiture they so much enjoyed. +</p> + +<p> +"Come on up here," he breathed excitedly, +looking fearfully back toward the area of peril. +"Now I'm glad they jollied me—you bet; I'm +glad I went back there. Come on up this way +and don't speak when we go past that cabin. +There's a scout in there that's got the one eye +cup. That's for sleeping with one eye open. +It don't mean that exactly—shhh. He's the +one makes fun of me, because I didn't have a +scout suit——" +</p> + +<p> +"He'd sleep with both eyes black if I was +here," said Danny. This was quite a boast, but +I dare say he would have made it good. +</p> + +<p> +"Hsh, we have to be good and scared of that +feller." +</p> + +<p> +It was no wonder that this dubious brother +treated Skinny with a kind of protective +kindness. Such an odd, likable, temperamental +little bundle of nerves he seemed, when aroused. +It was his fate never to be at his best in public; +his sadder fate to be at his very best with this +fugitive adventurer when secrecy was imperative. +A queer little hobgoblin of a boy he +seemed without one single evidence of the scout +in his appearance. +</p> + +<p> +He led the way up the hill till their progress +was interrupted by an old railroad cut, which +at that point was so overgrown that it seemed +a natural hollow. Clambering down the side +with the aid of trees and brush, Skinny stood +triumphantly beside a tiny shanty which had +once been a shelter for a switchman. It was +now quite fallen to pieces, but its board roof +had been propped up, and the dense brush that +tumbled over it effectually concealed it and +kept it from leaking too freely. As a romantic +retreat there was much to be said for it. +Skinny had discovered it and made it his own; +it was his private retreat. +</p> + +<p> +Within there was nothing but a shelf and an +old red lantern hanging on a rusty nail. But +there was oil inside the lantern which Skinny +had once fetched thither in a tomato can. The +smell of this lantern when lighted was like unto +no stench that ever assailed human nostrils. +To this remote refuge Skinny was wont to +repair when he wanted to pretend that he was a +pioneer, and when the banter at camp was too +vociferous for him. +</p> + +<p> +The very sight of this place was a relief to +Danny, and he perched on the shelf while +Skinny lighted the lantern. "Listen here, +Tiny," said he. "Do you remember when you +was just a little bit of a shaver and you said I +was half a brother——" +</p> + +<p> +"I didn't mean it that way—honest——" +</p> + +<p> +"I know you didn't, you thick little dub. Do +you remember how pop told you I was +<i>half-brother</i>, not half a brother! Then when Dick +Kinney said you were only about a quarter of +a brother and he took your ball away, do you +remember how I landed him one? Knocked +him goofy? And you said you'd pay me back?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, I do, Danny, only——" +</p> + +<p> +"Naah, there's no <i>only</i> about it kid. I got a +letter from pop and he said how he sent you +fifteen dollars—I got it at Blythedale. He says +when I get out next year he hopes I'll work. +Get a picture of me sticking around a reformatory +till next year! Listen, kid, they had me out +fixing a grape-vine over an arbor, tying it up. +They even give me a ball of cord, the poor +simps! So listen to what I did. I picked out a +nice long stem of grape-vine—<i>a nice long one</i>. +Nice and long—and thick. And that one I +didn't wind around the new arbor; I only laid +it nice and easy on top. You'd think it was +all wound up like the other branches and things +but it wasn't. Camouflage! About—oh thirty +or forty feet, maybe, of the cord I rolled up and +put in my pocket. Of course those wise guys +had to have their ball of cord back. +</p> + +<p> +"Well—don't get scared. Any one would +think it was <i>you</i> doing this. Well, as——" +</p> + +<p> +"I'm not <i>scared</i>, only——" +</p> + +<p> +"Wait till you hear, kid; it's good. It was so +easy I'm sorry now I didn't go and say good-by +to Punkhead; he's got charge of my floor." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny's expression seemed to say that he +thought it just as well his half-brother had not +done that. +</p> + +<p> +"After supper I did my little job carrying ice +in from the ice-house and dumping it in the +box in the outside pantry. Then I went +upstairs with the ice-tongs—don't laugh at them, +kid, they're simps. At Blythedale Home all +those managers need is a mother's care." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny was far from laughing at this dreadful +recital. +</p> + +<p> +"So I put the ice-tongs under my mattress. +Then I stayed awake till I heard the church +clock in Blythedale ring two. Then I tied the +ice-tongs to the cord and dropped it down out +of the window and pulled up the grape-vine +and tied it good and fast to the shutter hinge. +Zip goes the fillum. I wrote on a piece of +paper, <i>Get two hunks of ice to-morrow so you +can cool down. So long</i>. Then I slid down the +grape-vine. +</p> + +<p> +"I had some stuff I kept from my supper and +I got as far as Tonley's Corners before it got +light. Then I hid under a lunch wagon that +was all boarded up till last night and then I +started hiking again. I grubbed some eats and +got a hitch with a wop in a flivver—he can't +even speak English. So here I am and it's +just exactly fifty-one miles from Blythedale +Home to Temple Camp and you're looking +great, kid. +</p> + +<p> +"All I want is that fifteen bucks so I can get +a good start. I was thinking I'd bang down +to New York and get a job on a ship. But I +can't chase around in these blamed calico +things, I'll get pinched <i>sure</i>. Say, kid, how +about that lake; what's on the other side! +Could I get through to Catskill that way +without going on a road? Hsh—<i>listen</i>." +</p> + +<p> +"That's only a bird house that kinder creaks +in a tree when the wind blows. Collie Edwards +put it there; he's a Star Scout." +</p> + +<p> +"Didn't you hear voices—men?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, it wasn't voices, Danny. Now I'm +sorry I bought a scout suit and some things, +because I haven't got that money. I only got +eleven cents of it now—that's all I got." +</p> + +<p> +"You got a suit and things?" Danny asked, +aghast. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, because I never had any and they kept +saying how I have to have one, because I'm a +scout. Honest Danny, I'm sorry." +</p> + +<p> +The elder boy sat on the shelf dangling his +legs and contemplating his half-brother in a +daze. +</p> + +<p> +"If you're mad I don't blame you, but it +isn't my fault," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Now what am I going to do? <i>Now</i> what in +blazes am I going to do?" was all that Danny +could say. +</p> + +<p> +"Could—maybe you could wear the suit," +Skinny ventured. "Then people wouldn't +know you got out of a reform school. You can +have it if you want it; anyway, it's too big for +me. Curry had to laugh at me in it. They +don't make them like the shape I am." +</p> + +<p> +Something in this last wistful remark +touched the brother. Even in his troubled +preoccupation he reached out and ruffled the +younger boy's hair. "Who's Curry? Did you +tell him what I did to Kinney for making fun +of you?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, because he's a nice fellow; he's an assistant +scoutmaster. They all kinder laugh at me, +but just the same I'm good friends with them." +</p> + +<p> +"I couldn't pay railroad fares with a scout +suit, kid." +</p> + +<p> +"Maybe you could hook a ride, you're so +smart. I guess you could do it if you wanted to +like the way you do 'most everything. I never +told them about you 'cause I couldn't." +</p> + +<p> +Danny only gazed at him in a kind of blank +abstraction. Sometimes great anxiety finds relief +in a trifling, irrelevant act. "Here," said +he impulsively, "here's a letter I picked up. +You better chuck it on the counter or somewhere. +Who's Danville Bently; did you ever +hear of him?" +</p> + +<p> +"There's lots of fellers come here I never +heard of," said Skinny. "Anyway, most of +them don't bother with me; even my own patrol +doesn't." +</p> + +<p> +"Well that's a guy that isn't coming," said +Danny. "He's giving them a stall till August. +Maybe I might be him, huh?" He laughed +at the absurdity of the idea. "Hide inside +of somebody else. Ever hear of that? Go +ahead, read it, it's open." +</p> + +<p> +It was then that Skinny, all in innocence, +made a remark much deeper than his wit had +intended. He was great for blundering +remarks. His sober and literal answers were one +of the jokes of camp. "You can't hide inside +of a scout if you're not a scout; you can't do +that," he said, looking wide eyed at his half-brother. +</p> + +<p> +Danny reached forward and ruffled his hair +again. Skinny was accustomed to that. It was +done to him twenty times a day. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VI +<br><br> +IN THE DIM LIGHT +</h3> + +<p> +"Just the same I think I can," said Danny. +"And just the same I think I will." +</p> + +<p> +It was in just that casual, reckless spirit that +Danny McCord first proposed the impersonation +of Danville Bently at Temple Camp. He +thought of it as a joke, and then the idea +captivated him. He was amused by Skinny's terror +at the very thought. It would be hard to say +just when or how he passed from humorous to +serious consideration of this preposterous +enterprise. But once decided, the terrified Skinny +could not dissuade him. He had unbounded +confidence in himself, this fugitive boy, and he +knew nothing whatever about scouting. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny's disbursement of his funds had +dashed the brother's hopes. He had not the +wherewithal to make good his escape. But he +might remain at camp, pretending to be this +boy whose coming was postponed for a month. +It was such a bit of daredevil effrontery as left +Skinny speechless with fear and apprehension. +</p> + +<p> +"You'll—you'll be sorry," was all he could +stammer, as he stood, a pathetic little figure, in +the dim glow of the smelly old red lantern. +"Remember what I said when you were going +to take Mr. Burt's Ford for a joy ride—remember +what I said." +</p> + +<p> +"You said you wouldn't tell," said Danny, +ruffling the little fellow's hair in that fraternal +way he had. I dare say the best thing about +this dubious brother was his condescending but +genuine fondness for Skinny. He trusted him. +"And you didn't either, because you're a little +brick." +</p> + +<p> +"Even if they had <i>killed</i> me," said Skinny +emphasizing the word with nervous tension; +"even then I wouldn't tell. Even if they had +<i>killed</i> me!" +</p> + +<p> +"Don't get excited, Tiny," Danny laughed, +pulling Skinny toward him and unclenching the +little fellow's fist; he had even dug his nails into +the palms of his hands. "Sure you didn't tell. +And am I blaming you because they chased me +up to Blythdale? And I'm not sore because +you haven't got any money, kid." +</p> + +<p> +"No, but now you're going to get into more +trouble. If you stay here they'll come and find +you." +</p> + +<p> +"Not if I'm Danville Bently, kid. Do you +want me to start away from here without any +money? I was going to go and get a job on a +ship. How can I do that now? This is my only +chance, Teeny-weeny; don't worry." +</p> + +<p> +"That's what you said before and you went +to reform school." +</p> + +<p> +"And I got away from there, too." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny gazed at his half-brother, admiringly, +trustful, but panic-stricken. "You're going to +get in a lot of trouble, Danny," he said in +fearful agitation. "I know you licked Kinney and +he was bigger than you, and you climbed over +the fence of Garrett's Field with me so I could +peek under the circus tent, and I know you got +away from the Home——" +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, don't call it a home, kid." +</p> + +<p> +"I don't blame you for it," said Skinny +loyally, "only now you're going to get found +out, because being a scout is—kinder you got +to know all about it, how they do and +everything. I know you're all the time laughing +at them, Danny, but anyway, you got to know +how they do and everything." His panic +apprehension was pitiful, but Danny only +laughed. +</p> + +<p> +"Give us the letter, kid, and I'll burn it up. +Now I tell you what you do; you're going to +be a bully little kid and stand by me like you +always did; hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but——" +</p> + +<p> +"You chase down and get that primer or +whatever you call it, that you kids use." +</p> + +<p> +"That's the Scout Handbook, it ain't a +primer." +</p> + +<p> +"Yere, you get that. How much oil is there +in this blamed magic lantern; will it burn a +couple of hours? Gee, it makes your face look +red kid——" +</p> + +<p> +"I gained two pounds, Danny, up here." +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Yere</i>? The blamed thing makes us look like +a couple of Indians——" +</p> + +<p> +"Now I got a thought, Danny. A red light +means danger. There's danger waiting for you +Danny." +</p> + +<p> +"All right, tell it to wait. Now you chase +down and see if you can sneak in and get your +book and your new suit and bring them up here. +Bring anything you've got that you don't need. +Go on, chase yourself now and if you wake them +up I'll know you're a ham scout. That gosh +blamed bird-house—are you sure that's what +it is?" +</p> + +<p> +They both listened. In the stillness of the +night was a creaking sound followed by another +like the breaking of twigs. "Is it somebody +walking!" Danny whispered. +</p> + +<p> +"I never heard it just like that before," +Skinny whispered in terror. "Shall we look +out?" +</p> + +<p> +"If I start running, don't you say who I +am," said Danny. "They might have dogs out, +I don't know. <i>Shh—ut up</i>." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny McCord had many times been hurt +by boys who meant him no harm. Occasionally +his pride had been touched when bantering +comrades had referred to his humble origin and +poor abode in Bridgeboro. But when Danny +mentioned the possibility of dogs being on his +trail, something in that narrow chest of little +Skinny McCord rose and he flushed with anger. +Instinctively he felt what officialdom does +not feel, the degrading character of setting a +beast to catch a human being. Truly, indeed, +human nature can sink no lower than this. To +the powers of law enforcement belongs the +contemptible distinction which places them below +the level of the vilest criminal. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>They wouldn't do that!</i>" whispered Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, wouldn't they, though!" +</p> + +<p> +"I'll do what you want me to," Skinny said. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VII +<br><br> +DARK PLANS +</h3> + +<p> +There came a time when they said of Skinny +that he had been frightened into participation +in his half-brother's bizarre and daring plan. +But that was not true of him. He tried, as we +have seen, to dissuade Danny. When the worst +came to the worst and he knew that he could +not dissuade him, he was loyal. He was loyal +in a dastardly business. +</p> + +<p> +This wonderful big brother of his could not +teach him anything in the matter of stealth; he +was a little demon at that. He had accustomed +himself to stepping carefully and making no +noise in the days when he went barefoot in the +slummy east end of Bridgeboro whence he had +emanated one day to stare wide eyed at the +scouts practicing archery. There happened to +be a vacancy in Connie Bennett's patrol (Elks), +so they took him in. He was their mascot. +They didn't even mind his not having a scout +suit. He had a winsome smile when they jollied +him and they liked him immensely. He was not +only glad, but proud to run on errands. +</p> + +<p> +When the McCords moved to Bridgeboro and +hired three rooms in Corkscrew Alley down +near the marsh that bordered the river, Danny +was not with them. He had already taken his +departure, under escort, to Blythedale Boys' +Home, which he was right in saying was not a +home at all. He had been sent thither because +of his escapade with Mr. Burt's Ford, though +this had by no means been his first escapade. +But it was the crucial one. So the scouts of the +First Bridgeboro Troop, of which Skinny was +an obscure and lowly member, had never seen +the enterprising Danny. His colorful career +came to a halt in Irontown and soon afterward +the hapless family moved to Bridgeboro, where +Mr. McCord had secured a job in the paper +mill. Danny's mother was dead and Skinny +was the child of Mr. McCord's second wife. +Whatever else may be said of Danny, he had +always afforded Skinny all the sturdy +advantages of a big brother. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny missed him when he moved to Bridgeboro. +The hoodlums down in Corkscrew Alley +called him <i>Owleyes</i> and <i>Jumbo</i> and other +piquant appellations. Once or twice he was +moved to tell them that things would be +different when Danny returned. When he got in +with the scouts he never mentioned Danny. He +had too much pride and these strange, +wonderful boys of the upper world would not +understand. They would not appreciate the +knock-out blow administered to the unhappy +Kinney. And now, at last, when Skinny had +attained to the glory of a real scout suit, here +was this brother come to Temple Camp, a fugitive, +and with all his wonted assurance proposing +a scheme for hiding which struck poor +Skinny dumb with terror. +</p> + +<p> +Silently he sped through the woods back to +camp and stealthily, ever so stealthily, up to +the Martha Norris Memorial Cabins, where his +troop was quartered that season. A splendid +organization was the First Bridgeboro Troop, +with four full patrols, and they held sway in +these four cabins which represented one of the +camp endowments. In the Elks' cabin all was +still. +</p> + +<p> +With every nerve on edge, Skinny crept to +the rustic lockers at the end of the building. +He was so fearful that he jerked his foot up in +nervous excitement as he turned the key of his +own locker. He paused after the slight click, +listening. His heart beat like a trip-hammer. +No sound, no stir. Only the audible breathing +of Vic Norris. One of the other boys turned +over and settled down in deeper slumber. +Somewhere outside an owl hooted. Skinny +stood stark still. +</p> + +<p> +The plaguey hinges! He eased the swing of +the locker door as he opened it inch by inch. +There was his old pasteboard suit-case; he was +the only boy in the patrol who had not a duffel +bag. On top of it lay the bundle containing his +scout suit and hat just as he had brought the +treasured purchase back from Kingston. He +had not dared to wear this flaunting regalia nor +even to tell his patrol about it. He did not +know whether or not they knew about it. +Would the paper rustle as he lifted the bundle? +No; he lifted it out carefully. Then he opened +his suit-case and got his Handbook. So far, so +good. Softly he closed the door and locked it. +Then with his precious Handbook and the bundle +he crept stealthily over to the trail which +led up through the woods. +</p> + +<p> +Now his heart beat more easily. Action is +always stimulating, and being launched on this +perilous business it was not so hard to go ahead. +He had not done much so far, but what he had +done had been successful. He had done what +Danny had told him to do and it had been easy. +It seemed to Skinny that this was a dreadful +thing his brother was about to attempt, +but Danny must know what he was about. +</p> + +<p> +"Why it's going to be a cinch," his brother +assured him when he had donned the suit; it +fitted him much better than it fitted poor +Skinny. When he tossed the hat on, he looked +like a scout indeed and poor Skinny was even +moved to feel a certain pride in him. He was +a fine looking boy, there was no denying that, +with an easy nonchalance about him that was +captivating. +</p> + +<p> +"You—you won't be a really truly scout," +Skinny warned him. The warning seemed to +include a confession that Danny did look like +one. "And what are you going to do when he +comes—that other feller?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'll be on my way," said Danny lightly. +</p> + +<p> +"You'll be using up the money that's going +to pay his board, too," Skinny said. +</p> + +<p> +The answer did not comfort him. "Sure, +he'll be out of luck," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny gazed at this daring brother of his +in mingled admiration and terror. "Will you—Danny, +will you—if I get fifteen dollars, will +you <i>not</i> do it?" +</p> + +<p> +"Where would you get fifteen bucks, kid? +You should worry," he added. "Let's take a +look at that book. Does it tell all about it and +everything? How you drill and everything?" +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Now you see</i>, you don't know anything +about it," Skinny said excitedly, in a pitiable +way of triumph. "They don't drill at all; they +track and stalk and all like that, and win merit +badges, and all like that. Now you're going to +get in trouble." He clenched his little hands +nervously and almost cried as he spoke. +"You're going to get in trouble Danny. +They're smart, scouts are, and they'll find out. +Just because <i>I'm</i> not so smart and they make +fun of me like; and just because <i>I</i> can't do all +the things they do, you needn't think they're +not smart. That's where you're all the time +wrong, you think boy scouts——" +</p> + +<p> +"Who makes fun of you?" Danny asked +with a queer scrutiny in his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"Now you're going to get into scraps, too," +poor Skinny said. "You're going to call them +kids and everything. Even if they make fun +of me they're not mad at me." +</p> + +<p> +There was a grim look in Danny's eyes and +a menacing sneer in his voice as he said, +"<i>Is—that—so!</i>" In the lowering comment was real +feeling for Skinny and a high contempt for +Temple Camp and all its scouts. +</p> + +<p> +"You should worry, kid," he said. "Go on +back and go to bed. All you've got to do is +not notice me. Don't be coming around. Act +just like if you didn't know me. All I want to +do is just lay low for three or four days; I'll +get away with it that long, don't worry. If +you had the money I'd beat it, but I can't bang +out of here without a red, and that bunch after +me. What am I going to do? I know what's +troubling you, kid. You think it's kind of like +stealing, using up that what's-his-name's board +money. You're a little brick, kiddo. But I'll +only be here two or three days. And when he +gets here next month—why these guys won't +know till then there was anything phony about +me! And <i>you</i> won't be hooked up with it at all. +Now trot along and turn in, Tiny, old pal." +</p> + +<p> +"Won't I see you any more after you go away +from here? Maybe you'll go all the way +around the world on a ship, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Suuuuure</i>, you'll see me again. And you'll +get paid back for your suit too. Don't I line +up pretty nice as a boy scout. How do you do +that—what is it, a salute they've got?" He +wriggled his thumb against his ear in a funny +way and laughed at Skinny and gave him an +affectionate shove. "Go on back now or you'll +be walking in your sleep," said he. "And +whatever you do, don't let on when you see me +again." +</p> + +<p> +"I can look at you, can't I?" said poor +Skinny. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER VIII +<br><br> +STEALTH +</h3> + +<p> +Well, if it was for only two or three days it +would not be so bad, poor Skinny reflected as +he went back through the darkness. Still his +conscience troubled him and he was beside +himself with fear. The only gleam of light he saw +in this sorry business was that Danny did have +a way of succeeding in the things he undertook. +He trusted Danny to avert the catastrophe +which would naturally ensue in such a daring +and perilous business. +</p> + +<p> +He hoped that during those dreadful two or +three days the scouts at camp would not overstep +their prerogative of banter where he was +concerned. Or at least that Danny might not +see them in full swing with their raillery. The +historic Kinney of Irontown had got over the +licking that Danny had given him. But poor +Skinny had never got over it. +</p> + +<p> +As he wandered, fearful and conscience-stricken, +down the wooded slope a thought came +to him. There was a rich boy in camp, Helmer +Clarkson. That boy wanted a canoe and had +tried for the Hiawatha Prize—a fine canoe to +win which a scout must swim across the lake. +Helmer had started (according to rule) with +a rowboat escort, and like many another +hopeful candidate had returned in the boat. So +Helmer had decided to fall back on the less +heroic plan of asking his father to buy him a +canoe. If he had not already done this, then +Skinny had a plan. He would swim across the +lake, win the canoe, and sell it to Helmer +Clarkson. Then he would give the money to his +erring brother. +</p> + +<p> +He knew the camp people would regard him +contemptuously for selling a prize, but at least +he could help Danny, and put an end to this +dreadful thing that Danny was doing. All this +might be done immediately—the next morning. +The only difficulty would be that his comrades +would laugh at him as soon as he proposed the +heroic enterprise. Alas, they would not know +how heroic it was! They would make a great +joke of his trying for a prize—especially this +prize. They would decline to accompany him +with a boat. They would probably tell him, as +they had so many times told him, that if he had +to be taken into the boat it would probably sink +it. Skinny weighed sixty-four pounds, not +counting his heart, which weighed tons just now. +</p> + +<p> +Well, he thought as he trudged along, if +Danny could do such wonderful (albeit dreadful) +things, he, Skinny could do this. And it +would straighten everything out. Perhaps he +could even do it before Danny presented +himself to the powers in Administration Shack +and signed up. That would be between ten and +eleven in the morning. He wondered if Helmer +Clarkson had any ready money; surely he must +have some. Fifteen dollars was all that Danny +had demanded. He would sell the prize canoe +to Clarkson for fifteen dollars. Well, that was +settled and things were not so bad. +</p> + +<p> +As he passed down through the dark woods, +he thought of his fugitive brother hiding in +that little dank switchman's shanty. What +would be the first thing he would do in the +morning? Thus preoccupied with his thoughts, +Skinny found himself approaching the cabin +before which the white pennant flew. In there +they would be sleeping with one eye open, as +the saying is. If he could—if he only +<i>could</i>—"lift" that pennant. What a glory for the +Elks! It would raise him in their esteem; they +might take him seriously. Then perhaps they +would listen when he talked about trying for +the Hiawatha Prize. He was elated; he +believed that the whole situation was in his +hands; Danny, all unknown to the camp, might +be on his way in the morning. This whole +business was not so bad after all. +</p> + +<p> +Never in all his trembling little life had +Skinny moved with such stealth and caution as +when he now approached that coveted pennant, +He was about to try to do what Warde Hollister +had failed to do; what Ellis Carway (who +was an Eagle) had failed to do. He retreated +a few yards, and sat down on a stump. He +knew that he was out of his sphere, that this +sort of thing was not expected of him. He felt +that he was intruding into the heroic field +where he had no business. He removed his +shoes, tied the laces together, and hung the +shoes around his neck. They were almost +worn out; you could have stuck a finger through +the soles. +</p> + +<p> +Now, trembling in every nerve, he approached +the cabin. The door stood ajar. He +advanced a pace and paused listening. No +sound. He took another step. No sound. He +could reach out now and lift the staff. He +paused, fearful to move. Straining his eyes he +looked all about the staff. Then, ever so +cautiously, he stooped, and shuddered as the clasp +on his belt clinked. He felt all around on the +ground, for he had heard scouts speak of cord +attached to the staff and tied to the arm of +some drowsy slacker on his cot. That was not +considered good scouting, but it had been done. +</p> + +<p> +But here there was no cord; these unknown +scouts were playing the game right. The +usual way with the patrol holding the white +pennant was to sleep in turns, with one scout +always awake to listen. In a full patrol no one +scout would have to remain awake very long. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny stood up and with trembling hand +reached out and grasped the staff. Still no +sound. There was a cricket chirping and he +wished it would keep still. He had heard of +rocks laid against the staff so that when it +was lifted one would fall upon another. But +nothing happened as he slowly raised the staff +up, up, up—— +</p> + +<p> +What a queer little goblin of a boy he +seemed, as he reached one foot far forward so +as to cover all the ground he could with every +pace. With each grotesque straining of a leg +his face unconsciously assumed an aspect of +demoniac fear. Then all of a sudden he started +to run, his shoes flapping back and forth +against his chest and shoulders like an outlandish +bulky necklace. He held the white pennant +in his trembling hand. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-048"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-048.jpg" alt="SKINNY STARTED RUNNING WITH THE WHITE PENNANT."> +<br> +SKINNY STARTED RUNNING WITH THE WHITE PENNANT. +</p> + +<p> +He had done it! +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER IX +<br><br> +FOR DANNY +</h3> + +<p> +He would have been proud of his achievement +in any case, but he was doubly elated now, +for it simplified the matter of Danny. With +this "really and truly" scouting triumph to his +credit, the Elks could not take him otherwise +than seriously. They would escort him in his +swim for the Hiawatha Prize and perhaps that +very next morning Danny, his secret hero, +would be on his way. The criminal and +dangerous character of what Danny was going to +do at Temple Camp impressed Skinny, but his +conscience was not troubled about Danny's +final exploit at the reform school. +</p> + +<p> +When he reached the Elks' cabin, he found +his patrol leader, Connie Bennett, waiting for +him. It was well that he returned with the +white pennant for this saved him the embarrassment +of explaining his absence. The white +pennant was always an excuse. It was a +midnight passport even with the powers of +Administration Shack. