rence, Hervey. I
know from Mr. Carroll and his boys where you showed up. I know they
found you clinging to one of the stage horses. I was there later and saw
you. You might have been plunged into that chasm with all the rest of
them and been crushed to pieces, if one of those scouts hadn't gone
ahead, as he was _told_ to do, and if he hadn't kept his mind on what
he had been _told_ to do, instead of disregarding his scoutmaster
and----"

He paused, for Hervey was shaking perceptibly. He watched the boy
curiously. Should he go on with this thing and see it through? He
summoned his resolution.

"No, Hervey, as I said, I have written to your father. I have said
nothing against you, only that you are too much for me here, where my
responsibility is great. I want you to get your things together and take
the train in the morning. We'll expect to see you when we come home.
There is no hard feeling, Hervey. When we come home you're going to
start all over again, my boy, and learn the thing right. You----"

With a kind of spasmodic effort Hervey raised his head and, with a pride
there was no mistaking, looked his scoutmaster straight in the face. He
was trembling visibly. If there was any contrition in his countenance,
Mr. Denny did not see it. He was quite taken aback with the fine show of
spirit which his young delinquent showed. There was even a dignity in
the old cap with its holes and badges, as it sat perched on the side of
his head. There was a touch of pathos, even of dignity too, in his
fallen stocking.

"I--I--wouldn't stay here--now--I wouldn't--I--not even if you _asked_
me--I wouldn't. I wouldn't even if you--if you got down on your knees
and begged me----"

"Hervey, my boy----"

"No, I won't listen. I--I wouldn't stay even _to-night_--I wouldn't. Do
you think I need a train? I--I can hike to Jonesville, can't I? You say
I'm--I'm no scout--Tom Slade he said----"

"Hervey----"

"I don't--anyhow--I don't care anything about the rest of them. I
wouldn't stay even for supper. Even if you--if you apologized--I
wouldn't----"

"Apologize? Why, Hervey----"

"For what you said--called me--I wouldn't. I don't give a--a--damn--I
don't--for all the people here--only except one--and I wouldn't stay if
you got down on your knees and begged me--I wouldn't----"

Mr. Denny contemplated him with consternation in every feature. There
was no stopping him. The accused had become the accuser. There was
something stirring,