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>I got it, I got it!</i>" he said excitedly. +"<i>Look what I got!</i>" +</p> + +<p> +"You little demon," said Connie. "So +that's what you went after." +</p> + +<p> +"<i>I got it, I got it!</i>" was all that Skinny could +say. +</p> + +<p> +"They didn't chase you?" +</p> + +<p> +"They didn't hear me—even." +</p> + +<p> +Connie softly closed the cabin door so as not +to awaken the sleepers and together he and +Skinny stood outside. +</p> + +<p> +"Calm down," said Connie; "you're all +excited. Bully for you, but calm down." +</p> + +<p> +"Wait—wait a minute and I'll calm down. +I—can't do it all of a sudden. Now—now I'm +going to do something else—wait till I tell +you——" +</p> + +<p> +Connie put his arm over the quivering form +of the little Elk mascot who seemed now to be +launched upon a wild debauch of heroism. +"Hsh, all right, Shorty. You did fine; gee, I +have to laugh. The patrol won't believe you +did it." +</p> + +<p> +"Now you got to help me do something else," +said Skinny, gulping with excitement and satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +"Surest thing." +</p> + +<p> +"You got to—to-morrow morning early I'm +going to swim across the lake and get the +Hiawatha Prize." +</p> + +<p> +"Goodness me!" +</p> + +<p> +"Yop—I'm going to swim across and get it. +So will you get all the patrol up early so some +of you can row across while I swim?" +</p> + +<p> +"Listen, Shorty," said Connie. "You did +one peach of a stunt; the patrol will go crazy +when they hear it. Why Hunt Ward tried for +that; you remember. The Silver Foxes tried +for it—Roy Blakeley. That was the time he +didn't do all the laughing." +</p> + +<p> +"And maybe now they won't make fun of +me, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"Listen, Shorty; go in and go to sleep now. +And don't be thinking you can do everything +just because you did this." +</p> + +<p> +"I'm going to, I'm going to——" +</p> + +<p> +"No you're not. You're not going to try for +the Hiawatha canoe, because that isn't in your +line. See? You little sneaky devil, you! +Went in your bare feet, huh? Go on in and go +to bed now and don't talk ragtime. What's +the matter, aren't you satisfied?" +</p> + +<p> +"I got to go——" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, you <i>got to go</i>—to bed. To-morrow +we'll go over to Administration Shack and +have them take your picture. You can put on +your new togs, dress up in your regular scout +suit, all dolled up like a Christmas tree. You +know they want pictures for <i>Boys' Life</i>, fellows +that win awards and do stunts and all +that. You go to bed now and when you get up +in the morning put on your new scout duds. +What the dickens are you afraid of? Nobody's +going to kid you. And we'll go over and let +Mr. Wainwright take a snapshot of you holding +the pennant. <i>Alfred McCord of the Elk +Patrol, Bridgeboro, New Jersey, holding the white +pennant taken from a cabin where it was +supposed to be guarded at Temple Camp, New +York</i>. How does that sound? Go on in now, +and remember when you get up in the morning +put on your scout suit. That's your patrol +leader's order. You're all right, Shorty, +you're a little winner!" +</p> + +<p> +So this was the sequel of his triumph. "<i>Put +on your scout suit.</i>" A fine mess he had made +of it. He knew Connie Bennett for a sober, +sensible boy, who more than most patrol +leaders had some notion of leadership and +discipline. So Connie had known about the scout +suit and had just not pushed him in the matter +of wearing it. But now there was to be no more +nonsense. Here was the penalty of heroism. +What was he to do? It was clear from the way +Connie spoke that the try for the Hiawatha +Prize was quite out of the question; they did +not regard him as a swimmer. What he would +be expected to do, would be compelled to do, +was put on his new scout suit and go to +Administration Shack with his patrol and have his +picture taken as the capturer of the white +pennant. And all his fine plan of helping Danny to +get out from the shadow of fearful peril would +go for naught. This was Skinny's first experience +in being a "really truly" hero. +</p> + +<p> +There was a vein of something running in the +McCord family. I don't know whether you +would call it a vein of the heroic or just a vein +of recklessness and rebelliousness. Diffident +and sensitive little Skinny had a touch of +it. Perhaps it was this that bound him to +Danny. At all events there was this about him. +His temperament was one of sweet diffidence, +of a smiling shyness which made him a subject +both for banter and affection. At the other +extreme in his strange make-up was the capacity +for utter frenzy. I suppose you might say that +he was highly strung and afraid to show it until +something tipped the scales of his delicate +nature. There was no such thing as authority +then. +</p> + +<p> +They would not take this capturer of the +white pennant seriously. Well then, he did not +care. There was only one person in the world +who could have dominated him then, and that +was Danny. But it was for Danny that he was +now possessed by a will so strong that it made +his poor little body tremble. Danny could not +help him; he was going to help Danny. He +was possessed, inspired, this little fellow who +smiled quaintly when they made fun of him. +He did not sleep that night; he lay trembling +with a towering resolve. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning, while still his comrades +were sleeping, he crept out of bed, pulled on the +only clothes he had and started out. The grass +was all covered with sparkling dew; the air +was crisp and clear, the birds were making a +great chorus in the trees as if they had +over-slept and were in a hurry. Skinny had a queer +little trot, something between a walk and run, +that boys took delight in imitating. He did +not look in the least like the scout on the cover +of the Handbook. +</p> + +<p> +He went down the hill on which the memorial +cabins stood, casting a glance up through +the woods to the point where the little shanty +was. So clear was the morning that he might +even have glimpsed it through the trees, only +it was in the overgrown cut and below the line +of vision. He wondered what sort of a night +Danny had spent. The thought recurred to +him (it had recurred many times in that +eventful, sleepless night) that maybe bloodhounds +had found him—found his half-brother who had +knocked Kinney senseless—and had barked +their beastly exultation to human pursuers. +But that could not be; Blythedale Reform +School was too far way for that sort of +pursuit. Nevertheless Skinny's blood tingled at +the thought. +</p> + +<p> +He was barefoot, for the business he was on +required no shoes. He trotted down around +the main pavilion, cut through the big open +"grub" shed and pattered along the board walk +to Administration Shack. This was the +holy-of-holies of Temple Camp, sanctum of officials, +where there was a safe and a counter and a +young man forever playing away at a typewriter +machine. Skinny had never before ventured +upon the veranda of this official lair, and +he trod with reverence. Above the bulletin +board near the door was a framed set of rules +for the information of guests. Skinny wanted +to confirm his knowledge by one of these and +he read it with delight: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + XI The office will be open for the<br> + transaction of general business<br> + from 10 to 11 o'clock A.M. and<br> + from 2 to 3 o'clock P.M.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +So Danny could not enroll as Danville Bently +until ten o'clock. He hoped that Danny had +not yet destroyed the letter and that it might +still reach the office. He went around to the +side of the building and tried to look through +the window, but it was too high. So he dragged +a bench over from the "grub" shed and stood +on that. +</p> + +<p> +Within was a large glass case filled with +forest trophies. And there in a corner (he had +seen it before) stood the Hiawatha Prize canoe. +He just wanted to make sure that it was there. +Down he jumped and off he ran toward the float +where the boats were knocking and clanking +their chains. The water was rough and looked +cold. He pulled off his faded shirt and shabby +trousers and walked out to the end of the +springboard. Even his light weight caused its +metal parts to squeak; it always squeaked +in the morning owing to the dampness of +the night and the few hours of disuse. For just +a moment he paused, then plunged into the +lake. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER X +<br><br> +WON +</h3> + +<p> +Over near the opposite shore of the lake there +was a man fishing from a boat that morning. +He sat motionless in the early solitude, a lonely +figure against the somber background of +wooded shore. Across the lake was a ribbon of +light, like a silvery stream flowing in the dark +water. It seemed to scatter into bits of tinsel +where it touched the base of the densely +covered heights. The lone fisherman was not in its +path. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly he raised his rod, swinging the long +line far off from the opposite side of his boat, +and just then something caught his eye. About +fifty yards distant an object was moving across +the shimmering band. At first he thought it +was a freakish manifestation of this glimmering +sheen. Then he saw that it was a foreign +object, progressing slowly, steadily. It reached +the clearly defined border of this shining area; +then he lost it for a few moments. +</p> + +<p> +Now it appeared again coming straight toward +him; by-times he caught a glimpse of a +face; an arm appeared and disappeared +regularly. On, on the swimmer came with slow, +unswerving progress. The fisherman heard a +distant bell; like an answering peal it echoed +from the solemn heights near by. Distant +voices could be heard, thin and spent. The man +could not hear what they said as they seemed +to dissolve in the air. But the bell continued +ringing. He felt rather than heard distant +excitement. The ringing and the voices were +mellowed by the intervening space, yet he +sensed that something was wrong over at the +big camp. +</p> + +<p> +The swimmer was now in plain view of the +fisherman—close at hand. He did not seem to +be in trouble, but a swim across Black Lake was +by no means an easy feat, and the man hauled +in his line and sculled over to intercept him. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't touch me—keep away!" Skinny +fairly yelled. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't you want to come aboard?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, you keep away from me!" +</p> + +<p> +<a id="p61"></a> +The boy seemed in a frenzy; it was evident +that he was nearly exhausted with only his will +power to keep him going. The man, apprehensive +of disaster, sculled alongside him. +Soon the little fellow's feet were on the bottom +and as he staggered through the shallow water +it was evident that he was at the point of +collapse. "<i>Keep away, don't touch me!</i>" he kept +saying. Then he groped blindly for the branch +of a projecting tree, and so guided his tottering +way to the steep bank, where he sank down +unconscious. He could not quiver in every nerve +as he did in his former triumph, for oblivion +came and he knew not that he, Skinny McCord, +had won the Hiawatha prize canoe! +</p> + +<p> +The fisherman did not know that this +drenched and ghostly pale boy had done +anything more than a rash stunt. He lifted him +gently and laid him in the boat and started +to row across toward camp. But he did not +have to go far. Across the lake at top speed +the camp launch came chugging, filled with +eager, shouting passengers. +</p> + +<p> +"Is he all right?" a voice called. "Isn't +drowned, is he?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, but he's fainted," the man called back. +</p> + +<p> +"Did you pick him up?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, he made the shore." +</p> + +<p> +Up she came to the old flat-bottomed boat +that rocked in the swell as Councilor Wallace +caught hold of the unpainted rail while two +scouts lifted Skinny into the launch. All the +Elks were there, and Doc Carson, first aid scout +of the Ravens, and Tom Slade, the young camp +assistant. Yes, the little devil was all right. +He opened his eyes and closed them again. +Connie Bennett, his patrol leader, brushed the +soaked hair away from the small white forehead, +and the eyes opened again and the quivering +lips smiled at Connie. "You're all right, +kid!" said he gently. He pulled away a bit of +water-weed that was plastered across the little +fellow's face. "Want to try to sit up?" +</p> + +<p> +"I see him a comin'," said the fisherman, +"an' I kinder surmised somethin's wrong. He +wuz swimmin' all ragged—I never see nuthin' +like it. But he yells to me not ter touch 'im. +Just screeches at me. Then he goes reelin' up +the shore 'n' grabs hold on a tree 'n' goes +twistin' roun' 'n' down he goes. Maybe he wuz +escapin' thinks I." +</p> + +<p> +"No, he wasn't escaping," said Connie. "He +just had a kind of a craze on. He did a stunt +and he thought he'd like to try a still bigger +one." +</p> + +<p> +"He's a lucky kid," said the fisherman as he +rowed away. +</p> + +<p> +"Lucky patrol," said one of the boys. +</p> + +<p> +They took him over to camp and into Administration +Shack and laid him on the couch there. +And in a little while he was quite restored and +able to go up the hill to his patrol cabin. His +slim little form looked funny in a bathrobe as +he trudged along, tripping now and again. The +Elks clustered all about him proudly. Stut +Moran playfully pulled the tasseled cord tight +about him and tied it in a knot; it made him +look still funnier, and he smiled that bashful +smile of his to see them amused at his expense. +"Looks like a champion prize-fighter on his +way to the ring," said Stut. +</p> + +<p> +"Well you've got a nice new dry suit anyway," +said Connie. "And you're going to put +it on and have your picture taken for both +things that you did. Jumping jiminies, kid, you +sure did break loose! What are you going to +do next? Why, you crazy little midnight sneak! +How the dickens did you suppose you were +going to prove you swam across the lake when +you got up at about fourteen-twenty A.M. and +started off without any escort. Suppose that +man hadn't been there. It's all right, kid, we're +not kicking; we've got the Hiawatha canoe, gee +we've got no kick. I'll say that. But cut out +the hero stuff for a couple of days. Why, you +skinny little grasshopper, you've been running +wild!" +</p> + +<p> +"Can I get it right away?" Skinny asked. +"The canoe, can I get it right away quick? +Right away now, can I get it?" he persisted, +tripping over the bathrobe which was as much +too big for him as his lost scout suit. "Can I +honest and true get it right away <i>now</i>?" +</p> + +<p> +"Who's going to stop us!" laughed Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"We'll be out paddling in it this afternoon," +said Vic Norris. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you know what I was thinking?" Bert +McAlpin asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Skinny doesn't think, he acts," said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"No, but on the level," said Bert. "I never +took such an awful lot of interest in it before—I +mean the regatta—but, <i>jiminies</i>, as long as +we've got the Hiawatha canoe why can't a +couple of us train up and go in for the Mary +Temple Cup? Skinny's too small, but it's all +in the patrol anyway. You know what Roy +Blakeley's all the time saying—united we stand, +divided we sprawl. I say let's a couple of us +train for the canoe races. Skinny's got us +started now and we'll do big things. <i>Oh boy</i>, +the white pennant! And now the canoe. Oh +boy, Skinny's the big noise in camp." +</p> + +<p> +He did not make much noise as he sat down +on the edge of his cot, his clamorous comrades +all about him. He had never tasted glory +before. He had not only made a sensational +hop, slap and jump into fame; he had aroused +in his patrol the thirst for still greater +achievement. He was bewildered, frightened. +</p> + +<p> +"Listen here, kid," said Connie, "I'm so +blamed excited I can hardly talk straight. +Listen here. The breakfast horn will be +sounding in a few minutes. We're not washed up +yet, we got called up in such a hurry. While +we're getting ready for breakfast you get on +your new scout suit and we'll meet you over at +'eats.' Now no more blamed nonsense, you do +what I tell you and put on your scout suit, and +come over to 'eats' all dolled up right so the +bunch will know the fellow that did these things +is a scout. Understand?" +</p> + +<p> +Skinny understood, and he just sat on the +edge of his cot, nervous and anxious to be left +alone. To these enthusiastic, planning +comrades, his achievement was a climax. But it +was no climax to him; it was just one step in +what he intended to do. He was bewildered and +nervous at their talk about future triumphs +with the prize canoe. Connie's order to him +about the new scout suit troubled him. You +see, Skinny had not intended to be a hero. He +was a hero worshipper, and his hero was +Danny. He had never thought to complicate +matters by being a hero himself. Now he saw +that being a hero was a nuisance. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XI +<br><br> +IF +</h3> + +<p> +Skinny knew that Danny was wise, that he +would not appear in camp before half past +nine, because there was no boat or train which +would permit his arrival before that time. +Danny's attention to detail in his free and +lawless progress commanded admiration if not +respect. He never committed a silly blunder. +Also Skinny knew that this runaway brother +of his could not commit the perilous act of +false registration until the office opened at ten +o'clock. So there was time enough for what +he had planned to do. +</p> + +<p> +Hurriedly opening his old suit-case, he pulled +out the only extra shirt and trousers that he +had and put them on. Then he locked the +suitcase again so that no prying comrade might +discover that the new suit was not there. Just +as he started from the cabin the breakfast horn +sounded. He hurried along with that funny +shuffling sideways gait of his and paused at the +cooking shack to get an apple and a sandwich +from Chocolate Drop, the colored chef. Any +scout contemplating a short hike was welcome +to this customary refreshment. He wanted it +for Danny. He wondered how Danny had spent +the night and hoped he had not been aroused +by all the fuss caused by his early swim. At +cooking shack he took occasion to ask Chocolate +Drop if he knew where Helmer Clarkson +stayed. +</p> + +<p> +"He dat boy wots folks done send 'im big +grapefruit 'n' boxes wi' dem figs. Sho he done +sleep up dere yonder in one dem woods cabins. +You know dat cabin wi' de skunk skin tacked +on de do'? Lor' Massa Skincord, dat boy am +rich! Him folk send him <i>great big</i> crate full +of fruit. Dat ain't good fer no young boy, dat +ain't. Bein' diffrent, <i>dat am bad</i>. I say ter +Massa Slade, I say, dat ain't no camp scout +business. Share one, share all, in dis yer camp, +dat's wot I say. You gwine straight up dat +path, you'll find it." +</p> + +<p> +It was little enough that poor Skinny knew +about the unwise procedure of rich parents +with their sons at camp. I dare say Chocolate +Drop was right; there was too much pampering. +Certainly no one had ever sent Skinny a grapefruit +or a box of figs. Something in the little +fellow's wistful look touched the kindly heart +of Chocolate Drop, who reigned unquestioned +monarch in the fragrant cook shack, and he +made up an extra sandwich and handed it to +him together with four cookies. "You watch +out you don' get bit by dem rattlesnakes," he +warned. Rattlesnakes were the terror of +Chocolate Drop's life. "You jes' good as dat +Clarkson son. Now you scamper off ter breakfast." +</p> + +<p> +But Skinny did not go to breakfast. He +started up the hill, encouraged, elated. He was +going to do business with a boy who had +expressed a desire for a canoe, and whose people +were so rich that they sent him figs and +grapefruit. He did not know just exactly how he +would approach such a boy; he dreaded this +more than he had dreaded his swim across the +lake. But, of course, rich boys could be talked +to. +</p> + +<p> +He was not exactly afraid; he felt that +luck had favored him thus far. He had lifted +the white pennant and had been able thereby to +conceal the real purpose of his absence at night. +He had won the Hiawatha canoe. And now he +was going to sell it to a boy who was so rich +that he received delicacies by parcel post. That +would be easy. Then he would hurry on up to +the old shanty in the cut and give Danny the +food and the money. After that he would, of +course, worry about Danny's escape from the +reform school. But at least the dangers at +Temple Camp would be averted. +</p> + +<p> +On arriving at the cabin with the skunk skin +tacked on the door, Skinny was astonished to +find that it was the very cabin from which he +had taken the white pennant. The place looked +different in the daylight. He had not seen the +skunk skin on his nocturnal raid, nor the +quaintly worded sign above the door which +read: +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +THE ALLIGATORS OF ALLEGHANY +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But he saw clearly the hole from which he had +so stealthily lifted the pennant staff. The +Alligators had not gone down to breakfast; there +were voices inside. He wondered whether +his little masterstroke would leave them prejudiced +against him. Hardly that, he realized, +for scouts are good sports and cheerful losers. +Perhaps they would even give him credit, as +the saying is. He was not doubtful about +scouts, but he was a little afraid of a rich boy. +</p> + +<p> +The voices inside were loud and angry; the +occupants of the cabin seemed all talking at +once and excitedly. +</p> + +<p> +"Awh, forget it, and come ahead down to +eats, will you?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'm through," said another boy. +</p> + +<p> +"If you're talking of breakfast I haven't +even started yet," said still another. "For the +love of Mike, will you cut it out and come on +down." +</p> + +<p> +"I'm through," said the boy who had made +this pronouncement before. +</p> + +<p> +"All right, we're satisfied," another said. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you take back what you said?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, I don't take back what I said." +</p> + +<p> +There was a pause and Skinny tremblingly +knocked on the door. It was opened by a tall +scout whom he had seen before. +</p> + +<p> +"Does Helmer Clarkson live here!" he +asked, his voice shaking a little. He had +quickly decided that he would not mention the +affair of the white pennant. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, you're welcome to him," said a boy +from within. "We give six coupons free to +anybody who'll take him." +</p> + +<p> +"Cut that out," said another boy. +</p> + +<p> +"Here, put him in your pocket and take him +home," said still another as he pushed a rather +small boy through the open door. It was evident +that the victim of this hearty eviction was +the Rockefeller of Temple Camp, Helmer Clarkson. +He was an effeminate looking boy; rather +sissified, Skinny thought. It was easy to +believe that he was of a sort to be the recipient +of dainties from home. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny, in his simplicity, went straight to the +point. "Do you want to buy a canoe!" he +asked. +</p> + +<p> +"What canoe?" asked a boy from inside. +</p> + +<p> +"The Hiawatha Prize canoe," said Skinny, +addressing Clarkson, as they all gathered about +the doorway staring and listening. "I heard +you wanted to buy a canoe and I'll sell you that +one for as much—I mean—only fifteen dollars." He +was too simple to place the price at a little +more than Danny needed. The canoe was +actually worth seventy dollars. +</p> + +<p> +"What's the big idea?" somebody asked. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>You!</i>" laughed another. "What are <i>you</i> +doing with the prize canoe? You mean that +one in the headquarters building?" +</p> + +<p> +"I won it by swimming across the lake," said +Skinny, blushing to the roots of his hair, "and +I don't want it because—because it's my own +business why I don't want it. So do you want +to buy it for fifteen dollars? I heard you +wanted one." +</p> + +<p> +"I'm leaving this camp and I don't want it," +said Helmer Clarkson. +</p> + +<p> +"He hasn't got the price," a boy taunted. +</p> + +<p> +For answer Helmer Clarkson displayed the +contents of a neat wallet which almost +staggered poor Skinny. "I've had enough of this +camp," he said, "and I'm going home on the +noon train from Catskill." +</p> + +<p> +"It's only fifteen dollars," poor Skinny said. +"Maybe I'd take ten." +</p> + +<p> +"If you gave me the canoe for nothing I +wouldn't stay here," said Helmer Clarkson in +a very mincing manner. "If you'd come +around two or three days ago—even yesterday—I +might have given you twenty-five dollars for +it. I can spend fifty dollars for one if I want +to. But I've had enough of this crowd, thank +you. I'm going home." +</p> + +<p> +Poor Skinny's hopes were dashed. He cast +a forlorn look at the scouts, who were laughing +heartily. They were not laughing at him; for +once he was not the victim. They were laughing +(and that with a kind of tolerant contempt) +at Helmer Clarkson. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, we got no canoes to-day," one boy sang. +</p> + +<p> +"I don't want to play in your yard," sang another. +</p> + +<p> +"Tell him why you're going home, Ellie," +a third shouted. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll tell him," another volunteered. "You +know we had the white pennant up here—we +took it away from that Virginia troop over near +Turtle Cove. Each one of us is supposed to +stay awake forty minutes every night and listen. +Last night our little sleeping beauty—<i>that's +him</i>—falls asleep at the switch. Somebody +walked away with the pennant. We even +knew somebody was hanging around, because +just a little while before that I sneaked out and +caught a fellow nosing about. On top of that +Sweet-dream Ellie has to go to sleep when his +turn was on. And—listen, get this—when we +jump very gently on his neck he gets sore and +says he won't play any more." +</p> + +<p> +During the recital of this indictment, Helmer +Clarkson held himself aloof in silent dignity. +"I'm through with the scouts for good," said +he. "It was only an experiment anyway. But +I certainly do love canoing——" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, in the bathtub," interrupted one of +the boys. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Chief Dead-to-the-world</i> sailing down the +Alleghany River," mocked another. +</p> + +<p> +"If it wasn't for my leaving," said Helmer, +ignoring them, "I'd be only too glad to buy +your canoe. I'd have given you more than +fifteen dollars for it." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny looked from one to the other of this +cheery group; they seemed an interesting +patrol, notwithstanding their family disturbance. +Then his eyes fell on Helmer Clarkson in a +woebegone, incredulous gaze. He realized that +by his own act of "lifting" the pennant he had +effectually prevented the sale of the canoe. If +he had not stolen up in the dead of night, +so softly that the dozing Helmer never heard +him, he might now have fifteen dollars—thirty +perhaps—with which to speed his erring brother +forth to safety. +</p> + +<p> +What a tragic word is IF! +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XII +<br><br> +SCOUT LAW NUMBER TWO +</h3> + +<p> +He had taken the white pennant. He had won +the Hiawatha Prize. He had brought glory to +his patrol. But all he had to give Danny was +two sandwiches and four cookies. Hero though +he was, he could not face his colleagues, for he +had no scout suit to put on. So long as there +was hope of selling the canoe, he had not +considered what his patrol would think of this. He +had thought only of Danny. But now, as he +trudged on up through the woods, a forlorn +little fellow, he wondered what Connie and the +others would say when they heard that he had +tried to sell the prize canoe. They would +certainly hear that, and he could not tell them +why he had attempted such an unscoutlike +business. There was never any buying and selling +of prizes at Temple Camp. +</p> + +<p> +He trudged up through the woods, cautiously +looking back now and then. It seemed to him +a very long time since he had seen Danny, so +much had happened in the meantime. He found +him sitting on the shelf in the shanty, his knees +drawn up to form a reading desk on which the +Scout Handbook lay open. +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, Tiny, this is some book," said he. +"Honest, do they do all these things, or is it +just bunk? Here's a good one on page—page—here +it is, sixty-six. This is the one for me. +Here's a gold medal you get for saving a guy's +life, only you've got to risk your own. If you +lose your life you're out of luck. If you get +away with it they hand you this——" +</p> + +<p> +"I know all about it," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"That ain't so worse," said Danny, idly running +over the pages. "Wait till I find—oh here +it is, here's a pippin! Here's where a guy +makes out he's a smuggler—page four hundred +and thirty—and the bunch has to track him. +If he gets to the nearest town he's K.O. I +ought to be able to get away with that, +Tiny." It was certainly in his line. "They got +some good dope here, all right," he added. +"You can even be one if you're not in with a +bunch." +</p> + +<p> +"That's a pioneer scout," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's a nifty—listen to this one. They +got a lot of badges you can win. Here's one on +riding a horse——" +</p> + +<p> +"I know all about them," Skinny repeated. +</p> + +<p> +It was evident that scouts had merits which +Danny could admire, but had no desire to +imitate. His rather nonchalant attitude toward +scouting troubled poor Skinny. He had spent +the whole night in nervous tension, planning +and striving to save Danny from his own folly. +And here was Danny leisurely inspecting the +Scout Handbook, commenting upon its features +with eminent fairness, and apparently without +a care in the world. It must be admitted that +so far as looks were concerned there was not a +boy at Temple Camp more scoutlike than he. +Poor Skinny's suit fitted him to perfection; it +was in line with this blithesome young scapegrace's +luck that his ungainly little half-brother +had in his innocence bought the suit too large. +Though, indeed, poor Skinny would never in +any suit look as natty as this self-sufficient +brother of his. The only false note in Danny's +ensemble was a rakish tilt of the scout hat, +which gave him a rather too easy-going and +sophisticated air. +</p> + +<p> +"I brought you something to eat," said poor +Skinny. "I was afraid they'd find you, those +reform school people, but I'm glad they didn't. +There's two sandwiches here, and four cookies. +I bet you didn't sleep much—I bet." +</p> + +<p> +"You lose your bet," said Danny. "I was +dead to the cruel world. Some blamed bird or +other, that was screaming like Hail Columbia, +woke me up." +</p> + +<p> +"Those are blue jays," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"They'd be black and blue jays if I caught +them," said Danny. "I went over there to a +spring and washed up. Then I came back and +started giving this book the once-over. What +time is it anyway? Can I go and do my act +yet?" He ate the sandwiches while Skinny +talked. +</p> + +<p> +"I tried to get fifteen dollars for you so you +wouldn't have to stay here and I swam across +the lake so as to win the prize canoe; I did it +early this morning, Danny, and I won it. But +the feller I tried to sell it to because he's rich +and has grapefruit sent him and everything—that +feller wouldn't buy it, because he's mad at +his patrol and he's going home, because they're +sore at him on account of his not staying awake +so nobody could take the pennant. I'm the one +that took it. So I'm the one to blame, because +I can't give you fifteen dollars." +</p> + +<p> +Danny was a boy who was always ready to +do anything. Consequently nothing that any +other boy did astonished him. He was interested +in propositions to do things. He was not +so interested in things that had been done. So +all he said was, "You should worry." +</p> + +<p> +"I got to worry," said poor Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"And I've got to stay here and I might as +well have some fun," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +Poor Skinny was aghast at Danny's utter +inability to perceive the peril in which he stood. +This impersonation of another boy at Temple +Camp was to be merely another casual adventure +in the blithesome career of Danny. He had +lost no sleep over it, he apprehended no +complications. He would cross bridges when he +came to them. He was not annoyed by Skinny's +near success in the matter of the canoe. What +Skinny had done did not seem to impress him +as an exploit. Since he was not able to supply +fifteen dollars, Danny accepted scouting as a +means of escape. And he was not going to +worry about it. +</p> + +<p> +"Will you promise—cross your heart—that +you won't say I told you to do it?" Skinny +asked, with panic fear in every feature. "Will +you promise—honest and true, cross your +heart—that you won't ever even look at me?" +</p> + +<p> +"Go on down and get your breakfast, kid," +said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"I tried to get you the money so you could go away." +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, you should worry; go down and eat, Tiny." +</p> + +<p> +"And you won't go to the office till about +half past ten, because on account of the train?" +</p> + +<p> +"Leave it to me, kid." +</p> + +<p> +"You're going to get in a lot of trouble," +Skinny warned, pathetically apprehensive. +</p> + +<p> +Poor little fellow, he had done the best he +could to avert this bizarre and perilous undertaking +of Danny's. He had risked his life. He +was doomed to trouble with his comrades because +of the missing scout suit, and because of +his attempt to sell the reward of his heroism. +They would not even laugh at him and make +fun of him any more. He wondered if he had +better go ask the Alligators of Alleghany not to +mention the offer he had made at their cabin. +But that would only discredit him with them; +it would look sneaky. +</p> + +<p> +Such troubles to arise from good intentions +and deeds of skill and prowess! Poor Skinny, +his excursion into the field of heroism had not +been propitious. And pressing down upon him +more heavily than all these perplexities was the +terrifying thought of Danny. What might +happen there made Skinny shudder. Such an +act of effrontery as his half-brother was +launched upon quite unnerved this poor little +scout who had been so humble and obscure. Yet +he was staunch in loyalty to Danny. He would +bear the scornful taunts (as he had always +borne the humorous taunts) of Temple Camp +if that were necessary. And when the worst +came to the worst he would be loyal to Danny. +It was odd that through all this disheartening +mess, he did not once recall with pride and +elation that he was the winner of the Hiawatha +Prize. He had forgotten all about the canoe. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap13"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIII +<br><br> +ALIAS DANVILLE BENTLY +</h3> + +<p> +He hurried along with his queer, shuffling +gait to the big shed where meals were served +in pleasant weather. He was always insignificant +looking unless you looked straight into +his eyes. There was something indescribable +about those eyes that haunted one. They +bespoke a latent frenzy that could carry that +homely little frail body to any heights of +heroism. But all you saw as he hurried along was +a little codger who somehow reminded you of +the slums. He had the scared look so familiar +in homeless dogs. +</p> + +<p> +As he moved between the long tables a few +scouts who had never noticed him before, +turned and stared at him. "Honest!" one +scout asked his neighbor. "Sure, that's him," +said another; "that's the one." By no means +all of them knew of his triumphant swim. At +one table they were talking about the "lifting" +of the white pennant, but no one seemed to +know that he was the hero of that affair. One +would have to be a pretty big hero to divert the +attention of the Temple Camp scouts while +they were eating breakfast. One remark he +did overhear as he made his way to the tables +of his own troop. "Special bargain sale in prize +canoes," he heard a boy say. "Business is +not so good today," another boy answered. +Skinny flushed but did not glance at the +authors of this cheap sarcasm. +</p> + +<p> +The Bridgeboro Troop occupied two tables, +the Ravens and the Chipmunks at one, the +Silver Foxes and the Elks at the other. As +Skinny edged into his seat only one voice +greeted him. The exuberant Roy Blakeley of +the Silver Foxes called. "Hey Skinny, you +were in the swim all right, but not here. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Sticks and stones can break your bones,<br> + But looks can never hurt you."<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +But there Roy Blakeley was mistaken. Looks +did hurt Skinny; they were like blows to his +sensitive nature. And now nothing but black +looks greeted him. Something was wrong +evidently; something very serious. For there was +no criticism, no half-humorous slurs and sallies. +The members of his patrol passed him things +at the table, and once or twice asked such +service from him, and it was pitiful to see him +respond with such alacrity. But no one talked +with him—with this boy who had "lifted" the +white pennant and won the Hiawatha canoe. +He thought it must be because he had not +donned his scout suit. +</p> + +<p> +After breakfast he went off by himself and +wandered up into the woods. He often did that +to get away from the bantering scouts, but +this morning he was beset with forebodings. +Something was wrong, everything was wrong. +The atmosphere he had felt at breakfast +pervaded the whole quiet woodland. Something +played on the strings of his delicate nature, +causing them to vibrate with strange apprehension. +He felt nervous, ill at ease; he knew +something was going to happen. Up in the +woods was an oriole's nest which he had been +watching, for he intended to take it when it was +deserted and claim the Audubon Prize. He sat +down on a stump and looked at it now, hanging +up in the tree like a dried rag. He had no more +interest in the prizes. He had won the hardest +one of all to win, and it had brought him +nothing but trouble. +</p> + +<p> +After a little while, he wandered back to +camp again, haunted by that strange sense of +foreboding. A lonesome, forlorn little waif he +seemed; hopelessly an odd number; not one +single sign of the scout about him. Just a little +codger from Corkscrew Alley. Passing a few +yards from Administration Shack he saw the +usual coming and going by which he knew that +the office was open. There were the usual +loiterers on the porch, scoutmasters hurrying in +and out, new boys glancing around as they +emerged and pausing to read the notices. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly a rather tall boy with his scout hat +tilted at a rakish angle came out, folding a +paper. That was the set of rules that they gave +to every new arrival. He also held a red card +and Skinny knew what that meant, It meant +he was registered as a scout without troop +affiliation and was assigned to the big dormitory +which, with several group cabins, formed what +was called Pioneer Row.* So Danny had come +through the routine of enrollment without +trouble. Skinny was even proud of him, he +looked so natty, so self-assured, so different +from those bewildered looking new arrivals who +glanced bashfully about seeming not to know +what to do with themselves. There was one +whole patrol of them and they seemed as +helpless as a pack of sheep. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* A pioneer scout is one without a troop or patrol. See +page 24 of the Scout Handbook. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +As Danny stepped down off the porch he +passed between two scouts who were catching +ball and he raised his arm in an offhand way +intercepting the ball and throwing it to a third +boy. How proud Skinny would have been of +this charmingly nonchalant brother, except for +that frightful secret! Even as it was he +felt relieved and a little proud, Danny was so +attractive and seemed so safe—so equal to any +emergency. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny hardly knew where to go so he went +down to the springboard. Still that vague +feeling of presentiment beset him and made him +nervous. Sitting on the springboard were +Connie Bennett, his patrol leader, and several +of the Elk Patrol. Seeing Skinny approaching, +Stut Moran and Vic Norris strolled away. "Cut +that out," Connie said to them, but they paid +no attention. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny could not bear the tension; his little +frame was trembling with nervous excitement. +"What's the matter?" he forced himself to +ask. "If I don't want to wear my—a—scout +suit I don't have to, do I? If I don't want to +have my picture taken in it, I don't have to." +</p> + +<p> +Hearing him speak, Stut and Vic turned and +paused, Vic calling, "Come on, you scouts, let +him alone. Don't you know what we said?" +</p> + +<p> +The others started from the springboard +to join Stut and Vic. Skinny remained on the +springboard, scarlet with embarrassment. Like +a little statue of lonely poverty he stood there +on the board from which he had plunged for +his sensational swim. +</p> + +<p> +"Can't you tell me if it's about the suit?" he +called almost imploringly. +</p> + +<p> +They seemed to be conferring and he waited. +Then Connie beckoned and he went to them, +like a dog doubtful of its welcome. Thus it +happened that one of the most memorable +events of Temple Camp occurred on the grassy +patch near the shore, just under the big willow +tree where they painted the boats before +launching them. Scouts will show you the spot +now. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm going to give you the chance to deny +it, that's only fair," Connie said. "Did you +try to sell the Hiawatha Prize to a patrol from +out in Pennsylvania?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I did," Skinny said. He was trembling, +not in fear, but in the pride of his frankness. +</p> + +<p> +"You did!" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I did—I said I did." +</p> + +<p> +There was a tense pause. +</p> + +<p> +"A prise! You tried to sell it for money," +exclaimed Vic Norris incredulously. +</p> + +<p> +"Didn't you know those scouts are going in +for the canoe races the same as we are!" +</p> + +<p> +"No, I didn't know that," Skinny protested, +breathing heavily. +</p> + +<p> +Such an altercation could not fail to attract +lookers-on and perhaps a dozen boys were now +standing about listening. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, you knew we were going in the races +with it," Connie said. "And you knew that +prizes kind of go to patrols. You ask anybody +in Temple Camp—ask Tom Slade—if he +ever <i>heard</i> of a scout trying to <i>sell</i> a camp +award. Jimmies, I didn't believe it when I +heard it. You sneaked up to those fellows' +cabin and asked them if they wanted to buy the +Hiawatha canoe for fifteen dollars. Did you +or didn't you?" +</p> + +<p> +"If you can prove you didn't, we won't chuck +you out," Bert McAlpin said. +</p> + +<p> +"I said I did," said Skinny, standing his +ground, but with a tremor in his voice, "but I +didn't sneak." +</p> + +<p> +"Good night!" groaned Hunt Ward disgustedly. +</p> + +<p> +"What did you want to do it for?" Connie +asked. He alone seemed disposed to be considerate. +</p> + +<p> +"Because—it's none of anybody's business +what I did it for," Skinny said. +</p> + +<p> +"Why it's like the gold medal; would you +sell that?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I would if I thought—if I was sure it +was right to do it," Skinny said. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps some of the onlookers sympathized +with him, he was so small, so insignificant +looking; and withal so eager and earnest. Tears +were rolling down his cheeks now and he raised +his shabby little sleeve to wipe his eyes and +still stood his ground in trembling defiance. "I +would and it's none of nobody's business," he +said. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Oh, is that so?</i>" sneered Stut Moran. "If +you wanted money as bad as all that why +couldn't you steal it like you did apples from +Schmitter's Grocery when you'd have got in +trouble if Mr. Ellsworth hadn't taken you into +the troop?" +</p> + +<p> +Skinny trembled, but said nothing. "Did +I—I—did I act all right since I was in the +troop?" he finally managed to get out. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, trying to sell prizes," Vic Norris shot +at him angrily. "Gee we've had enough of +Corkscrew Alley in our troop. You don't belong +in the troop anyway, you dirty little slum +rat, you——" +</p> + +<p> +There was a slight stir in the group and there +in front of Victor Norris stood a boy he had +never seen before, a boy whose scout hat was +tilted at a rakish angle and whose half-closed +eyes were like cold steel. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you take that back?" said he. +</p> + +<p> +"You mind your own business; I take nothing +back," said Vic. +</p> + +<p> +The blow fell so swiftly that he was sprawling +on the ground before the onlookers knew what +had happened. They will tell you now at +Temple Camp that that blow sounded as if it +fell on a wooden surface, so terrific was the +force of it. The dazed victim rubbed his eye +half-consciously and made as if to rise. Like +lightning his assailant brushed aside an +interfering spectator and looked behind him to see +if any official might be approaching. "Don't +get up till you take it back," he said in quick, +businesslike fashion. "You'll just go down +again. Keep away, you fellers. Well?" +</p> + +<p> +"I take it back," cried Vic Norris. +</p> + +<p> +"Tell him, don't tell me," said the strange +boy, indicating Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +And he strolled away as if the matter no +further concerned him. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap14"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIV +<br><br> +THE PIONEER SCOUT +</h3> + +<p> +But it was not Vic Norris who was hurt; it +was Skinny. He would not, he could not, tell +them the truth. He must live in the shadow of +their cruel thoughts. Mr. Ellsworth, scoutmaster +of the troop, arrived in camp on Friday +for the week end, and tried to smooth over the +difficulty. But Skinny would not tell him why +he had made his astonishing offer to the +departed Helmer Clarkson. Nor would he say +why he would not wear his scout suit. He was +as stubborn as a little mule in those matters. +Mr. Ellsworth told the Elks that they would +just have to take Skinny as they found him, +that there was no explaining him. He reminded +them that at all events they had the canoe, and +the white pennant. +</p> + +<p> +So they took Skinny as they found him, and +they found him different. He seemed worried +and preoccupied, and took little interest in the +patrol. They never asked him to wear his scout +suit and he continued to be, what he had always +been in camp, an odd little figure in a faded +blouse. Those in the Bridgeboro troop who +were most discerning noticed how he seemed +always in fear. But when they made fun of +him, as they were wont to do at camp-fire, he +smiled bashfully in the same old way and was +delightfully ill at ease. +</p> + +<p> +He occasionally went out in the prize canoe +with scouts of his patrol and sat wedged into +one end like a funny little figurehead. You +would never have dreamed that he was the +boy who had won that trim craft which +skimmed so lightly in the water. But he seemed +to appreciate being taken out in it. Perhaps +after all it was not Skinny who had won the +canoe. It was the frenzied and despairing soul +of Skinny which had done that. Anyway, they +often took him out in it and he sat very still +and upright as he was told to do. +</p> + +<p> +The Elks soon lost the white pennant; a scout +in a Vermont troop walked away with it one +night during Vic Norris' watch, so Vic had two +black eyes in a way of speaking. Bert McAlpin +tried to get it back and was caught red-handed. +Then Connie himself tried and got a good laugh +from the Vermonters. Skinny was not particularly +interested in these attempts; he was too +much worried about Danny to concern himself +with patrol exploits. He saw Danny every day +and occasionally spoke with him, but they were +not much together. The terrible thing that +Danny was doing made Skinny afraid of him; +he stood in awe of such daring and effrontery. +</p> + +<p> +As for Danny, he was not in the least +troubled. On the very day of his arrival he +hiked to Catskill, keeping off the highway, and +sent a telegram collect, in the name of Temple +Camp, advising the father of Danville Bently +that his son would be expected on August +Second. Having come safely through the +formality of enrollment, no embarrassing +questions were asked him and indeed he had no +further intercourse with the management. +Temple Camp is a big place and he was soon +absorbed in its life. Nobody cared where he +lived or anything else about him; they were all +too busy with scouting. +</p> + +<p> +And he was busy with scouting too. He +might have taken his second class tests, he +might even have qualified for the first class, +but he cautiously refrained from any step +which might bring him face to face with trustees +and councilors. Since he did not seek the +first class ranking he could not try for merit +badges. He became, in short, one of those +nondescript scouts who are to be found in every +summer camp, boys who have taken the scout +oath and put on scout suits and let it go at that. +He was too large to be thought of as a tenderfoot; +moreover his prowess and skill lifted him +out of that class. He was good at everything, +but he did not fit his exploits into the scout +program. +</p> + +<p> +He bunked in Pioneer Row with that +miscellaneous company whose members had come to +Temple Camp without troop or patrol. Many +of them were instances of the one lucky boy in +some homekeeping scout unit. Some of them +were active and clever, but they were deprived +of the advantages of group spirit. A boy scout +is better off with his patrol in a vacant lot than +alone at the best of scout camps. The big +sleeping quarters of Pioneer Row had more +the atmosphere of a boarding school dormitory +than of a scout camp. In a sense they did form +one big troop—too big. +</p> + +<p> +After the first few days of his life in this +rather inglorious department of the spreading +community, Danny lost all fear of being found +out at camp. The whole thing had been so +easy! And Temple Camp was so embracing +and friendly! He was an adaptable boy and he +felt quite at home. He still feared the grim +authorities of the reform school, for he knew +that he had been committed to that hated +institution by the State and that the long arm of +the law was reaching out for him. But as the +days passed and nothing happened, his fear +subsided. He was so cozy and remote that +discovery from either quarter seemed an +altogether unlikely sequel of his good fortune. +And August Second was so far away! +</p> + +<p> +Once or twice he feared that Skinny might +inadvertently, or in a spasm of outraged +conscience, say something. But nothing happened +and whatever fears he had were lulled to sleep. +Yet there was one person there whom he +should have feared and that was himself. But +he not only did not fear himself; he did not +fear anybody. The only trouble was that he +would have to sneak away before August +Second. Well, he thought, the authorities would +have ceased their search for him by that time, +and he would go away on a ship. +</p> + +<p> +All the boys in Pioneer Dormitory liked +Danny. He was more sophisticated than most +of them and they stood somewhat in awe of him. +He seemed to know a good deal about the world +and they respected him for it. His rather +nonchalant attitude toward scouting had +something engaging in it; but there was one +serious boy who was not too ready to fall under +his spell. +</p> + +<p> +This was Holman Sharpe, a pioneer scout +from a farm in New Hampshire. He was not +summering away from his troop; he had no +troop. Nor was he, as so many of those boys +were, the single remaining member of a +disintegrated troop. He was a registered pioneer. +In the lonely section where he lived there were +no boys to form a troop. So he had sent to +National Headquarters for blanks and had been +enrolled as a pioneer scout, which was a very +different thing from the unattached scouts of +Pioneer Row. +</p> + +<p> +This boy went in for scouting with both +hands and feet and the easy-going Danny was +greatly amused by him. He was one of those +boys who take themselves very seriously. Such +boys are found in schools and colleges, +wrestling with their studies to the exclusion of +everything else, forgetting life in the interest +of learning. Scouting is not a good field +in which to do this. There is nothing about +scouting to study; it is just a form of life. +But this boy conceived it as a sort of +curriculum and the Handbook as a sort of text book. +He was certainly born to be a student. +It is not so certain that he was born to be a +scout. +</p> + +<p> +To this serious New England boy, Temple +Camp was a sort of university, the merit badges +all representing study courses. He was out +for promotion; he did not care so much about +fun. His Handbook was all marked up with +memorandums of his progress and notes of his +plans. He was a canny boy and did not forget +about the future. He even took into consideration +the time when he would be too old for +scouting and had his plans all made for +joining the <i>Veteran Scout Association</i>. In an +envelope he had three dollars laid away with +which to buy the veteran pin several years +hence. +</p> + +<p> +Everything in the Handbook was law and +gospel to him and he had set about the strenuous +labor of squeezing it dry. He would get +his money's worth at Temple Camp by doing +every single thing that was even casually +suggested in the scouting program. He had +never had any give and take with other boys +and he could not conceive of scouting being +carried lightly and airily, as Roy Blakeley +of the Silver Foxes, carried it. He went in for +scouting with a vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +What Danny did, he did easily, and he was +highly entertained by the way Holman would +come in carrying his Handbook and some maps +and papers, and sit down on his cot, which was +next to Danny's, to go over them and enter +notes in his field book. +</p> + +<p> +"Busy with your homework?" Danny would quiz. +</p> + +<p> +"I've just hiked fourteen miles," Holman +answered him one day. "I'm going to write it +up to-night, and there's test four all finished on +the first class badge. If you took all the miles +you've used up flopping around in the woods +to-day, I bet they'd run over fourteen and you'd +have a seven mile double to lay up on your first +class tests. I mixed some dough and cooked my +dinner, too, while I was off, so I'm claiming the +cooking badge on that. I don't know whether +I'll get it or not." +</p> + +<p> +"Did you ever study algebra!" Danny queried. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, it's not exactly a part of scouting," +said Holman. +</p> + +<p> +Danny, sitting on Holman's cot with his +knees drawn up, pulled his hat down over his +forehead, which gave him a sophisticated, even +a tough, look. "But I had the fun of flopping +around in the woods," said he. "You hike so +fast you never see anything." +</p> + +<p> +"Make hay while the sun shines," said Holman +in his businesslike way. "Why, you were +telling me about following those marks and you +came plunk on a rattlesnake; he's a pretty big +one, I guess." +</p> + +<p> +"He was; he isn't any more," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"You've got to look out how you kill those +fellows. But what I was going to say was, you +could use that stuff on the stalking test if you +wanted to. Did you have any witnesses?" +</p> + +<p> +"Only the rattlesnake and he's dead," said +Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm only telling you how you waste your +chances," said Holman. "You can do things, +all right, only you don't think. I heard a scout +over at the Kit Carson tents say you jumped +over Outlet Brook." +</p> + +<p> +"Yere?" +</p> + +<p> +"I've got it planned out so I can use one +stunt on two tests." +</p> + +<p> +"Wholesale only, huh! What's that red +book?" Danny asked, kicking it. +</p> + +<p> +"That? That's the English Handbook. I'll +wager you that's the only one in camp. I guess +you never even read the American one, do +you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I gave it the once over; there's some +pretty good dope in it. Ever think you'd like +to make a stab for the Gold Cross?" +</p> + +<p> +"Life saving with imminent risk?" (Holman +quoted accurately). "That's something +pretty high up; that's out of the ordinary." +</p> + +<p> +"I was thinking I'd grab it—just for a +stunt," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +Holman shook his head, "That's one of the +big things—that's the very biggest," said he. +He knew all about it. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the one for me," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"I sort of don't like the way you refer to it," +</p> + +<p> +"That's the snappiest one in the book," said +Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"Talking about books," said Holman, "you +ought to look over this English Handbook; it's +by General Baden-Powell. There's a section in +it about deduction; deducing facts from clues +and signs. Why you can even look at a scout's +shoes and tell where he has been if you know +how." +</p> + +<p> +"I don't care where's he's been," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"It's an interesting phase of scouting just +the same." +</p> + +<p> +"Phase, huh? That's just detective stuff. +You don't want to be one of those guys, do +you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that's part of scouting—mental effort." +</p> + +<p> +"Yere?" +</p> + +<p> +"Now, for instance, I've noticed something. +I even made a note of it." +</p> + +<p> +"I bet you did." +</p> + +<p> +"I don't believe there's a scout in this camp +ever noticed that tattoo mark on your arm." +</p> + +<p> +Danny started. +</p> + +<p> +"Surprises you, eh!" Holman laughed. He +did not often laugh. "Yes sir," he said in a +way of small triumph, "I noticed it when you +rolled up your sleeve; the time you reached +down in the water after the compass that little +big-eyed youngster is always losing. You +rolled it away up—remember! I noticed. I +said, 'That boy has known a sailor.' Now am +I right?" +</p> + +<p> +"Right—the first time." +</p> + +<p> +"I wondered why the letters were D. M. since +I knew your name was Danville Bently. +But I hit on it. Now tell me if I'm right." +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, you're always right." +</p> + +<p> +"They name ships the <i>Molly B</i> and all like +that. If a ship is called after a woman named +Molly B. Smith, they just call it the <i>Molly B</i>. +I'll wager that M is your middle initial—Danville +M. as you might say." +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Geeee</i>, that's wonderful!" said Danny. +"That's <i>simp</i>-ly wonderful! I bet you're going +to keep it to yourself too." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, trust me for that," said Holman Sharpe. +</p> + +<p> +Their talk was interrupted by the little +tenderfoot office boy from Administration +Shack who called from the open doorway at +the end of the long row of cots. +</p> + +<p> +"Danville Bently, you're wanted in the +office," said he. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap15"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XV +<br><br> +THE SERENADE +</h3> + +<p> +Danny was nervous, but he did not show it. +He had never before been summoned to the +office. He had thought that by keeping out of +scout activities he would be safe in the refuge +of self-imposed obscurity. Lost in the +nondescript company of the big dormitory, and +keeping as much as he could out of touch with the +management he had hoped and believed that +his daring stunt of impersonation would succeed. +</p> + +<p> +Now, as he made his way up toward the main +body of the camp, he wondered, almost +tremblingly, what was amiss. Had poor little +Skinny's conscience given way under the +strain? No, he knew better than that. The +thin cord would never break. Would he find +himself face to face with the warden of +Blythedale School? Or perhaps with the real +Danville Bently? There is many a slip.... +</p> + +<p> +The usual group was lolling about the steps +of the official building. From his place on the +railing, Roy Blakeley called, "Hey what are +you doing up here at the hole of holes? (meaning +holy of holies). And how are things down +in Pie Row? How is Sophomore, Senior, +Post-graduate Sharpe these beautiful days! I hear +he's going to hire a bookkeeper. Hey Bent, why +don't you come up to camp once in a while so +we won't forget what you look like? Don't +remember to do your good turn daily." +</p> + +<p> +In the office the young clerk in khaki showed +Danny into the sanctum of the powers, where he +waited nervously while Councilor Wainwright +finished reading a letter. "Well my boy," said +that official, glancing up pleasantly; "how do +you think you like camp?" +</p> + +<p> +"It's one camp, all right," said Danny. +"It's big enough, I'll say." +</p> + +<p> +"We thought perhaps we'd hear from you—see +your name up on the board or something, +glorifying Florida." +</p> + +<p> +Danny winced a bit at this. "We've got a +scout down there that takes care of all those +things for us," said he. It was this +good-humored nonchalance of his which drew people +to him. Discerning men construed his slightly +sneering attitude to mean that he was impatient +of little people and little things. The councilor +chuckled appreciatively. "It takes all kinds to +make a square mile of camp," he said. +</p> + +<p> +"Now, Bently," he continued, deliberately +going to the matter in hand, "this is what I +wanted to see you about. Sometimes things get +around to headquarters rather late. I understand +you punched a boy the first day you were +here." +</p> + +<p> +"Did he tell you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Of course he didn't. That was a good +scout you punched." +</p> + +<p> +"It was a good punch I gave him." +</p> + +<p> +"I heard it was. But, of course, he had just +lost his temper." +</p> + +<p> +"I did a good turn, I helped him to find it." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, my boy, we won't go into that now. +We usually find up here that a boy who is free +with his fists is—well, it's a kind of a habit with +him. There are those who hit and those who +don't. I think I can't recall a single instance +up here of a boy hitting another boy who didn't +before the season was over do the same thing +again. Now, honor bright, you've slugged +fellows before, haven't you?' +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, a guy named Kinney back in——" +</p> + +<p> +"So you see. Now I just want to warn you +not to do that sort of thing again. If you do, +you'll go right back to Florida, Bently. This +camp isn't the Madison Square Garden or the +Chicago Stadium. We don't expect our guests +to take the law in their own hands—ever. Of +course, what I say to you applies to every boy +here, and there's going to be a notice out there +on the board so none of you young Jack Dempseys +can come back at us. Any boy that uses +his fists leaves this camp—quick. Just you +read what it says in the Handbook on being a +gentleman. You ever get any hints out of the +Handbook?" +</p> + +<p> +"There's some pretty good dope in that," +said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll say there is." +</p> + +<p> +"And there's a lot of play-in-the-backyard +stuff too." +</p> + +<p> +Councilor Wainwright laughed heartily at +this frank young critic. "Well, let's hear from +you on some of the good stuff," said he. "You +scouts down in the dormitory,—we hardly know +you're alive up here. All right, my boy, no +hard feelings." +</p> + +<p> +Danny went out, greatly relieved. More than +that, he inhaled a kind of fresh assurance that +everything would be all right. Loyal little +Skinny was like the Rock of Gibraltar. +Blythedale Reform School was so far away. Danny +felt more secure than ever in this woodland +refuge. And Danville Bently, the real Danville +Bently was—why, by this time he was in +Europe with his people. The only person that +Danny had to fear was himself. Well, that +would be all right, he would keep his fists where +they belonged. No danger. He even felt that +he had gained something; Councilor Wainwright +seemed to like him. +</p> + +<p> +But there was a black cloud on the horizon. +You would not think of calling Roy Blakeley a +black cloud, yet he was the black cloud in this +instance. He was a boy who would sit +contentedly on a fence thinking of nothing in +particular, then suddenly be aroused to mirthful +enterprise as by an inspiration. Surely he was +one of the spirits of Temple Camp. Boys +returned home in the autumn and talked of him +all winter. His patrol, the Silver Foxes, shone +by his own reflected light. They were (to quote +the voice of Temple Camp) a bunch of jolliers. +</p> + +<p> +If Danny had not been called to the office it +is probable that Roy would never have +conceived the mischievous idea of descending with +his bantering cronies upon the defenseless +Pioneer Row. But his piquant sallies to Danny +upon his visit to the seat of the powers +reminded him that he had neglected Pie Alley, +which was his name for that lowly suburb. Roy +invariably acted upon every random inspiration. +</p> + +<p> +"Come on, let's go down to Pie Alley and kid +the life out of Sophomore Senior, the Student +Prince of scouting," said he. +</p> + +<p> +"We'll tell him he's awarded a typewriter +machine," said Warde Hollister. +</p> + +<p> +"We'll tell him all the tests for merit badges +have been changed," said Ralph Warner. +</p> + +<p> +They would have been accompanied by a +clamorous escort except that it was rest hour +and most scouts were either asleep or reading +in reclining postures in their cabins. So no one +went upon this memorable expedition but Roy +and two of his patrol, Ralph Warner and Warde +Hollister. Reaching the big, sprawling, +shingled dormitory, they serenaded the subject of +their call like knights of old. They knew that +Holman Sharpe would be resting. Holman did +everything that was on the scout program. He +was getting his money's worth. +</p> + +<p> +Roy was something of a balladist and he +saluted the victim with a minstrel lay: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Oh Sharpy, dear Sharpy, come out of the door<br> + The badge list is changed and there's ninety-six more."<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +This failing to arouse him they tried again. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Oh Sharpy, dear Sharpy, get up and come out<br> + And the fourth test on plumbing we'll tell you about."<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Still again they tried to lure him with soft +melody. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Oh Sharpy, dear Sharpy, come out with scout stealth<br> + And we'll hand you the medal for personal health."<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Holman Sharpe did not come out, but he +looked out through the open window. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap16"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XVI +<br><br> +THE ACCUSED +</h3> + +<p> +"Don't you scouts know it's rest hour?" said +Holman. "You'd better look in your handbooks +and see what's on page three thirty-seven. +What are you scouts doing down here +at this time of day?" +</p> + +<p> +"It's a lie!" said Roy. "You can't believe +a word the Handbook says—you can't even believe +the punctuation. It says you can find comfort +in the woods and we looked all around and +didn't find any—we even used our searchlights, +I'll leave it to Warde. Hey, Sharpy, come on +out, the National Council has decided that a +hobby-horse isn't an animal so you can't name +a patrol after it. Honest, I'll leave it to Ralph +Warner. You can't press the leaves of a hat-tree +either—there's a new rule—so if you have +any you better throw them away. The rules are +all changed, you can't get the printing badge +by finding footprints any more. Hey, come on +out, Sharpy." +</p> + +<p> +Holman did not immediately respond to this +merry summons, but Danny who was in the +dormitory strolled out smiling and sat on the +steps. Holman's methodical activities amused +him, but he had never poked fun at him. +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, Florida," said Roy; "how 'bout it—isn't +it true they're going to give crutches for +veteran scouts? You better put in your +application while you're young, Sharpy. You better +start saving up." +</p> + +<p> +Holman emerged upon the porch. There was +nothing sissified about this boy; it was not for +that reason that they took delight in "jollying" +him. It was that he was so terribly sober and +earnest. He was going to be a scout by the +book; he thought that if he could pass an +examination in scouting he would be a scout. He +was studying it, cramming, and he thought that +boys who were just naturally scouts and did not +study it very hard, were slackers. +</p> + +<p> +Roy had fifteen merit badges and had enjoyed +the fun of getting them. But this serious +boy was not having the time of his life being a +scout. He should have been at boarding school, +where he would have won honors. Handbooks +and tests and awards will help, of course, but +scouting is a matter of fine spirit. The scout +who thinks only of getting ahead, of swimming +fifty yards because the book prescribes it, is +apt to forget about his comrade scouts. +A curriculum is a pretty poor sort of a pal. +</p> + +<p> +"I should think you scouts would know this +is rest hour," said Holman. "If you want to +get anywhere in scouting you've got to relax. +You come around here with your nonsense when +I'm supposed to be storing up a little energy." +</p> + +<p> +"Tell us all about that," encouraged Ralph +Warner, winking at Danny, who was highly +amused. +</p> + +<p> +"On account of your yelling I'll have to +make it up to-morrow when I ought to be +stalking," said Holman. +</p> + +<p> +"There may be some truth in that," teased +Warde. "Hey, Sharpy, why don't you go out +on a hike with your friend and neighbor some +night for no reason at all?" +</p> + +<p> +"With Bently, you mean? I'd never accomplish +much. I guess he's a sort of more of a +tramp than a scout. I'd never learn much from +him. I've only got eight weeks here." +</p> + +<p> +"You let him say that about you, Florida?" +Warde asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, let him go as far as he likes," laughed +Danny. "I don't claim to be a scout." +</p> + +<p> +"I don't see what you're here for then?" said +Holman. +</p> + +<p> +"I can tell you the reason," said Roy. "He's +here because he's here. Am I right, Florida?" +</p> + +<p> +"Surest thing," laughed Danny. He was +hugely entertained as he sat on the steps +watching this show. +</p> + +<p> +"He's wasting his father's money," said +Holman. "If that's any comfort to him." +</p> + +<p> +"How do you know his father's got any +money!" Warde shot back. +</p> + +<p> +"He deduced it by deduction," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"If he'll let me help him on scout stuff, I'll +be glad to do it," said Holman. +</p> + +<p> +"There's your chance, Florida," Warde and +Ralph shouted together. +</p> + +<p> +"I don't believe I could make the grade," +said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"You could if you tried; you don't try," said +Holman. +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, Sharpy," said Roy, "there's something +we came here to see you about. Let's quit +fooling. These two silver-plated foxes and +myself were appointed a committee to come here +and ascertain—did you get that word, <i>ascertain</i>? +We have to find out if it's true what +all the fellows are saying that you went down +to Catskill with Tom Slade in his Ford and +then came back and said that you crossed Valley +Creek by means of a ford and then claimed the +<i>new discovery prize</i> on account of finding a +way to get over Valley Creek not by the bridge. +If you did that it was dishonest and conduct +unbecoming to a scout. Are you claiming that +prize or not? Yes or no—or both. Did you +deliberately accidentally deceive the Council or +not?" +</p> + +<p> +"You'd better look out how you talk about +dishonesty and deceiving," said Holman rather +heatedly. +</p> + +<p> +"I call your attention to law one on page +something or other of the Scout Handbook," +Roy persisted. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the wrong page," said Warde. +</p> + +<p> +"Then it's page sumpty-sump," said Roy. +"A scout's honor is to be toasted—trusted. If +he violates his honor by telling a lie—comma—or +cheating—comma—he may be directed otherwise +told to hand over his scout badge—period. +Holman Sharpe of Pie Alley, if you did that we +demand that you hand over your scout badge +to this committee of solid-silver foxes. Lying +cannot be tolerated in Temple Camp—unless +you're lying down so as to relax and store up +energy." +</p> + +<p> +By this time Danny was laughing aloud; there +was just the faintest suggestion of Skinny about +his countenance when he laughed. But +Holman Sharpe was clearly ruffled and he +advanced, not exactly menacingly, but with +something in his manner which showed that he did +not at all catch the humor of their reference to +dishonesty and deception. He was a serious +and literal boy and construed the use of these +words in any case as a slur and an insult. +</p> + +<p> +"You said something about a scout's honor," +he said. "It's on page thirty-four if you want +to know where it is. You better look out how +you talk about mine. The first thing you +scouts know, one of you will get what he good +and plenty deserves." Granted, this boy knew +a good deal about scouting; but he did not +know much about scouts. +</p> + +<p> +"If I said anything I'm sorry for, I'm glad +of it," said Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Well you said—your leader said that lying +isn't tolerated at this camp. That's as much as +calling me a liar." Now he did advance, flushed +and angry. +</p> + +<p> +"Cut it out," said Roy good-naturedly, seeing +which way the tide was setting. +</p> + +<p> +"As long as you spoke of a scout's honor—" +Holman began. +</p> + +<p> +"Cut it out, you blamed simp," said Ralph, +his tone changing suddenly to disgust. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll remind you of law ten,* too," said Holman. +</p> + +<p> +</p> + +<p> +* This law refers to bravery and standing up for the right. +</p> + +<p> +</p> + +<p> +"Yere, we know all about it," said Ralph. +"Don't tell us about scouting. We were here +before you ever heard of this camp. You better +learn to take a joke——" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, that's another law," said Roy. +</p> + +<p> +"And as long as you're making such a fuss +about lying," said Ralph contemptuously, "if +you want me to make you out a liar, I'll do it. +How about calling Florida a tramp? Who the +dickens do you think you are, calling scouts +tramps? <i>Wasting his father's money</i>; can you +beat that? <i>Gee</i>, as long as you want to be +serious, I'll say you were lying." +</p> + +<p> +This was intended more as a compliment to +Danny, whom they all seemed to like, than as a +slur to Holman. Certainly nothing was further +from the minds of these young Silver Foxes +than to start a quarrel. But the serious +Holman always carried his "honor" around with +him as he did his field book. He chose to take +Ralph's remark as an insult and he struck him +more from a sense of duty than from anger. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely did the astonished Ralph realize +what had happened when Danny sprang between, +spreading his arms to separate the two. +"That's enough, cut it out," he said. But +indeed there was no chance of a fight. Holman +having done his duty stalked into the +dormitory. Warde and Roy, highly aroused by his +act, followed him protesting. So there for the +moment stood Ralph, his hand against his face +with Danny standing before him saying, +"That's enough, no more." +</p> + +<p> +Just at that moment Councilor Wainwright, +carrying his big flat chart book and inspection +record, came around the corner of the building +and paused suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +"At it again, Bently?" he queried with grim +cordiality. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap17"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XVII +<br><br> +THE MASQUERADER +</h3> + +<p> +The councilor did not wait for an answer. +"Not hurt much?" he commented rather than +asked. "Suppose you come along to the office +with me, Bently." +</p> + +<p> +To Ralph Warner's astonishment, Danny +accompanied the councilor without so much as a +word. When Warde and Roy presently +reappeared, there stood Ralph recovering from his +surprise rather than from the hurt, which was +not serious. +</p> + +<p> +"He won't come out," said Warde, referring +to Holman. "He did his duty—can you beat it? +Where's Florida?" +</p> + +<p> +"Gone with Wainey," said Ralph. "He went +before I knew it. I guess Wainey thinks he did +it." +</p> + +<p> +"What did he want to go for?" Roy asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Search me," Ralph answered. +</p> + +<p> +"Come on, don't bother about Sharpy," said +Warde. "Gee, I'm sorry Wainey had to come +along just then. Honest, isn't that just like +him?" +</p> + +<p> +"Can you beat it?" Roy asked. "If the +world should come to an end, he'd sure be the +first one there. Jiminies, Ralph, don't be sore, +it wasn't Sharpy hitting you, it was the Scout +Handbook." +</p> + +<p> +"Sure," laughed Warde. +</p> + +<p> +"I understand," Ralph agreed. "Gee, that +feller must be crazy." +</p> + +<p> +"He's troubled with static," said Roy; +"come on, let's beat it." +</p> + +<p> +None of the three of them had the least notion +that Florida, as they called him, was +deliberately posing as the culprit. Councilor +Wainwright's threatened warning had never +appeared on the bulletin board and the three +Silver Foxes did not apprehend any very serious +sequel to the little affair. They supposed +that the councilor did not intend to take notice +of it; certainly not to act upon it at that time. +They inferred that he wished to see Danny +about something else, and encountering him by +chance, had asked him to go along. That was +the way they saw it, and they thought no more +about it. Or if they did, it was in a way of +humorous dismay at Holman Sharpe's unexpected +conduct. You may say they were not +ideal scouts. You may, if you choose, say that +Holman was a true scout. Those are matters +of opinion. In any event, Roy and his +comrades cherished no malice. "Only there ought +to be a badge for that," said Roy; "the +slugger's badge. Otherwise, Sharpy will think he +wasted his time. Forget it. He saw his duty +and he did it nobly. I hope young Snoopy, the +boy councilor, forgets it." +</p> + +<p> +But Councilor Wainwright was very far from +forgetting it. En route to Administration +Shack he said what he had to say and it was a +model of cordial brevity. "Well, my boy, you'd +better pack up and get started; you know what +I told you. And we won't have any explanations, +eh? It seems you and I don't understand +each other—no hard feelings. Maybe we'll +hear of you as a heavyweight champion some +day. Let's see, you were paid up for the month, +I think?" +</p> + +<p> +"That'll be O.K," said Danny. +</p> + +<p> +"What was it, another one on the eye?" the +councilor asked cheerily, as he hurried along. +You would have thought him a fight fan. +</p> + +<p> +"N—not so good," said Danny, "I've done +better." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, now you see Temple Camp can make +good its threats too." +</p> + +<p> +"Fifty-fifty," said Danny. "Don't aim +unless you'll shoot." +</p> + +<p> +"That's the idea," said the Councilor, in +great good humor. Danny rather liked this +man who was as good as his word; he had a +sportsman's respect for him. For Danny was +always as good as his word. Scout or not, he +was that. +</p> + +<p> +In the office the business was very brief. Up +to the point of judgment Temple Camp was +easy-going. But after that the procedure was +summary. The board of the absent Danville +Bently had, as we know, been paid by check for +the month of July. The letter from Florida +which Danny had found and destroyed, shifted +this payment to cover the month of August. It +was now the middle of July and Danny had +used up two weeks' value of Mr. Roswell +Bently's money. The unused balance of thirty +dollars together with forty dollars to make up +the amount of his transportation home, was +given to him, and this extra forty was billed to +his supposed parent. +</p> + +<p> +Thus, after two weeks of masquerading, this +escaped inmate of a reform school stood +expelled from Temple Camp wearing a scout suit +and with seventy dollars in his pocket. +</p> + +<p> +With the same nonchalant air that had made +him a leader at Blythedale School he ambled +out of the office and back toward Pioneer Row. +Seeing Roy and his two companions near the +wig-wag tower he strolled over to them. His +pace was random, his general demeanor idle. +He had that about him which seemed to say +that nothing was of very much importance; a +kind of sneering sophistication. By the record +he was certainly not a good boy. When he did +a good thing it was with a certain appearance +of mockery at goodness. He had not much use +for the fuss and feathers of scouting. +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, you guys," said he, pausing in a kind +of half-interested way. "Can you all keep your +mouths shut? That little racket is all over; see? +Keep away from the office and those bosses. +No matter what—keep your mouths shut." +</p> + +<p> +"Was Wainey talking to you about it?" +Warde asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Now what did I say about keeping your +mouth shut?" +</p> + +<p> +"Is he going to jump on Sharpy?" Ralph +asked. "Gee whiz, I don't want him to." +</p> + +<p> +"For what?" Danny asked. "Sharpy didn't +slam you, you only dreamed it. Forget it. +None of us know anything about it. Nobody's +going to talk to you and you don't have to talk +to anybody. It's all settled. If you want to +pull the scout stuff now's your chance. +Nobody's going to talk to you about it, so just +keep your mouths shut. Go on down to the lake +and kid somebody along and forget it." +</p> + +<p> +It was odd how silent and respectful they +were, these boys who were never able to keep +still. They did not even pester him with +questions. Somehow they felt that this boy, who +had not a single scout achievement to his credit, +was their superior. "Sure we won't," Warde +said. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't make a lot out of nothing," said +Danny, as he walked away. +</p> + +<p> +He ambled down to Pioneer Row and into the +big dormitory. He had been told to get his +things, but of course, he had no things to get. +He strolled down the aisle between the cots +till he came to the one on which Holman Sharpe +was propped up, reading. In the interval since +the altercation the bell had rung and the rest +period being over the place was rapidly +deserted. Only Holman remained in the big bare +place, engrossed with his clerical labors. Danny +rather disrespectfully threw a book or two out +of the way and kicked another to the floor, +clearing a place so that he could sit on the foot +of the cot and talk. +</p> + +<p> +"That the English one?" he asked, poking +Sir Baden-Powell's book idly with his foot. +"Never mind, let it alone; won't hurt it to be +on the floor. How you feeling, Harpo-Sharpo?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'm just finishing; I'm going to take my +twenty yard swim this afternoon." +</p> + +<p> +"Can't swim the lake yet, huh?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, but I will." +</p> + +<p> +"Sure you will. Listen here, professor. +They've got some kind of darn crazy rule in this +summer resort about scrapping. Not that +you're a scrapper, because you don't know how +to hit. They're putting up a notice about it, I +understand. If they find out you passed one to +that feller—what's his name—they'll can you. +It's not a part of the game. You can stick out +your tongue at a scout, but you can't paste him. +That's the only thing I know about scouting, +but I know that. You can take that one lesson +from me. So as long as I'm not a boy scout +anyway—I mean a regular feller like you—I'm +going to be the one that hit foxy silver +polish or whatever his name is. You get the +idea? I'm only here for two weeks more +anyway, and you've got work enough on hand to +keep you here till New Year's. On the dead +level I don't see how you're ever going to get +away with it unless you cash in on that astronomy +stuff and eat your meals by deduction. So +I'm starting——" +</p> + +<p> +"You mean you're going to take the blame?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, I haven't got anything else to take +away with me. I suppose I'm entitled to a +little disgrace if I want it. Now—now, just a +minute! You have to do your good turn, don't +you? All right, now don't go shouting about +your upper cut—it was a punk hit anyway—and +you're all hunk here till they close the +show or your health breaks down from over +study. You see I'm not losing anything, +because I'm not booked up for rewards. Now +I've got those silver gold dust triplets or +whatever you call 'em, fixed. All you have to do is +just remember that you had a dream about +slugging a boy scout. So long, Sharpy, old +scout, and good luck to you." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap18"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XVIII +<br><br> +TO PASTURES NEW +</h3> + +<p> +One might suppose that such a boy as Danny +would have at least the quality of +understanding himself; he was nonchalant and +self-assured; so easily the master of a situation. +But strangely enough, now that he had plenty +of money and could go upon his way with +comparative safety, he felt neither safe nor +comfortable. He had suffered no scruples at +masquerading at the expense of an unknown +scout, but now that the unused balance of this +board money was handed him, he felt like a +thief. Such is the strange quality of money! +There are those who will accept favors of every +sort, except money. As long as he had been a +guest (?) at camp he had not thought of himself +as doing anything dishonest. Risky no doubt, +but not stealing. But now his act was reduced +to its common denominator. He held the money, +not simply what the money represented. And +he felt exactly as if he had stolen it. It needed +only these crisp bills to remind him of the +outrageous fraud he had been perpetrating.—Money +to return to Florida. +</p> + +<p> +This climax of affairs troubled him, for it +showed him that he was not so sure of himself. +In a way, Temple Camp had found him out, or +at least revealed him to himself. He had +avoided scouting so as to keep under cover. +Then he had deliberately sauntered to his own +destruction by accepting the dismissal which +should have been Holman Sharpe's. That is, +he had done a good turn, which of course, is +scouting. In the course of this renunciation +he had found himself in possession of seventy +dollars. And he could not keep it. He was +thoroughly annoyed with himself at this. He +was found out—he had found himself out. +He had tracked himself and found himself. He +alone had done the whole business! +</p> + +<p> +"They must think I'm joy riding in a baby +carriage, needing money," he said to himself. +He was not willing to put his act of returning +the money on the somewhat weak and "kiddish" +grounds of honesty. Such a resourceful, +skillful boy as he, could travel without money. +And so forth and so on. Anyway, he sauntered +with his finest nonchalant air into Administration +Shack, giving a little sneery look at the +stuffed birds and snake skins displayed there. +He could never, never go in for scouting. Oh +no! He pulled out one of the chairs around the +big writing table, sat down, pulled a Temple +Camp envelope to him, put the money into it +and addressed it, "To the Managers of Temple Camp." +</p> + +<p> +He scaled it over to the young clerk at the +desk as he went out. "Here's a love letter for +Wainey and the bunch," he said. "Tell 'em +I didn't need it." +</p> + +<p> +"Sorry you're going, Scout Bently," said +the young scout clerk. +</p> + +<p> +"That's all right, so long, old man." +</p> + +<p> +"You'll find it pretty hot in Florida this time +of year, won't you?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'm not there yet." +</p> + +<p> +"You going down on the bus?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, I'm going to hike down and get the six +thirty-two." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, hope to see you again." +</p> + +<p> +One thing he wanted to do and that was to +find Skinny. Poor Skinny, he would be relieved +by the departure of this unconcerned young +masquerader. In that two weeks he had obeyed +Danny's order and not sought him out. He +had smiled shyly on the two or three occasions +when they had passed each other by and once +at night, when all the scouts were at +campfire, he had ventured down to the deserted +Pioneer Row to have just a few words with his +dubious hero if Danny were there. But he +could not find him. "He's scared, because he +thinks maybe I look like him," Skinny said to +himself. As if he, Skinny, could look like that +resourceful and daring adventurer! He had +thought much about Danny, and worried about +him, in those two weeks. Once he had seen a +strange man coming along the path west of the +storehouse holding a boy by the collar and he +had been seized with panic fear that it was +Danny in the clutch of the Blythedale authorities, +until he saw that it was just a visiting +parent indulging in pleasantries with his son. +</p> + +<p> +But Skinny was not to be found on that +afternoon of Danny's sudden departure, and +Danny took the trail around the lake without +seeing him. He went that way because he +wished to avoid villages and the open roads. +The route was longer and much more difficult +than that via the highroad, but he could get to +Catskill without passing through Leeds. His +intention was to hook a ride on a train to New +York and then, having no money, to use his +wits. But, of course, Danny never knew from +one minute to another what he would do. +</p> + +<p> +So Holman Sharpe was able to proceed +uninterrupted with his strenuous cramming in +the interest of scouting. We should not be too +severe with Holman. Realizing what Danny +was doing for his sake, he tried to find him and +insist that they tell Councilor Wainwright the +truth. But Danny had already gone. That was +the great thing about Danny, he was always as +good as his word and acted promptly. Whether +it was hitting a boy in the eye or making a +sacrifice, it was all the same. He hated talk and +posing. +</p> + +<p> +Thus baffled in his effort to make amends, +Holman contented himself with the comfortable +view that after all his "studies" were +more important than the unprofitable loitering +of a boy like Danny. Making good use of one's +time was surely the paramount virtue, greater +than generosity and sacrifice. We shall meet +Holman again some day and it will be interesting +to note how his studious concentration +worked out. He cared more for scouting than +he did for scouts. +</p> + +<p> +Nor should we be too lenient with Danny. +He had a kind of sophisticated contempt for the +prescribed routine of scouting and it was not +exactly in the spirit of self-sacrifice that he +saved Holman from summary dismissal. It +amused him and annoyed him to see this smug +candidate for scout honors delving in books +and planning to do things which he, Danny, +could do so easily. As long as Holman liked +that sort of baby play, Danny was quite ready +to assure him his continuance of it. But it was +with a tolerant sneer that he did it. And +generous acts are not done with a sneer. +</p> + +<p> +Moreover, Danny knew that in a couple of +weeks the real Danville Bently would arrive +and a crisis occur. He had done his stunt of +masquerading, and had been able thus to lie +low in the perilous days following his escape +from the reform school. He went away owing +Temple Camp (or the real Bently) the amount +of two weeks board, but he had balked at +taking the cash that had been proffered him, and +had gone penniless. +</p> + +<p> +It may be added that he succeeded in finding +the trail through the mountain pass across the +lake, which Holman Sharpe had tried four +times to follow in doing test four for the first +class scout badge. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap19"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XIX +<br><br> +THE NEW ARRIVAL +</h3> + +<p> +Perhaps poor little Skinny's big eyes stared +a little more than usual on his hearing of +Danny's departure. But he did not fear for +Danny. He knew that Danny was equal to +anything, that he led a charmed life. He did not +know why Danny had left (nobody seemed to +know that) but he was not greatly surprised. +Back home, Danny had always been the true +free lance, coming and going at will. He had +followed a circus as far as Ohio and come safely +home. To Skinny he was superhuman. Down +in that stout little heart, Danny, with all his +dubious qualities, was the real hero. He could +do anything he wanted to do. All that troubled +Skinny was that he wanted to do such dreadful +things. +</p> + +<p> +Early on the afternoon of August Second he +trembled as a little group of new arrivals came +down the woods path from the road where the +bus had set them down. He stood, a poor, +shabby little figure, on the porch of +Administration Shack watching those khaki clad boys +with suit-cases and duffel bags, as they were +piloted into the office. He was just the queer +little mascot of camp, a law unto himself, and +no longer bothered because he did not wear the +scout regalia. They took him around with them, +rowing and hiking, because of a superstition +that he brought good luck. Sometimes they +took him out in the canoe that he had won in an +insane frenzy, and he was always shyly pleased +to go. Ask any scout in camp about that +phenomenal exploit and he would tell you that +Skinny did it in a fit and could never do it +again. But he was always on hand on Administration +porch to gaze at new arrivals. He was +the court fool, the camp pet, always in evidence, +staring in amazement at the great world. +</p> + +<p> +Among these new arrivals on that day was a +tall, merry faced boy, whose natty scout suit set +off his trim, slender form. He was distinguishable +from the others (a patrol and a two patrol +troop) by a spotless white scout scarf +which, instead of being tied in a knot was +drawn through a wide silver ring. His belt +was white, too, a noticeable variation in the +scout raiment. He climbed to the porch +rather hesitatingly behind the others, but he +was not embarrassed at the patrol of authority, +for he gave Skinny a funny wink which aroused +the little fellow to eager laughter. When +Skinny laughed the skin of his thin face +tightened about his mouth, giving the appearance +of an older person's smile, but his big eager +eyes redeemed this rather pitiful effect. +</p> + +<p> +"What's the white scarf for?" he ventured +to ask upon the strength of that pleasant wink. +</p> + +<p> +"Polar Bears of Florida," said the boy. +</p> + +<p> +"They don't have polar bears in Florida," +Skinny ventured. +</p> + +<p> +"No, that's the funny part of it," the boy +laughed. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny did not realize till this boy had gone +inside that he was the real Danville Bently of +Wave Crest City, Florida. He did not venture +into the office for there was a rug on the floor +and somehow he was always timid where there +were rugs. But he stood at the window looking +in. He wondered if something involving +himself would now happen. His nerves were +all on edge. There would be an explosion, he +thought. The tall boy stood aside waiting till +the others were enrolled. Skinny felt that this +was for a purpose. The boy looked very +conspicuous in there with his white scarf and belt +in striking contrast to his khaki attire. Skinny +now noticed that the hat he held had a white +cord on it also. He seemed to be waiting just +from politeness, but Skinny's little hands +trembled in panic excitement. +</p> + +<p> +The others emerged, singly and in groups, +and now the tall boy was at the counter. There +was evidently some trouble and the clerk began +running through a card catalogue. Councilor +Tenny was called and together the three talked +at the counter. Then Tom Slade, the young +camp assistant, appeared among them. Pretty +soon he began laughing and Skinny was +relieved. The new boy laughed too. But +Councilor Tenny did not laugh. He shook his head +as if puzzled. Then they got a letter and read +it. Pretty soon the new boy came out laughing. +</p> + +<p> +"Well you don't have to worry," Tom called +after him. "But it's blamed funny we never +got that letter." +</p> + +<p> +"I know my name if I don't know anything +else," laughed the boy. "I wish I was as sure +of my first class badges as I am of my—what +d'you call it—identity?" +</p> + +<p> +"Beats me," said Tom, pausing on the steps. +"All right, Bently, don't worry; we like +mysteries here." +</p> + +<p> +"I'll write to my dad and he'll straighten +it out," the boy said. +</p> + +<p> +"This is a great place, Bent, we have dark +and bloody mysteries," said Tom. "Long as +you know who you are, you're all right. Get +busy—eats at six." That was just his off-hand, +hearty way with new arrivals. +</p> + +<p> +So the worst was over and Skinny had not +been torn to pieces or struck dead. Temple +Camp survived the dreadful fraud. Tom +Slade had even laughed; he loved so to have +a joke on the office. +</p> + +<p> +"Will you let me show you where you're +going to go?" Skinny asked. "Are you going +to the dormitory? I'll show you. 'Cause my +patrol went on a hike, so I'll show you." +</p> + +<p> +"I'm going to Tent Village, wherever that is?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'll show you—it's dandy there. Is your +name—what's your name?" he asked, hurrying +along by the new boy's side. +</p> + +<p> +"Danville Bently." +</p> + +<p> +"Have you got a patrol?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, but I don't carry it around with me; +I just came from Europe. A chap was here +for a couple of weeks and gave my name, that's +what all the fuss was about. Nobody seems +to know anything about him." +</p> + +<p> +"Will—they won't catch him, will they?" +</p> + +<p> +"If he was slick enough to do that, I guess +they won't if you're asking me." +</p> + +<p> +"He was smart, hey? Even if he wasn't +maybe kind of a hero, he was smart, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"There have been lots of worse ones; look +at Robin Hood." +</p> + +<p> +"Even he was bad, but he was a hero, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'd kind of like to know who he was. I +hope I'll turn out to be as smart as he is." +</p> + +<p> +"You're not mad at him?" Skinny asked. +</p> + +<p> +"I never get mad at anybody. My dad's the +one that loses, and he'll have a good laugh over +it." +</p> + +<p> +"Why do you wear white? It looks awful +different?" +</p> + +<p> +"Why do kids ask questions?" +</p> + +<p> +"You're a second class scout?" Skinny +asked, noticing the badge. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll be a first class one in a few days or +I'll kick myself. Have you got seven miles +around here that you're not using, so I can +hike it?" +</p> + +<p> +"That's in test four," Skinny said. "Do +you want me to go for a witness?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, you're always welcome." +</p> + +<p> +"I know a good test four hike and I can +always go, because mostly my patrol are away +doing all kinds of things. I can always go—if +you want me to. I won the Hiawatha canoe +for swimming across the lake; I'll show it to +you, but most of the time it's out." +</p> + +<p> +"Ever hear of Dutch Henny's Cave?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure I did. I bet you read about it in the +Temple Camp booklet, hey? It's just seven +miles. I'll show you Spook Falls too, because +they make a noise like crying at night. That's +a good test five hike for second class, because +it's just a mile; they go scout pace." +</p> + +<p> +"How 'bout twelve on the first?" +</p> + +<p> +"You mean getting a new scout? That's +hard, because they're all scouts up here. If you +ask me things, I can tell you." +</p> + +<p> +"Good." +</p> + +<p> +"Now we're coming to Tent Village," said +Skinny. "It's good it's all full in Pioneer +Dormitory, so they don't put you there. Can +I be special friends with you? Are you going +to get prizes and awards?" +</p> + +<p> +"Search <i>me</i>; I'm going to get a lot of fun," +said Danville Bently. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap20"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XX +<br><br> +SKINNY'S PROTÉGÉ +</h3> + +<p> +The next day a notice somewhat more +lengthy and conspicuous than the usual hastily +written announcements appeared on the big +bulletin board at Administration Shack. It +was typewritten and signed by the two resident +trustees. Skinny gazed at it, appalled. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="letter"> +The management of Temple Camp is mortified to +make known that the honorable uniform of scouting +has been lately used to perpetrate a gross and +criminal fraud in this community. On July First a +boy representing himself to be a scout, enrolled and +secured assignment to quarters at this office. He +registered the name of Danville Bently of Florida, +a scout who was expected at that time. This +unknown boy was lately dismissed from camp for +sufficient reasons at the end of two weeks enjoyment +of the camp's hospitality. A letter, deferring the +arrival of the true Danville Bently, failed to be +received at this office and was probably intercepted. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +The management of this camp has regretfully +had occasion to warn its guests against canvassers +representing themselves to be connected with the +movement, but never heretofore against any one +wrongfully impersonating a scout. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +Loyalty to this camp and jealousy for the honor +of the scout uniform, will prompt any one who has +any knowledge or suspicions of the whereabouts and +identity of this miscreant, promptly to bring same +to the attention of the management. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +This certainly set the matter forth in its true +colors and Skinny was aghast. What would +they say if they knew that this "miscreant" +was also a fugitive from a reform school? But +the affair was over and he would not worry +any more about it. The bulletin was just a +random shot in the dark and nothing happened. +Danny was safe. No one knew Danny as he +did or they would not put out such notices. +</p> + +<p> +He became devoted to Danville Bently. The +only way that Skinny could make friends with +a boy was to catch him early, before he was +drawn into the activities of the camp life. +Every newcomer had a rather slow day or two +before becoming acquainted, and this was +particularly so with boys who came without their +troops. After a new boy became involved in +the camp life, he saw Skinny simply as the +little mascot and was content to "jolly" him +as every one else did. He was not likely to +take this queer little fellow seriously and to +make a pal of him. Skinny knew this from +bitter experience and he capitalized his +knowledge of camp and the neighboring countryside +with every new arrival. New boys were glad +enough to hobnob with this eager little guide +while there was nothing else to do and had no +scruples about deserting him as soon as they +were drawn into the camp life. Skinny knew +that he must strike while the iron was hot, as +the saying is, and he was always to be found, +a gaunt little figure, waiting on Administration +steps when the bus came in. No boy could +possibly dislike Skinny. But on the other hand +no boy could possibly make a permanent comrade +of him. +</p> + +<p> +But Danville Bently did just that. The contrast +between Skinny and himself was ridiculous, +but he seemed not to notice it. A boy who +deliberately chose Skinny's company was apt +to get himself laughed at. But no one dreamed +of laughing. Perhaps no one dared to laugh at +this tall boy with the white scarf and belt who +ambled about with the cadaverous little gnome +who took such conspicuous delight in his +company. Once again Skinny had done the +unexpected and won a real prize. Truly indeed +he never did anything on a small scale. +</p> + +<p> +At first the camp paid no attention while this +shabby little janitor showed the new tenant +around the enchanted place. That was +Skinny's customary job. But when Howell +Cross, of the First Vermont Eagles (and an +Eagle Scout) asked Danville to go on a point +hike and he pleasantly declined, the big heroes +of Temple Camp began to sit up and take +notice. +</p> + +<p> +"Sorry," said he, "but I'm going out on the +lake with Alfred McCord. Tell your patrol I +appreciate their asking me." Howell and the +others who stood by were astonished not only +because it was a compliment to the new boy for +the Eagle Patrol so to honor him, but because +none of them had ever before heard Skinny +called by his real name Alfred. They +were to hear that name a good deal in the +future. +</p> + +<p> +"Can't you go out on the lake with him any +day?" one of these scouts asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, so why not to-day?" said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +"It's up to you." +</p> + +<p> +"How do you like it in Tent Village?" +</p> + +<p> +"All right." +</p> + +<p> +"If you don't like it with the singles you +can be a season member of my patrol," said +Eagle Scout Cross. "I'm one short, he's away +with his folks. They let you do that up here, +you know." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, he knows," laughed another scout. "I +guess little sqeedunk told him everything." +</p> + +<p> +"He never told me he stole the white +pennant," said Danville not unpleasantly, but with +just a touch of sharpness. +</p> + +<p> +It was the first time these well known scouts +of camp had come face to face with the tall boy +with the soft southern accent, and they +observed him closely. They were all scouts of +achievement; the Vermont Eagles were a crack +patrol and Howell Cross, their leader, was a +hero with a following. There were, alas, +drones at camp, but this circle was finely +representative of scouting. They saw nothing about +Bently to suggest the laggard or slacker, or +mere "guest" at camp. He had what even +Howell Cross had not, and that was a certain +picturesqueness; but it was of a sort that +revealed no crink or cranny where boyish ridicule +could penetrate. An odd hat, or even too much +attention to ostentatious details of scout attire +(shades of Pee-wee Harris) was pretty sure +to arouse mirth and banter in this big community. +But the full white scarf with belt and hat +cord to match, worn by this tall, self-possessed +boy, excited no humorous comment. They +asked him respectfully about it. +</p> + +<p> +"Polar Bears," said he. "And I know there +aren't any in Florida and that's the funny part. +I bet I've said that fifty times since I came +here." +</p> + +<p> +"We can sure tell you a long way off," said +Howell pleasantly. "Does the silver ring mean +anything?" +</p> + +<p> +"It only means my sister gave it to me when +I joined the scouts." +</p> + +<p> +"Gee, it's nifty all right. It's not a patrol +ring?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes it is, we all got them." +</p> + +<p> +"You don't have to tie it in a knot, gee that's +good." +</p> + +<p> +Ordinarily the mention of a sister would have +given Temple Camp just the chance it loved. +They would have used the sister to belittle their +victim. They would have said, "Oh joy, he's +got a little sister." But they just were not +moved to do that. They looked at his white +scarf gathered into the shining silver ring, and +at his belt, and everything about him. They +were interested, respectful. And a trifle +puzzled. That he should have an engagement +with Skinny McCord! And that he seemed to +have every intention of keeping it, just as if it +were a real engagement. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap21"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXI +<br><br> +TEMPLE CAMP TAKES NOTICE +</h3> + +<p> +They even lingered in group form, watching +him as he ambled off down toward the lake. He +had been at camp nearly a week, and he was +still quietly devoted to Skinny. He had not +exploited Skinny nor made any ostentatious +show of being his champion. Yet he was +devoted to him in an easy-going unpretentious +sort of way. He had never said, nor even +thought, "I might as well be nice to the poor +kid." Evidently he did not know that Skinny +was just a poor little codger—a mascot. +Somebody would have to tell him about that. The +funny part of it was that he did not get himself +laughed at. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny's winning of the Hiawatha canoe had +not brought him any lasting glory. The white +pennant had been lifted many times since he +had scampered off with it, eager and trembling. +But now scouts began to wonder how he had +secured this permanent award of the tall, +polite, easy-going boy with the white scarf. They +did not exactly begin to take Skinny seriously, +but they were puzzled. They tried to find a +weak point in Bently, some idle or effeminate +quality, but there was just nothing to get hold of. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny was waiting at the lake, eager and +anxious. He lived in perpetual dread that +Bently would "fall down" on him. But Bently +never did. He came ambling down with that +pleasant smile which always reassured Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Did they ask you to go on bee-line with them?" +</p> + +<p> +"Point to point, you mean?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, they call it bee-line for short. I never +went on one, but I know all about how they do; +you have to go across brooks and climb over +things and everything; you'd have a lot of fun. +That feller that was kidding me at camp-fire +last night—you know that fat feller?—he went +through a house, even. Are you sure you're +going to go out with me?" +</p> + +<p> +"I ought to be the one to know," said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +"Did they try to get you to not do it?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, why? How are we going; in your canoe?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but it's out, my patrol is using it. +Maybe we better take a boat, hey? That's it, +over in the middle of the lake." +</p> + +<p> +"Seems to be coming in, let's wait for it." +</p> + +<p> +They sat down on the springboard to wait. +The lake was dotted with boats; every one +seemed to be out fishing. +</p> + +<p> +"I couldn't swim across again, because I was +crazy that time," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"You can do things when you're crazy," +Danville said. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>I</i> can," said Skinny, "but not any other +time. I got to get all crazy like. Do you? It +don't count so much if you're crazy like. +That's why everybody forgot about it. They +said I was lucky." +</p> + +<p> +"They said that about Lindbergh." +</p> + +<p> +"If I get good and mad, then I can do things. +Only most of the time I can't get mad. They're +nice to me up here, that's sure." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, that's good." +</p> + +<p> +"Are we going to stay friends like! I don't +mean just jollying me, but are we going to stay +friends like this?" +</p> + +<p> +"Why not?" +</p> + +<p> +"Because I'm a mascot. Do you mind if I +don't have a regular scout suit?" +</p> + +<p> +"I never noticed." +</p> + +<p> +"Here they come now, they're coming in. +That feller paddling in front is Hunt Ward. +That other one paddling is Connie Bennett, he's +my patrol leader. That other one belongs in a +troop from Rhode Island; he goes around with +them a lot; he likes my patrol." +</p> + +<p> +The Hiawatha canoe, with its merry trio, +glided toward the float, Connie brought it +around, and it paused rocking alongside. +"H'lo Skinny," Hunt called. +</p> + +<p> +"Can I go out in it now?" Skinny asked. +"This feller's going with me, can I use it?" +</p> + +<p> +They glanced at Danville who stood by, +watching them. "You ought to have been down +here an hour ago," Hunt said to him, "and +you could have gone along. We've got some +perch." +</p> + +<p> +"Now is just as good," said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +"She's all full of water, wait till we get her +on the float and tip her," Connie said. +</p> + +<p> +The three voyagers proceeded with the rather +clumsy task of hauling the canoe up on the float +and turning it over. +</p> + +<p> +"You don't need to haul her up," Danville +said. "Here, let me show you." +</p> + +<p> +He kneeled on the float, and reached over, +pulling the opposite gunwale up and toward +him. By a quick application of dexterity and +strength the canoe was tipped up sideways +against the edge of the float, and the water +poured out of it. Then Danville eased it down +into the lake again. By this trick he did a two +man job while the others stood watching and +feeling a little superfluous. Yet it was more +than a trick, for when Connie tried to do the +same thing he could not with all his strength +raise the canoe to the necessary angle. "That's +some wrinkle," he said. He preferred to view +it as a trick rather than as an exhibition of +extraordinary strength. "I guess you've got +to know how," he said. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, yes," laughed Danville. +</p> + +<p> +They had intended to jolly Skinny and +discourage his project of using the canoe. The +Elks thought a good deal of this canoe. They +liked to see it safely in its locker when they were +not using it. They had intended to say as +usual, "Oh, you don't want to use it." But +here was an embarrassing complication. The +tall, smiling boy with the white scarf had +modestly shown them a trick and a strength of arm +not to be ridiculed. This was no time or place +for authority or banter. He was quite master +of the situation. It would be quite absurd to +remind Skinny of dangers. +</p> + +<p> +"I suppose it's all right for us to go out in +his canoe, isn't it?" Danville asked. There was +no hint of sarcasm in his remark and his handsome +open face was wreathed in a friendly +smile. But just the same these Elks felt a +rebuke. A strange, uncomfortable feeling was +upon them that this boy was their master, +mentally and physically. If they had been sure +that he meant that pronoun Ids in a sneering +sense, they could have got back at him. But +they did not know what he meant, any more +than they knew how he had tipped the canoe. +They were wise scouts and they made no +mistake. Somehow or other no boys ever made +a mistake with Danville Bently. They sensed +something. They were embarrassed—and respectful. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, it's his. Why can't he use it if he +wants to?" Connie said. He seemed inclined +to be reasonable. +</p> + +<p> +"That'll be dandy," said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +Just as Howell Cross's group had watched +him rather puzzled, so now these three returning +voyagers lingered there on the float watching +him as he paddled away with Skinny +wedged up in the bow like an uncanny little +doll. He paddled, as he did everything else, +without the slightest fuss or effort. He had +that about him which suggested that he could +make up his mind without the slightest fuss or +effort, that he would jump off a roof without +the slightest fuss or effort. +</p> + +<p> +"I can't make <i>that</i> guy out," said the scout +from Rhode Island. "Gee, that white scarf +looks plain out on the water huh?" +</p> + +<p> +"Notice how he holds his left hand!" said +Connie. "I think he compensates with his +right wrist, honest." +</p> + +<p> +"No, it's the long back sweep," said Hunt. +"Geeeee! Look at the reach he's got!" +</p> + +<p> +"He kind of reminded us it was Skinny's +canoe," said Connie. "Did you notice how +nice he did that?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, and he paddles the same way," +laughed Hunt. "He <i>does</i> things the same way +he <i>says</i> things. You never know what he +means. Looks easy till you try to do it." +</p> + +<p> +"Any other scout came up here with a bib +around his neck they'd kid the life out of him," +said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"Nothing about him looks like a bib to me," +said the scout from Rhode Island. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap22"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXII +<br><br> +PARTNERS +</h3> + +<p> +"Just flop around, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, that's the way I like to do," said +Skinny. "If I was in the bow of a rowboat I +couldn't look at you, because you'd be facing +backwards. I like to look at you with your +white scarf. I like canoes better than +rowboats, don't you?" +</p> + +<p> +"They're not so good for dancing or scrapping." +</p> + +<p> +"That's the way you talk, and it's why fellows +can't make you out," said the simple +Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, as long as you can make me out it's +all right," said Danville. "How 'bout it, are +you going to help me?" +</p> + +<p> +"Will you let me! You mean getting your +first class badge? Are you going to do it?" +</p> + +<p> +"Might as well, hadn't I?" +</p> + +<p> +"And that's all you've got to do? I mean +just test four?" +</p> + +<p> +"N—no, I've got two things to do," said +Danville as he paddled idly, occasionally +letting the paddle drip. "This scouting is a +blamed nuisance." +</p> + +<p> +"Now I can tell you're fooling. Kind of +sometimes you remind me of my brother, only +he's only a half a brother. Anyway, you're not +so fresh like he is. He gets in a lot of trouble +being reckless." +</p> + +<p> +"That's the way to do it," said Danville. +"Where's the other half of him?" +</p> + +<p> +"I mean we got different mothers," said +Skinny. "Once a feller got fresh with me and +he knocked him kerplunk. Another feller——" +</p> + +<p> +He was about to stumble into a reference to +Danny's pugilistic exploit at camp, but caught +himself just in time. He could not trust +himself talking about Danny, and it made him feel +false and dishonorable, so he changed the subject. +</p> + +<p> +"Only just one test you've got to take to be +in the first class? Two, you said two." +</p> + +<p> +"Yep, the other's missionary stuff, training +a boy to be a tenderfoot—twelve. I'm not so +stuck on twelve except when it's twelve +gumdrops for a cent. You don't happen to know +any boys that want to be trained as tenderfoots +or feets, whatever it is? I suppose we might +kidnap one from a farm. But first how about +Test Four? Tell me about that seven mile hike, +or if it turns out to be any more than seven +miles the boy scouts will have to give me a +rebate. I've been climbing up the Alps this +summer and I'm tired." +</p> + +<p> +"Those are in Europe, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"And they're up in the air—in Switzerland. +Where is this lion's den or whatever you call +it? Maybe I could go in a taxi. I've got to do +it before my dad comes up or I won't be able to +stick him for a pony next winter." +</p> + +<p> +"I can never make out whether you're honest +and true for scouting or not," poor Skinny said. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I'm honest and true," said Danville. +"Tell me and let's plan it out and get it over +with." +</p> + +<p> +"You got to be serious about it," Skinny +warned. +</p> + +<p> +"All right, I'll start crying if you say so. As +I understand it I've got to hike seven miles +and seven miles back and write up an account +of it—all the time being serious. Now is this +cave just exactly seven miles? I don't want to +make that hike and then find I didn't go far +enough. And if I should find I hiked farther +than necessary I'd be good and mad at you. +I'm not going to give them any more than they +ask for; I'm a stingy chap." +</p> + +<p> +"Is it a real pony—a live one!" Skinny asked. +</p> + +<p> +"If it isn't I'll have my dad arrested for +swindling." +</p> + +<p> +"Would you have anybody arrested?" +</p> + +<p> +"I might if I happened to think of it. Let's +talk about something pleasant. If I do that +fourteen mile hike and close up on the first +class tests, will you find me a boy to train as +a tenderfoot! That'll be the only thing left to +do. Maybe you could leave the scouts and then +I'd start in training you—no?" +</p> + +<p> +"They wouldn't let us do that. Just the +same we'll find some feller that's not a +scout." +</p> + +<p> +"All right then, I guess I might as well take +a hop, skip and jump into the first class. Will +you go with me to-morrow morning and hold +my hand?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure I will; then I can tell them I was the +one that went with you, hey? I can be the +one to prove it." +</p> + +<p> +"Sure thing; you tell 'em." +</p> + +<p> +"Are you all excited about it?" Skinny +asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh I think I'll sleep to-night." +</p> + +<p> +"And to-morrow you can write to your +father that you're a full first class scout, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"Don't forget about the boy I have to catch +and train for a tenderfoot." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but that isn't exactly a test, kind of." +</p> + +<p> +"Now if you weren't such a little peach of a +scout I might use you." +</p> + +<p> +"And I could go in your patrol, maybe; hey? +Because my patrol wouldn't be mad if I did." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, is that so? Well, we'll have to be +careful not to make them mad. I suppose they'd +beat us up if they got mad; and they wouldn't +let us use your canoe." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny seemed to be thinking. "If you're +breaking in a new feller then maybe you won't +bother with me any more; hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"Then again maybe I will." +</p> + +<p> +"I bet when you get your first class badge, +then you'll start getting a lot of merit badges; +I bet you'll win a whole lot of them." +</p> + +<p> +"Six or eight at a time, huh?" +</p> + +<p> +"And when you've got your first class badge +you can try for camp specials too. Those are +things that are not in the Handbook, like the +Mohawk Archery set for tracking; you get a +target easel and a lot of targets and a real +Indian bow and arrows and everything. +You've got to track somebody, or an animal, +five miles through the woods—then you get it." +</p> + +<p> +"I kind of like that." +</p> + +<p> +"First you've got to find tracks—I'll help +you. There's a feller up here named Roy +Blakeley; don't you let <i>him</i> help you. He told +one scout where there were some tracks and +they were nothing but railroad tracks. So do +you want to try for that prize after you get +your full badge?" +</p> + +<p> +"That's the one for me. Tell me about this +canoe; how did you win it?" +</p> + +<p> +"I was all kinder crazy like—kinder like my +fingers were asleep. So I even couldn't hold +myself back. Do you say a feller can be kinder +good even if he's reckless. You don't have to +be so terrible if you're bad, do you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Guess not." +</p> + +<p> +"If you like me a lot——" +</p> + +<p> +"That's it." +</p> + +<p> +"If you like me a lot and I do +something—kinder—maybe—if I'm kind of not so good +all of a sudden—then would you like me just +the same?" +</p> + +<p> +Danville Bently gazed amusedly at the poor +little fellow wedged into the point of the canoe. +There was something pathetic about Skinny's +very posture as he sat there, serious, eager, +insignificant. He looked out of place and +uncomfortable in this beautiful canoe, as if he did +not yet comprehend how he had even won it. +</p> + +<p> +His own spectacular excursion into the field of +heroic enterprise was like a fairy tale to him +now. But he was strong on hero worship. +Danville lifted the paddle and poked him with +it; Skinny was used to that sort of thing. +</p> + +<p> +"No, I only like Sunday School boys," said +Danville. "They've got to be perfect to suit me." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny looked at him as if he did not know +whether to believe this or not. +</p> + +<p> +"So if you've been committing any murders +or robbing any banks, it's all over between us. +Shall we flop around toward camp again now, +and wash up for eats?" +</p> + +<p> +"To-morrow morning you'll go on Test Four!" +</p> + +<p> +"To-morrow morning. Then for the archery +set and the new recruit." +</p> + +<p> +"Can I be partners with you while you're +doing all that?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure—or falling down on it." +</p> + +<p> +"Sometimes fellers forget when they have +dates with me." +</p> + +<p> +"Well I've got a good memory." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap23"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIII +<br><br> +HENNY'S CAVE +</h3> + +<p> +Skinny did not quite comprehend this rather +whimsical boy. But here was a prize he had +every intention of keeping. He no longer +worried about Danny. That dreadful affair which +had cost him sleepless nights was at last over. +Danny had triumphed (if you call it triumph) +and gone upon his dubious way. All that +remained of that fearful nightmare was Skinny's +love and admiration of the checkered hero. +</p> + +<p> +Danny was far away and safe. His genius +for beating any game would carry him through +every difficulty. There was one place where +he would always be safe and that was in +the stout little heart that beat beneath the +the shabby and faded shirt of his little half +brother. There Danny dwelt, but nobody knew +it. Only Skinny wished that they would take +that dreadful notice from the bulletin-board. +</p> + +<p> +But now he had a new worry. He feared that +he would lose this scout of the white scarf, +just as he had lost his prize canoe. Because he +knew that prize canoes and tall scouts with +white scarfs were not for him. He made no +complaint that his canoe had been absorbed +into his patrol, even if he himself had not been +absorbed into it. He had never quite comprehended +the glittering romance of his induction +into scouting and that fine patrol. +</p> + +<p> +But he did want to "keep in" with Danville +Bently. And he lived in mortal fear of losing +him, even as he had lived in mortal fear of +Danny's being found out during that awful +fortnight of his presence in camp. He saw that +Danville was admired, that the whole camp was +puzzled at his choice and he feared that any +moment this splendid, picturesque boy would +be lured into the maelstrom and be lost to him. +Particularly he was afraid of the Vermont +Eagle, Howell Cross. What had he, Skinny, to +offer as against the delights of comradeship +with that crack patrol! He slept hardly an +hour that whole night, fearing that something +might happen to ruin his sponsorship of +Danville's one remaining test for first class rank. +His high strung nature was all worked up with +fear and expectancy. Again his "hands felt as +if they were asleep kinder, all tingly," the +same as when he had plunged into the lake, and +when he had lifted the white pennant. Because, +you see, the whole thing was too good to +be true. That night they "kidded" him at +camp-fire, but he did not mind. He went up to +Elks' cabin and lay restlessly all night, +waiting for the morning. +</p> + +<p> +He did not dare to approach Danville at +breakfast where he sat with a group from Tent +Village. But after breakfast he went down to +the lake and there was Danville waiting. +Again his hero of the white scarf had not failed +him. +</p> + +<p> +"I thought maybe I only dreamed it," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"I guess it will turn out to be a pretty +strenuous dream," Danville answered. "Well, are +we all set?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, and I got Chocolate Drop to make me +some sandwiches; see? He's a good friend of +mine." +</p> + +<p> +"One cook is better than a dozen scouts; huh?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, but are you going to join Howell +Cross's patrol for the season?" +</p> + +<p> +"Don't you know I've got a patrol of my own?" +</p> + +<p> +"That's what I can never remember, because +kinder you seem all by yourself, as if there +weren't any fellers like you. Do they all wear +white scarfs and belts like you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yep. Come on now, for the big parade." +</p> + +<p> +"I'll show you," said Skinny eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +Henny's Cave was an ideal destination for +scouts making the fourteen mile hike specified +in Test Four. It was exactly seven miles +distant through the woods and supplied en route +much material for the required written description. +An observant scout would not miss the +crooked willow tree with the two trunks a few +yards east of the path. If his hearing was keen +he would find Spook Falls down in the hollow, +and note this crystal cascade as one of the +things observed. But few were the scouts who +saw in the chewed and broken branches at one +spot a clue to the location of a beaver dam a +quarter of a mile or so off the trail. +</p> + +<p> +The cave itself was an interesting natural +phenomenon with a rocky entrance as well +concealed as that of any pirate's lair. Inside it +was as large as a small room, dank and dark. +But if you directed a search-light here and there +against its wet, rocky walls you would see +scores of names and initials scratched upon the +surface to prove that the weary artists had +achieved their seven mile hike and might claim +credit for Test Four. The verification was +usually enough for the presiding powers. +</p> + +<p> +It was nearly noontime when Danville and +Skinny approached this romantic destination +after their long hike over mountains and +through dense woods. "I'm glad I don't have +to write up the account of it with my feet," +said Danville. "This is some spooky place; I +bet ghosts live here. Let's take a look inside +and then we'll sit out under this tree and eat." +</p> + +<p> +"You have to stoop down and crawl under +that rock," said Skinny, "and then you walk +between those two others; it's really one big +rock that's split; then you're on the inside. In +the middle it's water so you have to step +around the edge, but there's plenty of room +where it's dry. There's lots of little red lizards +inside. If you catch one by the tail it's good +luck." +</p> + +<p> +"Not for the lizard." +</p> + +<p> +"No, for the feller that catches him by the tail." +</p> + +<p> +"You got a flash-light!" Danville asked. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-160"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-160.jpg" alt="HE LED THE WAY, CRAWLING ON HANDS AND KNEES."> +<br> +HE LED THE WAY, CRAWLING ON HANDS AND KNEES. +</p> + +<p> +Of course Skinny had no flash-light; he had +nothing mentioned in the alluring scout equipment +list. But he did try to "be prepared" in +his humble way and he had a metal shaving-stick +box containing a few matches. This +gloomy cave was his exhibit and he proudly led +the way, crawling on hands and knees under +the slab of overhanging rock which was a sort +of vestibule leading under an uprooted tree. +Part of this great root (enough to keep the +fallen tree alive) still had anchorage in the +ground, but the sun-baked tentacles of the +rest of it hung in air like some outlandish +whip-lash curtain and through this mass the +visitor must crawl, assailed by these lifeless, +dangling pendants. This grotesque approach +opened upon a cleft between great rocks, or +the parted halves of one great rock, and here +the explorer could walk erect through a passage +roofed by the great tree that had fallen +over the top of the cleft. It was an intricate +entrance to the dank, secluded chamber within, +an earthly and rocky dungeon where one's +voice sounded strange to one's own ears. +</p> + +<p> +Probably the disturbance caused by the +breaking apart of that great rock had forced +open this tiny apartment in the dense hillside, +who shall say how many years ago? Nor did +any one know who Henny was, whose name was +perpetuated in this gloomy retreat. There was +a legend that he had lived on a farm and had +been buried alive here in a quick transformation +of the uncertain walls. Enterprising +scouts had searched for his bones, but there +seemed to be nothing left of the unknown Henny +save only his name. Of course, the place was +one of Captain Kidd's many safe deposit +vaults, but no vestige of his fabulous treasure +was ever found by Temple Camp excavators. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Great Scott!</i>" said Danville as he looked +about in the darkness, and gropingly felt for +the dank walls. "Gives you the shudders; I +feel as if I were buried alive. Where are you +anyway!" +</p> + +<p> +"Here I am," said Skinny, delighted at Danville's +reaction to the place. "Look out where +you step, there's all water. The ground slants +up in one place and it's dry there. Wait till I +light a match." +</p> + +<p> +To Danville the feeling of confinement in this +gruesome hole was all but unnerving. It +needed only the warning that it was not safe +to move in the darkness to give him the feeling +that he was indeed buried alive in this ghostly, +stifling place. One little glint of uncertain light +he did see, cheerful reminder of the bright +world without, and this was the only beacon to +show where the intricate entrance was. It was +a mere speck of light leaking through under +those weird tree roots and through the rocky +passage. +</p> + +<p> +"Wait till I strike a match," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Hsh, listen!</i>" whispered Danville. "Did +you hear a sound?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, you always kind of hear noises in +here," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"No, but I heard something moving. I +thought it was you, but you're on the other side +of me. Hurry up, your matches won't last +anyway. I wish we had a candle or something." +</p> + +<p> +Just as he said this there was a slight +rustling near him like the sound of paper being +crumpled. He knew that Skinny had no paper. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap24"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIV +<br><br> +MISSING +</h3> + +<p> +The startling thing that followed, happened +suddenly. Skinny struck a match and in its +brief uncertain light Danville saw him stumble +and fall. For just a second he was aware of +something that looked like a log and he +supposed that Skinny had tripped on this. Then +he sniffed smoke and in less than half a minute +the tiny place was full of suffocating fumes. +Yet there was no blaze, only a little red glow +which shed no illumination. +</p> + +<p> +"Quick, get out of here," Danville gasped. +"See that little streak of daylight? Follow +that, it's the entrance." +</p> + +<p> +"I know, you come too," Skinny said, as he +began coughing. +</p> + +<p> +"Get down and crawl," Danville was just +able to say; "keep near the ground!" He was +overcome by a paroxysm of coughing but he +heard, half-consciously, a sound which he +thought to be Skinny crawling away. "All +right?" he asked, his senses reeling. He heard +Skinny answer, but the words were not clear. +He did not know whether that was because +Skinny could not speak clearly or because of +the drumming in his own ears. His eyes were +streaming and he fought for every breath. +</p> + +<p> +He would have fallen unconscious if he had +not lowered himself to a crawling posture. +Even so the ground seemed uncertain under +him, like a yielding mattress. But he was in +muddy water and the wetness reminded him +to pull off his scarf and saturate it in the +puddle. Hardly conscious of what he did, he +pulled the dripping scarf over his head and +face, gathering up the end of it between his +teeth. +</p> + +<p> +His head swam, his hands trembled, but with +his face swathed in the dripping scarf he was +measurably restored. He was conscious of the +gritty taste of thin mud in his mouth, and the +stinging in his eyes diminished. For a few +seconds he was sufficiently master of his senses to +wish that he had reminded Skinny to wet his +shirt and take it in his teeth. He called but the +word he uttered did not sound like Skinny to +his swimming brain. +</p> + +<p> +He was just conscious enough to know that +he must act quickly. His improvised mask +afforded but incomplete and temporary relief, +and he knew that he was tottering on the brink +of oblivion. But by pulling the scarf away +from his eyes he was able to see that little glint +which told of the fresh air and the bright, clear +world outside. On hands and knees he crawled +toward it. Suddenly his hand lay against +something soft; he felt cloth, then hair, then a +face. His senses were reeling now, his head +bursting. He gathered more of the wet scarf +into his mouth. In a vague way he realized +that this soft object was Skinny, that the little +fellow had not escaped, but had sunk unconscious. +</p> + +<p> +He could not speak to ask a question. What +he did he seemed to be doing in a trance. But +he got his arm around the prostrate form and +hauled it with him toward the tiny beacon. To +his ebbing senses the fume-filled place seemed +vast, he was oddly persuaded that he had miles +of suffocating area to cross, hauling his limp +burden. Even the little glint of light deserted +him. It did not disappear, but there were other +lights, not real, but in his reeling brain. They +came and went like stars and he knew not which +light to follow. +</p> + +<p> +Still he moved, slowly, uncertainly; one +might say unconsciously. He fell over his +lifeless burden, let his throbbing head rest for +just a moment on the soft body, then gathered +the wet scarf again into his mouth and knew +that he was still alive by the gritty, earthy +taste in his mouth. He could not keep his +stinging eyes open, but he thought, or rather +felt (for his mind was not capable of thinking) +that he was near the entrance. Instinctively he +reached out a clammy hand and groped for the +light, as if it were something tangible that he +could get hold of. His cold, trembling fingers +closed upon a bit of root in the rocky passage. +The knowledge of this inner entrance had +quite passed from his mind, but instinctively he +clutched the root and pulled with all his might, +dragging the body after him. He knew (as one +is conscious in a dream) that he was pulling +with one hand, dragging something with the +other, and helping his progress with both feet, +in this final, supreme, spasmodic effort. +</p> + +<p> +And it brought him to where the air was a +little clearer. Even here in the passage it was +thick and stifling, but it was mixed with the +pure air of heaven. He never knew how he +groped his way out. But there came a moment +when he pushed the muddy, drenched scarf +from his mouth and breathed freely, though his +head pounded and his eyes stung. He was +under the tilted root of the great tree, brushing +the dangling tentacles aside with his hand +as he crawled through, dragging his burden +after him. Not until he emerged on the +rugged, green hillside did he pause. He heard +a bird singing. Just as he sank back in utter +exhaustion he saw several crows in flight +overhead; their cawing sounded miles away. Idly, +half-consciously, he tried to count them. +</p> + +<p> +Hazily, he looked at the face of the boy he +had dragged to safety. It was streaked with +blood and dirt from contact with the rocky +earth. The eyes were closed; the body lay +limp, in a way to strike terror, with an arm +extended as if the prostrate thing were making a +speech. The victim wore a scout suit which +was in shreds and covered with mud. Danville +blinked his stinging eyes, trying with his slowly +returning senses to comprehend this strange +sequel to his harrowing adventure. He did not +know what to make of it; all that he knew was +that the boy was not Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +And Skinny was nowhere to be seen. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap25"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXV +<br><br> +FROM ABOVE +</h3> + +<p> +At the moment when Skinny had crawled out +of the cave an inspiration had come to him. He +had no idea what had caused the suffocating +fumes which had filled the place. The cave, as +he remembered it, contained nothing inflammable +into which his lighted match could have +fallen; nor anything on which he could have +tripped. Yet he had stumbled on something of +considerable bulk. However, he did not pause +to consider these mysteries. +</p> + +<p> +He emerged into the fresh air and daylight, +coughing incessantly. He called to make sure +that Danville was following, but there was no +answer. Astonished and concerned, he +re-approached the entrance, calling. Not hearing +any answer he was seized with panic fear. To +reënter the cave was quite impossible. Even +the outer entrance under the tree root was +smoky, and the passage between the rocks was +filled with the dense fumes. That was at about +the moment when Danville thought to soak his +scarf in the muddy water. Skinny shouted into +the volume of emerging smoke, but it stifled +him, even where he stood in the open, and he +was compelled to withdraw from the entrance. +</p> + +<p> +It was then he had his inspiration. He +remembered that very early that summer he and +Charlie Avery, a new boy from Long Island, +had seen a little speck of light in the low roof +of the cave. Charlie had poked his scout staff +up through this and Skinny had gone out and +scrambled up to see if it had penetrated +through to the open air. He found that it had, +and that by reason of a rather odd condition. +This cave was part of a jumble of dense brush +and fallen trees; it had probably been made in +some terrific storm. A tree on the hillock +above the cave had been blown over, doubtless +from the same cause which had uprooted the +one below that formed part of the intricate +entrance. Indeed the spot was a tangled +jungle of rock and dense brush and fallen trees, +and the cave only a grotto caused by the upheaval. +</p> + +<p> +In falling, this tree above the cave had +wrenched part of its root up and it was just in +this depression, now soggy and overgrown, that +Charlie Avery's staff had gone through. If the +little dungeon underneath had been lighted one +could have seen the disturbance caused by that +wrenching from above, and it was one of the +standard jokes of Temple Camp to tell a new +boy there were snakes in the cave and then +direct his groping progress against a dangling +end of root that hung down into the dank, +earthy vault. The startled visitor usually +reacted very satisfactorily to this. Here, you will +understand, the roof of the cave was thinnest, +and the ground in the excavation where the +root had been was soft because of the water +that was continually collecting in it and +seeping through into the cave. Some day there +would be a cave-in here, but no one ever +worried about it. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny knew about all this and now it +occurred to him that he might work open a hole +in this soft depression and release the fumes +more rapidly than they would escape through +the entrance. It was, indeed, the only rescue +work that he could do. He was already fearful +that it would be too late to save his friend. If +his effort resulted in a cave-in, even so that +would release the smoke and probably not +completely engulf the victim. +</p> + +<p> +Breaking off a branch from a tree, he began +churning it around in the soft earth with feverish +excitement. He became possessed, just as +when he had won the prize canoe. His +emotional power (which no one knew about) gave +him strength, and he strove with maniacal +effort to get the stick down, pushing it, then +working it in a circle. Soon it broke and he +secured another, so large that he could hardly +handle it. When it became blocked by rock or +bits of root he actually cried in nervous +excitement and gave vent to his annoyance by +screaming. One cannot keep this sort of thing +up very long; the nerves give out if the +strength does not. Skinny was on the verge of +hysteria. But still he strove like a little David +with his great unwieldy Goliath of a stick, +pushing, twisting, pulling, crying, falling and +rising again, and hanging on it to pry open a +hole into that stifling tomb below. +</p> + +<p> +At last something happened. The stick +plunged, Skinny lost his balance and went +sprawling into the depression. But he smelled +smoke. He had been successful, the long stick +had penetrated into the cave. Right beside him +a thin column rose and dissolved in the air. +He rose, breathing excitedly, and holding a cut +knee. But he did not care. He grabbed hold of +the stick again, pulling the end of it around in +a large circle to enlarge the tiny hole he had +made. He tripped, he stumbled, and again cut +himself sorely when he went sprawling on a +bit of pointed rock. But he was up again, +pulling, hauling, wrenching. He was in a state of +frenzy, this insignificant, staring little fellow +whom they "jollied." He seemed to be +fighting the whole universe, wrestling with the +elements. Blood was streaming from his cut +leg, his face was dripping with sweat, his eyes +were wild. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly the ground on which he stood settled, +he heard a dim thud, and the stick +descended till only a few inches of it remained +above surface. Now the smoke came out +freely; there was no cave-in, but something had +happened. In his small way, Skinny had +changed the face of nature. Frantic with joy +he brushed the smoke away from his face and +tried to haul the stick up. Then he saw +something which he could hardly believe; it seemed +like magic, and to conjure his whole maniacal +striving into a tumultuous dream. As he +raised the long stick a snake was coiled loosely +about it. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly, almost mechanically the drowsy reptile +included Skinny's leg in its slow winding. +It tightened around the stick and the little thin +limb binding them together like things bound +around with cord. The action of the snake was +not belligerent, it seemed asleep and made the +horrible affair seem unreal. Its movement was +like the weirdly slow motion pictures sometimes +shown so as to reveal detail to the spectators. +There was something appalling in its +slow, drowsy tightening. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap26"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXVI +<br><br> +WITH THE SMOKE +</h3> + +<p> +<i>Dreamy</i>, that was the way it seemed to the +panic-stricken Skinny. The thing was so +unreal! Following immediately upon his frantic +striving, this loathsome thing had slowly +emerged upon the stick and by a kind of sluggish +inevitable instinct incorporated Skinny's +thin leg in its unconscious coiling. There he +was bound by this living horror to the big limb +hie had been using. +</p> + +<p> +So drowsily deliberate was the long snake +that it would have seemed not amiss to remind +it of its ghastly error. But if its instinctive +action had been purposeless it was none the less +effectual. It was tightly coiled around these +two dissimilar supports; it seemed as free of +malice and intention as so much binding rope. +But even in his astonishment and fright, Skinny +saw that it was a great rattlesnake; its bony +appendage looked like a pine cone lying +against the branch. Bound to this branch as he +was, he could not stand and he sank down +exhausted and terror-stricken in the +depression. It was the usual sort of climax to his +heroic achievements. +</p> + +<p> +He was in no condition to ponder on the +cause of this singular happening, but the reader +will surmise the facts. The snake was probably +in a stupor caused by the fumes below when +Skinny's long implement descended into the +suffocating cave. Instinctively it had coiled +itself about the stick and was lifted out before +its coiling was complete. The depth of its +stupor may be conceived by its drowsy action +of including the adjacent leg of its rescuer as +it settled into coiled inertness. +</p> + +<p> +If Skinny could have stood erect perhaps he +would have had some command of himself, +would have thought of something to do. But +he was at the same disadvantage as a person is +who has been knocked down. He was powerless +till he could rise; and he could not rise. +His whole little trembling body seemed +involved in this ghastly attack. If he had been +bound and thrown into that little muddy jungle, +he would have felt less fearful, less at the +mercy of a foe. But this horrifying thing had +occurred without a struggle on his part. He +had striven like one possessed, till his stout +little heart beat like a trip-hammer, and then, +in the proud moment of his triumph this deadly +reptile had slowly, silently, probably +unconsciously coiled its slimy, clinging form around +his leg, and he had gone down in defeat—perhaps +to death. +</p> + +<p> +But he got hold of his senses. Should he +dare to call? If Danville was alive and +conscious, he would hear and perhaps rescue him. +But how? What could Danville do that he, +Skinny, could not do? Anything that either of +them tried to do would be perilous, might +precipitate a fatal sequel. If he moved or shouted, +he might arouse the torpid thing whose clammy +coldness he could feel against his torn stocking. +His leg was not bound for its whole length, but +he dared not even wriggle his foot. The reptile +was so tightly coiled that the circulation +was embarrassed in his leg and his foot was +asleep. Yet he dared not seek relief by moving +it about. His predicament was appalling, +unnerving, especially to a boy of his highly +strung nature. +</p> + +<p> +He tried to bring himself to scream. That +might either bring help or death. Quick help +or quick death. But probably Danville was +already dead. The smoke was pouring out like +smoke out of a chimney; it was a good job this +little mascot had done. Why did not Danville +shout, or appear? Surely, if he was safe, he +would not fail to see the smoke rising from the +jungly hillock; he would scramble up and +investigate. The thought of the smoke caused +him to indulge the hope that this mounting +column he had released might be seen at camp; +that if he just lay motionless perhaps some one +would come and rescue him from this grotesque +predicament. But in his heart he knew that +it would not be seen at camp, seven miles distant. +</p> + +<p> +The smoke was thinning out now and loathsome +little bugs with many legs crawled +rapidly about, seeking their wonted shelter +under damp logs; they were part of the exodus +from that stifling inferno, hardier than humans +in their battle with the deadly fumes. One of +them crawled aimlessly across Skinny's face, +but he dared not move his arm to brush it away. +He saw one of his familiar little red lizards +making its way up the stick and across the +rattlesnake as if it did not mind this poisonous +reptile in the least. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly a thought came which startled him. +This loathsome snake would come out of its +stupor now that it was in the pure, clear air. +It would realize where it was and would sting +him. It would sting him right where its +horrible head lay, a little above his knee. He +strained his eyes, pressed his chin into his +chest, and looked at that frightful head. The +little beady eyes were open; it was hard to +believe that the snake was stupefied. But at least +it did not shoot out its cruel, darting tongue. +It remained quite motionless. It seemed satisfied +if he was. But why should it remain long +inert when these escaping denizens of the cave +were able to make good their rush to safety? +</p> + +<p> +Skinny knew that his only chance lay in +prompt action; that when the snake began to +move, it would not release itself and crawl +away. It would bite him and he would die in an +hour. That was what Uncle Jeb Rushmore had +said, about an hour "<i>more ner less</i>." Well, he +was too wrought up to lie there waiting for +death; he must do something. The thought +occurred to him that if he had a jack-knife, he +could stab the snake. But you see he had no +jack-knife, he had nothing that scouts have. So +he resolved to shout. Perhaps Danville was +alive and would hear him. And perhaps his +voice would not arouse the drowsy reptile to +bite him. If it did and Danville came, then +Danville would know what had happened. He +believed that if Danville had not been stifled to +death, he would be emerging into consciousness +by now. +</p> + +<p> +By rolling over just a little bit he might be +able to look down into the opening he had made. +He had not directly made that opening; that is, +he had not worked it all out with his stick. He +thought he must have dislodged a stone that +had fallen into the cave, and thus broken the +root-bound earth. Suppose he looked down +into that dark inferno—suppose there was light +there. Something, he knew not what, had +caught fire there. And suppose the rock he +had dislodged had fallen on Danville lying +prostrate and overcome.... +</p> + +<p> +Skinny had too much imagination. Well, he +must not imagine things now, but act. He +made up his mind what he would do. He would +shout. That, of course, would agitate his +body and probably arouse his torpid foe to +deadly action. If that occurred he would +quickly wrench his tattered shirt off, pull it +around his skinny little leg, and tie it in a knot. +Then he would reach for a stick which he saw, +slip it under the encircling shirt and turn it, +drawing the shirt tighter and tighter around his +wounded limb just above the point of the deadly +bite. He thought that the bite would be just +about where the head was, on the front of his +leg just above the knee. He had the stick all +picked out. Suddenly the wild thought came +to him of reaching down and grabbing the +serpent by the neck. But he was so placed with +relation to it that he could not apply the +necessary strength. Shouting was best, at least as +a first recourse. +</p> + +<p> +So he shouted. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap27"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXVII +<br><br> +SKINNY'S HERO +</h3> + +<p> +Danville Bently was not fifty feet distant +from Skinny. He was bending over the boy he +had rescued and was just recovering from his +consternation at finding him a stranger when +he heard the shouting. It was rather odd that +Skinny's frantic call caused this prostrate boy +to open his eyes, by which Danville knew that +he still lived. He closed them again, as if he +had been disturbed in slumber. +</p> + +<p> +Danville scrambled up through tangled +brush to the summit of the overgrown mound +which enclosed the cave. Smoke was still +coming from the hole; the place looked like a +miniature volcano in the crater of which lay Skinny, +the long branch which he had used tight against +him like a stilt. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't—don't touch me," he breathed +almost in anguish; "keep away—look—the snake." +</p> + +<p> +Danville could hardly believe his eyes. "He +bit you?" he asked quickly. +</p> + +<p> +"No he didn't—he's sort of asleep or +something—don't scare him—he came out where I +made a hole so—so as to save you. He's dopy +from the smoke, I guess." +</p> + +<p> +"He's not so dopy," said Danville, as the +reptile shot out his tongue; "he's awake enough +to do that. Lie still, that isn't what he bites +you with; don't get excited. I wish I had my +scarf if we need a twister."* +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* Meaning a tourniquet, or bandage drawn tight by turning +an inserted stick. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +For a moment he paused, thinking and glancing +about. Skinny lay trembling, not daring +to stir. Somehow he was more fearful and +excited than he had been before his friend's +arrival; something was to be done and it might +precipitate a fatal sequel. "Anyway you got +safe," he said. +</p> + +<p> +"Keep still—I know—now just, just a +second," Danville said. +</p> + +<p> +He moved with lightning stealth now. +Quickly he took out his jack-knife, opened it, +and held it between his teeth while he hurried +to the nearest tree and pulled off a large piece +of bark which was already warping away from +the dried trunk. This was perhaps a foot in +diameter. He next pulled off his shirt, tore a +strip from it and looking about picked up a +stick suitable for his purpose. Thus completely +prepared he stole up, motioning Skinny to lie +still, and laid the stick and the torn strip of +shirt on the ground within easy reach. Then +with lightning dexterity he slipped the piece +of bark downward along Skinny's leg till it was +stopped by the snake's coiled body. But it lay +between that cruel head and Skinny's flesh, and +being rounded to the curve of the tree, it fitted +rather nicely. +</p> + +<p> +With another movement that can only be +described as instantaneous, he plunged his +jackknife into the drowsy reptile's head. He was +none too quick, for even as he did so its horrid +tongue was darting, and scarcely had the knife +touched its scaly head when its fangs were +plunged against the bark. But there ended its +deadly power; it was pinned to the protecting +bark, and a trickle of blood flowed from +Skinny's leg where the knife had pierced +through. There was a spasmodic tightening of +the coils around his little limb, then a loosening +bringing infinite relief. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-192"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-192.jpg" alt="HE PLUNGED HIS JACK-KNIFE INTO THE REPTILE'S HEAD."> +<br> +HE PLUNGED HIS JACK-KNIFE INTO THE REPTILE'S HEAD. +</p> + +<p> +"Did he bite me?" Skinny asked pitifully. +</p> + +<p> +"No, he's gone out of that business," said +Danville, lifting Skinny's big implement of +rescue with the snake hanging limply over it. +"See? Look at the size of him, will you! That +was a blamed funny thing to happen, hey! He +got busy just too late." +</p> + +<p> +"Don't—don't drop him near me," Skinny +pleaded, as his rescuer dangled the loathsome +body. "My leg stings, I think he bit me." +</p> + +<p> +"No he didn't, Alf; I just jabbed you with +my knife. Look." He held up the curving slab +of bark and there upon it was a tiny wet spot, +appalling evidence of the deadly substance that +had been ejected from those deadly fangs. +"He struck out, but it was meant for a home +run all right," Danville said. "Come on, don't +be scared, come down and see my new boy +friend. I'm going to pass you up now, I've got +a new pal." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny did get up at that. "See where I +made a hole?" he said. "All the smoke came +out here and maybe it saved you, hey?" +</p> + +<p> +"I think I must have been out when you +started, Alf. I pulled somebody out, I thought +it was you; I guess I came blamed near getting +suffocated. I don't know how I got out, all I +know is I got out. I guess some scout from +camp must have hiked here ahead of us; he's +still dopy. What the dickens happened +anyway? There wasn't anything that would burn +in that damp place, was there?" +</p> + +<p> +"Whatever it was, it was damp," said +Skinny; "that's what made the smoke so thick; +it was smudge smoke, like what scouts use for +signals. Even little bugs came out. I lit a +match and then I stumbled over something that +was never there before. Anyway, one thing +sure, you'll get the Gold Cross. You'll get it +for saving me, and you'll get it for saving that +other feller. I bet I know who it is, too; it's +Pompy Arliss in that Brooklyn troop, because +he's out for Test Four, and I was telling him +about the cave. But I didn't know he was on +his test to-day. You know the feller I mean, +that wears his hair all sticking up? He's all +the time kidding me." +</p> + +<p> +They scrambled down, working their way +through the thick underbrush and over rocks, +making slow progress because of Skinny's +bleeding leg, which soon they had to bandage +effectively before going on. +</p> + +<p> +"And how about you?" Danville asked. +</p> + +<p> +"As long as I know I didn't get bit by +poison," Skinny said in his quaint way; "as +long as I know that I don't care." +</p> + +<p> +"I mean about the Gold Cross," Danville +said. "Is that bandage too tight—no? I mean +about what you did." +</p> + +<p> +"I didn't save anybody, I only tried to," +said Skinny. "You don't get it for only +trying. But maybe if you were still in there I'd +have saved you, hey? But you get it twice, +kinder. And I'm just as glad, too, because now +I got a friend that's a hero. So are you going +to stay my friend even now I Even when you +get the Gold Cross, are you? I won't be mad +if you don't—but are you? Because now Howell +Cross and all those scouts will <i>surely</i> be after +you! Because the Gold Cross is the biggest, +<i>specialest</i> thing in scouting. Even it's greater +than being an Eagle—even. It's for saving life +when you risk your own, like you did—twice +even. Because that snake might have killed +you, mightn't he? So now you'll get your first +class badge, and you'll get the Gold Cross, and +will you let me be the first one to see it? I bet +you're proud, hey—that you'll get it? Do you +know who'll give it to you? Not anybody that +belongs at camp—not trustees even. A +commissioner! A national one!" +</p> + +<p> +"No!" +</p> + +<p> +"Honest, I cross my heart. So will you go +around with me kinder steady, even after +that?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, that's asking too much," Danville laughed. +</p> + +<p> +"I can tell you're joking." +</p> + +<p> +For answer Danville only drew the little, +limping fellow close to him, and so they picked +their way down through the brambly thicket off +the eminence which enclosed the little cave. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure I'm proud, Alf," laughed Danville +frankly. +</p> + +<p> +"Then why don't you act so?" +</p> + +<p> +"Do you want me to dance a jig in this jungle!" +</p> + +<p> +"You'll be the big hero of Temple Camp, +that's what you'll be. Even they print all +about you in the newspapers, when you get the +Gold Cross." +</p> + +<p> +"And do you think I'm going to forget all +about the pal that was with me when I won it?" +Danville asked, rather more earnestly than was +his wont. +</p> + +<p> +"Because," said Skinny with that nervous +eagerness that Temple Camp was so fond of +mimicking, "now I got a friend that's a hero +and I can talk about him. Because my brother +Danny, I couldn't talk about him to fellers, but +I can talk about you all I want—how you're a +hero." +</p> + +<p> +"Take your time, I haven't got it yet," said +Danville. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, you've as much as got it." +</p> + +<p> +"Don't count your chickens till they're +hatched. When I get it I'll have it." +</p> + +<p> +They picked their way down by a circuitous +route and around to the entrance of the cave +where Danville's rescued victim of the fumes +sat on the ground with hands clasped around +his updrawn knees, blinking and looking about +in a dazed kind of way. Skinny stopped short, +his whole thin little body trembling. +</p> + +<p> +"Danny!" he cried. "It's Danny, it's my +brother! It's Danny that you pulled out of +the cave! Danny, nobody knows where you are, +and they didn't catch you, hey? The reform +school people—Danny?" +</p> + +<p> +"Who's the guy you've got with you?" +Danny asked uneasily. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap28"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXVIII +<br><br> +IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY +</h3> + +<p> +There was no chance of escape now. The +simplicity and trustfulness of Skinny's nature +supervened and there, in the very presence of +his wretched half-brother, he told about the +whole miserable affair of Danny's masquerade +at camp. Danville Bently, greatly astonished, +sat on a rock listening. He did not seem to be +angry, his face was a puzzle. He had picked +up his dripping, muddy scarf and held it +dangling in the final pause when the two +half-brothers had ceased speaking. While still they +talked he had glanced rather curiously from +one to the other, paying to each the tribute of +friendly attention. And now, when he spoke, +his casual remark bore no reference to Skinny's +concealment, to Danny's fraud, or to his dubious +record. +</p> + +<p> +"You'd never guess that scarf used to be +white, would you?" he asked, looking at neither +Skinny nor Danny. "That was white silk. +Lucky I've got a couple more of them." Then +after a pause, "I'll bet you found it pretty +damp in that blamed rat-hole. What did you +haul the log in there for?" +</p> + +<p> +"So as to keep the leaves from spreading," +Danny said. "I carried them in and piled them +between the log and the wall." +</p> + +<p> +"Some bed," said Danville. "You must have +got good and tired of eating fish. How'd you +do, fry them?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yep, that's easy." +</p> + +<p> +"And that what's-his-name you took the +blame for—Sharpe? He just let it go at that, +huh!" +</p> + +<p> +"I don't take any credit," Danny said. "I'd +have been found out when you showed up anyway. +Sharpy's nothing but a flivver; let him +have his fun." +</p> + +<p> +"Look how I can wring the water out of this +darned thing," Danville said. "Lucky there +was water in the cave, hey? I wish you could +go back to camp with us. It's a sticker, what +we're going to do now. We all came through +with our lives fine and dandy, and now we +don't know what to do." +</p> + +<p> +"You're not mad at him?" Skinny asked. +</p> + +<p> +"I never get mad," said Danville. "Only I +don't see how he's going to go back to +camp—I'm kind of mad about that. We could have +some fun." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh I'll go back," said Danny, desperately. +"I'm out of luck; what's the use trying to beat +the game? You did the kid a good turn, and +you did me one too; you saved the both of us. +I've got the camp after me at one end and the +school bunch after me at the other—I'm +through. Come on, we'll go back and you can +get your Gold Cross, we'll take care of that, +won't we, Tiny? What do you think we +are—half-baked sports? Just because I pulled a +slope* on the reformatory? Hey, Tiny, tell +him how I smashed Kinney, and that boy scout +for what he said." +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* The elegant phrase meaning escaped. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +"I did tell him, he knows," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, I'll go back; all they can do is give +me over to that bunch of dopes at Blythedale +and I'll get a couple of years extra, if I don't +pull another slope on them. They sleep standing +up, that menagerie of yaps. What I did for +Sharpy, the boy detective, I can do for you. I +may be black, but I ain't yellow." +</p> + +<p> +"What color would you say I am—not counting +the mud on me?" said Danville. "I never +said I wanted any Gold Cross. I saved Alf +because he's my side partner. And as long as +I saved you I might as well finish the job. I'm +not going to say I came to this place at all; +I'm not going to say I saved either one of you. +And I'm not going to make a strike for the +badge on this hike. It's all off. If I say I saved +Alf then there'll be a whole lot of questions, +and nix on lying. Nobody knows we came here +and nobody needs to know it. I've got twenty +dollars and I'll give it to you—ten for smashing +Kinney, and ten for that other fellow for +what he said. Will you look at the mud on that +twenty spot? It went right through my clothes. +You visited me for two weeks in camp only I +didn't know it, and my dad will pay the bill. +Why don't you go back to reform school?" +</p> + +<p> +"Would you?" Danny asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Hanged if I know; only won't they get you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Not if I can once get on a ship." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, you have to mind your business, and I +have to mind mine. And maybe I can't see my +way clear to go by notices on bulletin boards. +Anyway, I forgot all about saving anybody's +life and making the fourteen mile hike, and +you're a darned good scout only you don't +know it. I'd rather be you than Sharpy. I +came up here to have a good time and not to be +a detective. I don't care a hang about the Gold +Cross. You can't prove anything by me." +</p> + +<p> +"You mean you're not going to tell—how +you found him, and how you saved us both?" +Skinny asked excitedly. "You mean you're not +going to get the <i>Gold Cross</i>?" +</p> + +<p> +Danville Bently shook his head and made a +wry face. "I don't like it, it costs too much," +said he. "I'm a stingy scout and I won't pay +the price. Come on, what do you say we eat! +Tea for three. How the dickens can you cut +two sandwiches to make three helpings? +There's a sticker. Got a lead pencil and I'll +see if I can do it by geometry." +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap29"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIX +<br><br> +JUST AS EASY—— +</h3> + +<p> +Thus ended the adventures of Danny +McCord in the neighborhood of Temple Camp. +He had been an expensive luxury during his +brief and colorful sojourn. He had cost poor +Skinny much worry, and he had cost Danville +Bently the Gold Cross for heroism. He went +forth upon his way with Skinny's scout suit +(much the worse for wear) and the twenty +dollars that Danville had insisted on his taking. +His unexpired term at reform school must also +be charged against his account. +</p> + +<p> +Yet I like Danny, even though I do not approve +of him. The blow he struck the historic +Kinney, as also the blow he struck Vic Norris, +was rather to his credit; he was a pretty good +big brother, even if he was not such a very +good boy. And the blow that he did not strike +Ralph Warner showed him capable of sacrifice. +It was because of this sacrifice that +Holman Sharpe remained at Temple Camp and +filled three note books before the season was +over. +</p> + +<p> +We shall meet Danny again in a future story +and you are warned not to expect to find +angelic wings sprouting on his pugilistic +shoulders. He had, I think, the raw material of a +scout, but it was very, very raw. He should +not be dismissed, however, without mention of +an incident which recalled him to Danville +Bently after the lone Polar Bear had returned +to his beautiful home in Florida. It was in +November that Danville received an envelope +enclosing ten dollars and a slip of brown +wrapping paper on which was scrawled, +"Here's a ten spot, see you later about the +rest. Danny." The envelope was postmarked +Porto Rico, so it seemed likely that Danny +had succeeded in ingratiating himself with +the captain of some ship or other. He +must have made a rather interesting cabin +boy. +</p> + +<p> +On their way back to camp, Danville made +no mention of Danny and he closed the Gold +Cross matter with a few words that his little +worshipper, Skinny, had cause to remember. +"What's the use talking about it?" said he. +"If I won it, I won it. Only nobody knows it. +And nobody's going to know it. The Gold +Cross is only kind of like a receipt and I don't +need any receipt." +</p> + +<p> +"It's people knowing that counts," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"What they don't know won't hurt them," +said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +On reaching camp they parted, Danville +going to Tent Village to wash up. When Skinny +next saw him, he wore another scout suit, and +a new white scarf, its wavy and spotless folds +falling loosely below where it was gathered into +the silver ring, which took the place of the usual +scout knot. You would never have supposed he +had saved two lives and almost lost his own. +And lost the Gold Cross for heroism. His +easy-going self-possession was the most conspicuous +thing about him; that and the snowy scarf which +was the badge of the distant Polar Bear Patrol. +Skinny thought he must be a "specially rich +feller." And so he was, indeed, with a richness +that only generations of gentle breeding can +impart. +</p> + +<p> +As for Skinny, he was pretty dirty and he +shuffled up to Martha Norris Memorial Cabins +in fear and trembling lest his sorry appearance +and sore knee cause embarrassing questions. +But no questions were asked, perhaps because +Skinny always had a sorry look. "Playing in +the mud?" was all that Vic Norris asked of +this little fellow who had opened an outlet for +the deadly fumes in Henny's Cave. "Must +have been tracking mud-turtles," said Hunt +Ward. And that was all that any of them +said on the dangerous topic of Skinny's adventures. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps this was because they had something +else to say to him. They had something +to ask him, and they asked it in ever so nice a +way, so that their questions furnished the +answer. Connie Bennett, the Elk leader, had +told them to leave it to him, that he would "fix +it." And he did fix it. He knew just how to +handle Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Hey kid," said he, "listen. I want to ask +you something." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny was not accustomed to be consulted +and he gazed at Connie with pleased and eager +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"Listen kid, do you like it in Tent Village!" +</p> + +<p> +"I only go there because Danville Bently is +there," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, and I bet you have a lot of fun there +too. Now listen, Shorty; you know Holly +Hollis back in Bridgeboro—lives up near +where Blakeley lives, on the hill?" +</p> + +<p> +Skinny did not know; he knew nothing about +the grand upper world of Bridgeboro. He had +once pushed his ramshackle little wagon up to +Terrace Avenue with a clothes basket full of +washing for one of the gorgeous houses up +there. But Holly Hollis he did not know. He +listened, wide-eyed, to this boy who was paying +him the compliment of conferring with him. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll tell you how it is, kid. You know the +other Bridgeboro Troop that busted up; the +one they had in the brick church!" +</p> + +<p> +Skinny did not know, but he listened. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, anyway," said Connie, "they busted +up; couldn't get a scoutmaster, I guess. You +know Holly, that—he's a sort of a slim fellow? +Sure you do! Well, he's an Eagle Scout and he +wants to come up here." +</p> + +<p> +"I don't think there's any room in Tent Village, +or in Pioneer Row either," said Skinny +innocently. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure there isn't, not for a new scout. This +is the middle of the season. So we were +thinking—now listen. We were thinking if you +wanted to stay over there in Tent Village with +Bently, they'd put up a cot for you—we'll fix +that. Then we could do a good turn to Holly +Hollis and let him come up here and bunk in +with us, as long as you're having so much fun. +And I'll say that Bently's one fine scout all +right. Hey, Vic?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure thing," said Vic Norris. +</p> + +<p> +"You're a lucky kid," said Bert McAlpin. +</p> + +<p> +"Every scout in camp is after that guy," +said Stut Moran. +</p> + +<p> +"I'd like to be you all right," said Connie. +"Only trouble with him is he's so darned hard +to get in with; you never know how to take +him. But jiminies, you seem to have him +buffaloed, you little rascal." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny smiled, elated, and his wonderful, +eager eyes were full of pleasure and pride. +</p> + +<p> +"How do you do it, anyway?" Vic Norris asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you mean I won't be a member any +more?" Skinny asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Well—no, not exactly that, as you might +say," said Connie, as he motioned to the others +to let him do the fixing. "You wouldn't say +exactly that. But if we form two troops when +we get home in the fall, like Mr. Ellsworth says, +jiminies, why you'll have your pick of patrols, +won't you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Y—yes," said Skinny doubtfully. +</p> + +<p> +"Why sure, why won't you? I'll see to it +you stay in our troop if you want. I'm only +talking about now, up here at camp. Gee, I +thought you were so strong for doing good +turns; didn't you, Vic?" +</p> + +<p> +"I sure did," said Vic Norris. +</p> + +<p> +"Skinny's all right, he's one little peach of +a scout," said Stut Moran. He did not explain +why they did not cling to such a little peach of +a scout. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, look at the camps at Bear Mountain," +Connie argued. "They bust up troops and patrols +just like with dynamite up there. It's all +like big families in a lot of those camps. Then +when they go home they get together again. +You're having a dickens of a good time over +there in Tent Village. Where Bently is, that +would be good enough for me. <i>Jimmy crinkums</i>, +I don't know how you got next to that +fellow, kid. White Scarf, that's what +everybody's calling him." +</p> + +<p> +Skinny was proud, elated, to hear these +comments on his hero. He was too guileless to see +that what these Elks wanted was an Eagle +Scout. He honestly believed, in his stout little +heart, that they were keen for a grand good +turn. Moreover he did not aspire, he did not +dare, to confer on equal terms with these +colleagues of his. Yet some little quiver of pride +caused him to say: +</p> + +<p> +"It isn't like as if I was expelled is it—so +people will think you threw me out?" +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Threw you out?</i>" gasped Vic. "Say, how +do you get that way! Let any scout say that +in my presence—just let me hear him. <i>Threw +you out</i>—good night! No, but we thought +you'd like the idea. We thought we were +giving you a big chance. Can't you see it?" +</p> + +<p> +"Y—yes," said Skinny. +</p> + +<p> +"And you'll be up here all the time, won't you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, if you want me to." +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Want him to</i>, did you hear that?" said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +Skinny's simple honesty caused them some +embarrassment. They were doing this thing +artistically, lulling their own consciences, and +loading their act onto the back of that willing +beast of burden, the good turn. They did not +expect anything quite so logical and pathetic +as what Skinny now did. He pulled up from +under his torn white shirt a piece of string that +hung round his neck, detached his locker key +from it and handed it to Connie. He was quite +too guileless to do this for effect, but it was a +little masterpiece and it made Connie feel mean. +He was jarred by this perfectly honest response +to all he had been saying. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, you needn't give us that," he said with +brusque good-humor. "You're not exactly +what you might say getting out." +</p> + +<p> +"Holly Hollis will have to have a locker," +said Skinny. "Anyway, I haven't got anything +in it much." +</p> + +<p> +It is rather to the credit of Bert McAlpin +that he turned away, rather ashamed, and +pretended to be busy as Connie hesitatingly +accepted the key. +</p> + +<p> +The deed was done. It was not as good a +piece of work as Skinny had done that day. +But of course, nobody knew about that. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap30"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXX +<br><br> +FIXED +</h3> + +<p> +Skinny did not understand, but Danville +Bently did. Still the little outcast Elk had a +certain feeling of humiliation. He knew he had +not been "let out," but it might look that way, +and he was afraid that Danville would think +so. What Danville really did think, Skinny +never knew. +</p> + +<p> +But the diplomatic Elks knew, for Danville +told them that very evening. Having attended +to certain other matters which pleasantly +evidenced the esteem in which he was held by the +management, he strolled up to Martha Norris +Memorial Cabins just before supper, a time +when he thought the Elks would be at their +patrol cabin. +</p> + +<p> +It was characteristic of Danville that he +seemed never to take particular notice of things +that were unusually costly and attractive. +Perhaps this was because he had been brought +up in refined luxury. In any event he seemed +always quite at home. He was one of the very +few boys at camp who could enter Administration +Shack with perfect ease and speak familiarly +to the trustees and councilors. So he did +not take particular note of the three beautiful +large cabins which housed the First Bridgeboro +Troop. He did not even notice the big radio set +in the Elks cabin as he stepped inside, greeting +the scouts who were hurriedly brushing up for +supper. He was thinking of Skinny and not +the realm from which Skinny had been so +neatly ousted. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder if you fellows want to give me +the key to the boat-locker where Alf keeps his +canoe?" he asked in his easy-going way. +"Seems he forgot to ask you." +</p> + +<p> +If it had been some one else they would probably +have challenged his right to come on such +an errand, but there was something about Danville +which made them all feel a trifle ill at ease. +There was a certain atmosphere about White +Scarf, as they called him, which caused them to +respect him. +</p> + +<p> +"There's only one key," Connie said. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, that's the one he wants," said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +"How are <i>we</i> going to get in the locker +then?" Vic Norris asked. "That canoe is patrol +property; that's a rule in our troop about +prizes." +</p> + +<p> +"Tent Village has got two boats assigned to +it," said Bert McAlpin. "Gee, what more do +you fellows want?" +</p> + +<p> +"You mean the scouts in Tent Village? I +don't know," said Danville, shrugging his +shoulders. "I'm talking about Alf's canoe. +We're not going to be in Tent Village, we're +going up on the hill; Black Hill you call it?" +</p> + +<p> +"You mean Overlook Cabin?" Connie asked +in surprise. +</p> + +<p> +"Mmm, soon as they clear it out for us." +</p> + +<p> +"That'll cost money—twelve bucks a week +not counting board," Connie said. +</p> + +<p> +"Yep, so I understand." +</p> + +<p> +"The bosses will have something to say about +that." +</p> + +<p> +"I've engaged it," said Danville, then he +added rather oddly: "You don't suppose I'm +not acquainted with my own father, do you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Gee, that's some perch," said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"Not so bad," said Danville. "How 'bout +the key?" +</p> + +<p> +"You going to take the kid up there?" +</p> + +<p> +"N—no." +</p> + +<p> +"Bunk up there alone?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, Alf and I are going together." +</p> + +<p> +"That's what I mean," said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"It isn't what you said," said Danville. +"How about the locker key? They tell me in +Administration Shack you'll have to hand it +over. In fact, they wouldn't let you do this +thing at all if I hadn't asked them to let +us have the cabin. You can't let out a member +of your patrol up here, without your scoutmaster. +But as long as it's O.K. with Alf I don't +suppose anybody cares; I'm sure you don't. +Only if you don't let him have his prize canoe +you'll get the management interested and then +you won't be able to have your Eagle Scout at +all. You fellows ought not to complain at +handing over his canoe; you're getting an +Eagle Scout." +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, Bently," said Hunt Ward in a sudden +burst of familiarity; "is it true that you're an +Eagle Scout? A lot of scouts say you are?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, I'm not." +</p> + +<p> +"Nobody seems to know about you," Vic said. +</p> + +<p> +"Tom Slade seems to think it's all right if +Alf wants to go up on the hill," said Danville, +ignoring their personal queries. "Seems to me +you Elks are getting your own way pretty soft +and easy. Only you'll spoil everything if you +don't hand over the locker key." +</p> + +<p> +"You told—you talked to Slady?" Connie asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, yes. I don't think there'll be any +trouble as long as I hire the cabin and you hand +over the canoe; 'long as Alf has a place to +stay." +</p> + +<p> +"Did they take your word for it before hearing +from your father?" Connie asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, sure; why not?" +</p> + +<p> +"Scouts can't do business with the management," +Connie said. +</p> + +<p> +"So? Well, I must have caught them napping, +I suppose," said Bently. "How 'bout the +key?" +</p> + +<p> +"Here it is, tell him we wish him luck and +hope he won't get drowned," said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"If he does, I'll let you know," said Danville. +"And I congratulate you on getting an +Eagle Scout; that's some nifty haul." +</p> + +<p> +"Can you blame us?" Bert McAlpin asked. +</p> + +<p> +"No, an eagle's an eagle," said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +"Poor kid, he's only a little mascot," Vic +said. "I haven't been up there on Black Hill +since we were having signal tests last summer. +Are there two bunks in the cabin? I thought +there was only one." +</p> + +<p> +"There are three," said Danville. "So we +can each have one and a half. Well, so long." +</p> + +<p> +"Gee williger, that guy has a way of managing +things," said Connie. "I only hope Wainwright +doesn't put the kibosh on it. Gee, if we +can't get Holly now, good night, I'll be sore! +There's only two other Eagle Patrols in camp. +An eagle has got wings, and when you've got +wings you can fly." +</p> + +<p> +"We'll fly all right," said Bert McAlpin. +"That gives us a look in on three awards, +Yellowstone Park——" +</p> + +<p> +"The kid will be just as happy," said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, he will," said several others in chorus. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap31"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXI +<br><br> +HOLLY HOLLIS +</h3> + +<p> +Overlook Cabin had not been built for +season occupancy. It had been thrown up as a +little storehouse for paraphernalia used on the +hill, which was called Black Hill because it rose +above a treacherous marsh and overlooked +Black Lake. The reader will find helpful the +accompanying rough sketch of the locality. +Black Hill, as will be seen, lay to the east of the +camp. The slope was gradual from the south +where the highroad passed. But on reaching +the brow of the hill one looked down from a +dizzy precipice. +</p> + +<p> +Between this precipice and the lake was a +marsh about which weird stories were told, but +the worst that was actually known of it was +that it was the foregathering place of a choral +society of frogs whose croaking made it seem +weird enough at night. From the lake you +could pole a boat into this marsh, but not all +the way to the base of the cliff. Sometimes, +after heavy or prolonged rains, the marsh +would be entirely submerged, but usually it was +visible as a rank and vivid green area with +patches of scum. +</p> + +<p> +The cabin on the brow of the cliff had been +built for the accommodation of certain scout +activities which had been conducted there. +Close to the edge was a rather odd contrivance, +conspicuous from the lake below, and newcomers +seldom failed to ask about its purpose, +though now in its time of disuse and comparative +dilapidation, few took the trouble to ascend +the hill and view it at close range. This was a +square wooden frame about eight or ten feet in +size, standing upright and held by means of +braces in the ground. It was loose and rickety +from the force of heavy winds. Stretched in +this was a sheet of canvas, bound to the frame +with windings of light rope, by which it could +be tightened. The canvas came to within a few +inches of the frame all the way round. +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-214"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-214.jpg" alt="Map of Scout camp and surrounding country"> +<br> +Map of Scout camp and surrounding country +</p> + +<p> +This affair was known as a signal easel and +had been used for practice in signalling. +Illuminated at night by a bonfire at a safe +distance in back of it the screen was as brilliant as +the silver screen of the movies. Then a scout +standing between it and the precipice was revealed +in striking silhouette as he manipulated +wigwag flags. From all the way across the lake +he could be seen, a weird and vivid sight in the +night time, and in this way codes were tried +out and practiced. Once, on a memorable +occasion, that redoubtable showman, Pee-wee +Harris, had given a motion picture exhibit here +with his prize outfit at the appallingly low +admission fee of ten cents. But there being no +gate, the place was overrun by deadheads and +the exhibition ended in a riot. +</p> + +<p> +The cabin was filled with old signalling +paraphernalia, flags and smudge buckets. It had +three bunks and some rough camping necessities +used by hunters in the winter. A ghost +was also said to live there, but if so he must +have been of a retiring nature for he was never +seen. The rental charge which Connie Bennett +had mentioned was made so as to limit the use +of the place to older visitors at camp, field men +and the like. Eagle Scouts may come and go, +but it is probably true that Danville Bently was +the only boy of scouting age at camp who could +so easily have made arrangements to use the +place. +</p> + +<p> +It was here that he and Skinny settled down +to a kind of frontier life, to a companionship +which Danville regarded in a humorous way, +but never so as to belittle his odd companion. +They ate down at camp, of course, and usually +attended camp-fire, but otherwise they led a life +apart, stalking, tracking and hiking about the +woods. Danville did his fourteen mile hike, +but there was no boy to train for a tenderfoot, +so there he remained for the time being; he +seemed not greatly interested in scouting +progress merely for its own sake. He was +easy-going and casual, a good looker-on. He seemed +never to think about how near he had come to +wearing the Gold Cross; so far as Skinny could +see, that badge of the highest heroism meant +nothing to him. Perhaps he did not care for +things because it was so easy for him to get +them. The pomp and fuss and honors and +awards did not appeal to him. +</p> + +<p> +He showed no resentment toward the Elks +for their shabby treatment of Skinny, but the +Elks knew that he had seen them at their worst +and they avoided him. Every scout in camp +felt that here was a boy of unlimited reserve +power; a boy who would never do a thing simply +for a thrill or a badge, but who would prove +invincible when aroused to act for a purpose. +They all respected him and there was no hint +of banter in the nickname of <i>White Scarf</i> by +which he came to be known. That spotless +white scarf was a familiar sight in camp and +singled him out from all other scouts and made +him conspicuous. +</p> + +<p> +As for the Elks, they got what they wanted +and basked in the glory of it. An Eagle Scout +is a wonderful thing, embodying all the heroic +romance of scouting. He is a glory to his +patrol. And at Temple Camp such a one was an +asset to his patrol since only certain +endowment rewards were open to Eagle patrols. +Holly Hollis came not unheralded by his new +patrol colleagues, and it must be admitted that +he filled his place with a becomingness never +achieved by poor little Skinny. On the evening +of his arrival he attracted a good deal of +attention as he passed through the "eats" +pavilion with the Elks on his way to supper. A +number of scouts arose and gave him the full +salute, and there was a rather discordant +attempt on the part of a few enthusiasts to sing +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "You can't go higher than an Eagle,<br> + As every scout should know;<br> + You have to stop when you get to the top,<br> + It's as high as you can go."<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He wore his full regalia with his Eagle badge +above his left breast pocket, and his sleeve was +covered with his twenty-one merit badges. A +slim boy he was, with very black hair and a +look in his pleasant face that bespoke +something rather more than powers—a touch of the +venturesome. No stick-in-the-mud was this +Eagle of the darting and roaming black eyes. +</p> + +<p> +And those eyes did not fail to notice things, +for no sooner had he taken his place at table +than turning to the proud Connie he asked, +"Who's that fellow over at the third table with +the white scarf?" +</p> + +<p> +He was to know that fellow well before his +season at Temple Camp was over. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap32"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXII +<br><br> +THE NIGHT BEFORE +</h3> + +<p> +Again there was great excitement around +the camp-fire. Again they were making merry +at the expense of Skinny. Again Skinny smiled +shyly, just as he did on that night when they +made such ostentatious show of helping him +find his compass. Seeing him bashful and +discomfited, scouts who did not even know him +(for now the big camp was crowded) laughed, +and added their bantering comments to the +general chorus. Few knew his last name; fewer +still knew his first name, or who he was or +where he bunked. He was just the little camp +mascot. They were talking about the Eagle +race, which was one of the big events of camp, +and some waggish scout had suggested Skinny +to accompany one or other of the three Eagle +Scouts in this contest. And another boy had +scorned this suggestion, saying that Skinny was +too heavy. And so on, and so on. +</p> + +<p> +Each summer, at the height of the season, +this gala contest was held. It was dated to +occur at that time because then there were likely +to be several Eagle Scouts at camp. Eagle +Scouts are none too prevalent and if rigid +testing were the invariable rule, they would be even +less prevalent. It often happened that a whole +season passed at Temple Camp with only one +or two Eagles present, and these not at the +same time. Once the race (most spectacular +event of the season) had not been held because +there were no contestants. This event was the +world series of Temple Camp, establishing a +supreme hero, an Eagle Scout with a sensational +triumph to top his glory. Despite the +song, one could get a little higher than an +Eagle, and that was by a thrilling victory over +other Eagles. Such a victor was always the +great hero of camp. +</p> + +<p> +Just as no scout is eligible for merit badges +until he is in the first class, so no scout but an +Eagle of twenty-one badges was eligible to try +for this Mary Temple Cup which carried with +it a two weeks' holiday at the Grand Canyon +for the victor and his patrol. Transportation +papers were always inside the cup, a tempting +beverage indeed, proffered by the pretty hands +of the young daughter of the camp's founder. +So you can hardly blame the Elks for coveting +this prize; they were not the first in this +glorious republic to resort to political maneuvers +to acquire an eligible contestant. There were +just three such contestants now, Howell Cross, +Ellis Carway and Holly Hollis. +</p> + +<p> +Everything was set for the morrow and +they were making merry at the expense of +Skinny. His shy smile illumined his pale, +temperamental face, and his characteristic +embarrassment was amusingly evident in the fitful +glow of the mounting blaze. +</p> + +<p> +"Hey, Howell, don't you think if Skinny took +off his shoes and shirt he'd be light enough?" +</p> + +<p> +"How 'bout you, Eagle Carway? Skinny +means good luck. I took him on a hike and +found an oriole's nest, honest. You can't lose +with Skinny." +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, if you should fall in a faint he'd take +the oars right out of your hands and glide to +victory; he wouldn't stop till he got to the +Grand Canyon." +</p> + +<p> +"How 'bout you, Holly? Skinny used to be +an Elk, honest. But he's way above that now, +he's up on Black Hill." +</p> + +<p> +"Trouble with Skinny is he'd sink the boat. +If he started smiling it would go right down. +Why his smile alone weighs forty pounds, don't +it, Skinny? What are you blushing about, +Skinny? What would you do if you had to take +the cup from Mary Temple?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and suppose she should kiss you—good night!" +</p> + +<p> +"I'm going to have Skinny root for me," +said Eagle Scout Cross. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, the human megaphone. Stand up, +Skinny, and let the three of them draw lots for +you; don't be afraid. Who wants Skinny to +man the tiller?" +</p> + +<p> +And so forth and so on. All three Eagles had +chosen their steersmen from their own patrols; +they laughed pleasantly at the idea of Skinny +as steersman of a racing shell. Holly Hollis, +who sat across the fire, made a funny grimace +at him. Danville Bently wondered how much +Hollis knew of Skinny's ups and downs in the +scouting field, and especially his fate in the +hands of his honor seeking colleagues. The +funny grimace didn't mean much. +</p> + +<p> +"Never mind, Alf," said Danville as they +walked up the hill. The night seemed unusually +black after the glare of the camp-fire. "If you +help them to have fun, what more do you +want?" +</p> + +<p> +"I don't mind," Skinny said. He was perfectly +at ease with Danville and always talked +freely. "Even I want them to win—my patrol, +I mean. He smiled at me, that Eagle Scout, did +you see?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yep, I saw." +</p> + +<p> +"I can call it my patrol even now, can't I! +Connie said I could." +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, if you want to; 'long as I don't have +to call them mine." +</p> + +<p> +"Are you mad at them?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, no, Alf." +</p> + +<p> +"They're my patrol just like Danny is my +brother, ain't they? I got to be loyal." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sure, I understand, Alf." +</p> + +<p> +"Can I help liking Danny?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, I can't help liking him either. I have +a sort of hunch that he could win that race if +he were an Eagle." +</p> + +<p> +"Then I'd have a lot of honor, hey!" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure would." +</p> + +<p> +"I bet you could win it, too." +</p> + +<p> +"I've got my job," said Danville. +</p> + +<p> +For a few minutes they walked on up the +hill and neither spoke. Then, noticing that +Skinny's shoulders were shaking, Danville +paused abruptly. The little fellow was gulping. +Danville broke his rule and called him kid. +</p> + +<p> +"Alf—what's the matter, kid?" he asked +feelingly. "Don't—what's the matter, Alf! +Can't you tell me?" +</p> + +<p> +Skinny couldn't tell him, because he didn't +exactly know. +</p> + +<p> +"Anyway, they were right, because I didn't +have any scout suit," he sobbed. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, you've got me, haven't you? Aren't +you satisfied?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but I want them to win and go out +there to the cannon,* because they're my patrol +and I'm not mad at them. Only I don't want +to go and see the race, because I'll get all +excited like, because I want them to win. Do you +think they'll win?" +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +* He meant canyon. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +"Who can tell who will win, kid? We'll stay +up on the hill all by ourselves and watch it from +a distance. Will that be all right?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but do you think they'll win?" +</p> + +<p> +"I think Hollis has got the stuff in him." +</p> + +<p> +"You've got to be an Eagle, haven't you?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but you see there are three Eagles? +And we can't tell who'll be the big scream when +the day is over." +</p> + +<p> +No indeed, no one could tell that. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap33"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXIII +</h3> + +<h3> +VICTORY AND THEN—— +</h3> + +<p> +The precipice was not a bad place from which +to view the finish. It was not close enough to +the excitement for most scouts, but it afforded +a good gallery seat. Danville was glad that no +one came up there. He had a big piece of +charred wood with which he intended to mark +the name of the winner in big letters on the +signal canvas as soon as the race was over. +Then he and Skinny would shout and draw +attention to it. He hoped for Skinny's sake that +the name would be Hollis. +</p> + +<p> +The race, as you will see by the map, began +at the northwestern end of the lake, followed +a southeasterly course and ended where the +shells passed an anchored skiff in which were +spectators, who had a good view of the +approaching shells. The lake was dotted with +boats and canoes and it required a constant +zigzagging about of the camp launch to keep +them off the course. It was a gala scene. +</p> + +<p> +After a while the launch chugged away along +the course and there were fifteen or twenty +minutes of tense waiting. Soon its shrill +whistle could be heard and Skinny was +trembling with excitement as it reappeared with +its <i>clear the way</i> pennant flying and its +whistle calling a warning to keep the course +clear. +</p> + +<p> +Then they came in sight, the three shells, red +and shining in the bright sunlight. They +seemed to be abreast, throwing out three white +V's of light spray as on, on, on they came. +Every nerve in Skinny's little body was on +edge as he stood near the brow of the precipice +trying to identify the salmon colored pennant +of the Elks. Then he saw it—yes, he saw it. +It was one of the two shells that glided abreast; +the other had fallen behind. He could see the +form of the rower bent forward and back, the +long oars feathering, the slender shell moving +nearer, nearer, under the impetus of that +steady, increasing leverage. +</p> + +<p> +The third shell, manned by Ellis Carway, +seemed now quite out of the running. Its +heroic Eagle was doing ragged and erratic +work, never getting the full benefit of his +strokes. In that short course he could never +make up what he had lost. But the other two +seemed evenly matched. Suddenly Howell +Cross's shell, with the blue pennant of his +patrol, shot ahead. Skinny trembled, his eyes +stared, he quivered with excitement. +</p> + +<p> +He might have saved his fears. Howell had +his spurt, and having spent his reserve energy, +could only maintain his former speed. The +time for a spurt is at the end and Holly Hollis +knew this. Easily he shot ahead in an excess +of effort that would surely carry him past the +skiff. He would not have to pause for breath +till he could pause for good. Now he was half +a length ahead. Now a full length. And then +amid a wild chorus of cheers and the waving of +hundreds of flags, he swept forward past the +skiff. The Eagle of the Elk Patrol had won +them the cup and the trip to the Grand Canyon, +and the glory of being the banner patrol of +Temple Camp. Skinny's patrol. +</p> + +<p> +Then something happened which caused Danville +Bently to run along the cliff excitedly +trying to make out just what the trouble was. +There was a sudden change in the tone of the +shouting below. He came to a point where he +could descend with caution and as he did so, +he perceived the dreadful thing that had happened. +Hollis had evidently turned his victorious +shell quickly so that the tremendous force +of its impetus would not carry it against the +steep shore (see map) and it had swept into the +marsh and capsized. And there he was quite +out of reach of it, sinking in the treacherous +rank growth. Danville made out that he had +tried to swim only to be caught in the mire. +From where Danville was descending cautiously +the victim looked like only half a boy, +the upper half. He seemed standing up right +in the swamp. +</p> + +<p> +"Do your feet touch?" Danville heard some +one call. +</p> + +<p> +"Help, help!" was the frantic answer. +</p> + +<p> +It had always been said that there was death +in this marsh. There was a story of a duck +hunter who had been swallowed up in it. If +Hollis had not tried to swim and remained by +his inverted shell, he would have suffered +nothing worse than an inglorious climax to his +spectacular triumph. But he had somehow got to +the very center of the horrible place where no +boat could penetrate. The excitement on the +neighboring shore was frenzied. Some one +tried to pole a boat into the marsh; it got stuck +in the thickening growth and could not be +moved either way. And meanwhile, Hollis' +frantic cry for help rose as he sank lower, +lower.... +</p> + +<p> +Then suddenly a great white thing seemed +to fill the sky. It tumbled, shook, like some +airplane run amuck. And with a loud sound of +splitting wood it settled flat upon the enveloping +marsh. They saw, but they hardly knew what +they were witnessing. They stared aghast. +Then as they saw a little living form reach out +from the safe area of canvas that lay flat upon +that frightful consuming mud a cheer went +up—and another, and another, until the heavens +seemed rent with a swelling chorus of mad +acclaim. But it was not for the victorious Eagle +they were screaming their lungs out as their +fears subsided. It was just for the little +outcast scout who, in such a sublime frenzy as only +his trembling body could experience, had torn +and wrenched the signal easel from its lodgment +and crashed down with this spreading +parachute to the rescue of the boy who had +brought glory to the Elk Patrol. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap34"></a></p> + +<h3> +CHAPTER XXXIV +<br><br> +THE PRICE +</h3> + +<p> +Given time they managed to get a boat in +somehow, poling it this way and that and finally +taking the marsh, as one might say, by flanking +tactics. With the large area of resisting canvas +lying upon the yielding morass, there was no +great need for hurry. The frame was broken, +but it could not sink. And the Eagle Scout, +beneath whose weight the loosened canvas sagged, +was safe. No boat could have saved him. No +swimmer could have averted that imminent +tragedy. But the eager-eyed little fellow who +squatted there on that outlandish, sustaining +rug, glancing at the Eagle Scout as if he were +a god, had done it. His shirt was in shreds; a +great rent in his faded trousers exposed his +whole thin little leg. He did not look like a boy +scout at all; you could not find a picture on all +of your scout posters that bears the faintest +resemblance to him. +</p> + +<p> +As the boat neared the canvas a tall boy with +a white scarf gently pushed a couple of +scoutmasters aside and helped the bewildered Skinny +into the boat. He seemed to intimate that +Skinny belonged to him and the rest should +take notice and keep their hands off. Then he +allowed them to help Holly Hollis aboard. +And so they made slow progress out of the +dreadful place and nothing was left there but +the big broken frame with its soiled expanse of +canvas. A very big triumphant pennant for +such a little boy! +</p> + +<p> +They were all crowding at the landing place +and the diving board bent dangerously under +the weight of gaping scouts. The Elks were +there. Even Chocolate Drop, the darky cook, +had come down in his white cap and apron, +gazing as if he saw a ghost. And no one said a +word about the race. +</p> + +<p> +"Can't I go up on the hill with you fellows?" +Holly asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, only you'll have to come down again," +said Danville. "Wait till you get your bathing +trunks off and are all washed up and rested, +then come up and make us a call. Eagle Scouts +are always welcome." +</p> + +<p> +But Holly Hollis shook his head and brushed +Connie Bennett aside and interrupted Vic +Norris, who seemed to have something to propose. +</p> + +<p> +"No, I mean to stay," said he. "You're the +ones I belong with. I resign from the Elk Patrol." +</p> + +<p> +"You can't do that, you're our Eagle Scout," +said Connie. +</p> + +<p> +"And where would your Eagle Scout be if +it wasn't for the little chap that gave his place +to him, and just now risked his life to save +him—<i>for you</i>!" said Danville Bently. "I don't +know whether they have diamond studded +crosses; all I know is that the Gold Cross isn't +good enough for him. But he'll get it all right. +And if your Eagle wants to come with us, why +just remember that the eagle is a free bird; he +flies high and goes where he pleases—he belongs +up on precipices and crags, with others +who jump off cliffs. Do you get that, Connie +Bennett? And you're going to lose him! +Look in his face—you can tell what he's thinking. +I guess he never knew that he's filling +Alf's place in your patrol. Tell him about it, +why don't you? How about you, Holly? Do +you follow the Gold Cross—or the Elk Patrol?" +</p> + +<p> +"I follow the Gold Cross," said Holly. "An +Eagle is nothing but a lot of merit badges." +</p> + +<p> +"So that's that," said Danville Bently. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Yes, that was that. They played for big +stakes, Connie and his patrol, and they lost. +They lost both the Gold Cross and the Eagle +Scout. They paid the penalty. You dance and +you pay the fiddler. You may have what you +crave, but you pay the price. And sometimes +the price is very large. You may play high for +an Eagle Scout. And the Eagle Scout may bow +before the Gold Cross awarded for the heroism +that is made divine by the spirit of sacrifice. +For it is not true, as the song says, that an +Eagle is as high as you can go. You can go +higher than that if there is an elemental frenzy +in your soul. The price of the Gold Cross is +very, very high. For you must forget yourself +and then they will remember you. Even if you +are a ragged little codger out of Corkscrew +Alley, they will scream your praises to the sky. +</p> + +<p> +An Eagle is not as high as you can go. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +THE END +</p> + +<p><br><br><br><br></p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76477 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + diff --git a/76477-h/images/img-048.jpg b/76477-h/images/img-048.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..704f109 --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-h/images/img-048.jpg diff --git a/76477-h/images/img-160.jpg b/76477-h/images/img-160.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d880bfe --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-h/images/img-160.jpg diff --git a/76477-h/images/img-192.jpg b/76477-h/images/img-192.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ca4018 --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-h/images/img-192.jpg diff --git a/76477-h/images/img-214.jpg b/76477-h/images/img-214.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d80a67e --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-h/images/img-214.jpg diff --git a/76477-h/images/img-cover.jpg b/76477-h/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..84dbb4a --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-h/images/img-cover.jpg diff --git a/76477-h/images/img-front.jpg b/76477-h/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..28aade0 --- /dev/null +++ b/76477-h/images/img-front.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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