ere and tell you that I know I'm
wrong to make so much trouble and he said I couldn't do a stunt like
staying in camp. Would you let any fellow call you a Camp-fire
Girl--would you? Gee Williger, _that_ stunt's a cinch!"

Mr. Denny closed his book, leaving his pen in it as a book-mark, and
clasping his hands, listened attentively. It was the first slight sign
of surrender. He looked inquiringly and not unkindly at the figure that
stood before him in the dim lantern light. He noted the torn clothing,
the wrinkled stocking, the outlandish hat with its holes and trinkets.
He could see, just see, those clear gray eyes, honest, reckless,
brave....

"Yes, Hervey?"

"Of course you don't have to keep me here, I don't mean that. Because
that's another thing, anyway. Only I want you to tell Slade that I
_did_ dare, because I wouldn't take a double dare not even from--from
Mr. Temple, I wouldn't. So then he'll know I'm not afraid of you.
Because even you wouldn't say I'm a coward."

"No."

"I can do any stunt going, I'll let him know, and I won't take a double
dare from anybody. Because I made a resolution when I was in the third
primary grade."

"And you've always kept it?"

"You think I'd bust a resolution? You have bad luck for eight years if
you do that."

"I see."

"No, siree!"

"And so you think you could do this stunt?"

"I can do any stunt going. Do you know what I did----"

"Just a second, Hervey. I'd like to see you get away with that stunt."

"But I'm not asking you to keep me here," Hervey said, giving his
stocking a hitch, "because I'm a good loser, I am. But I want you to
tell that fellow Slade--I used to think he was a friend of mine--I want
you to tell him that I bobbed that dare."

"Bobbed it?"

"Yes, that means put it back on him."

Mr. Denny paused.

"Why don't you tell him yourself, Hervey?"

"Because he doesn't have to believe me."

"Has any one ever accused you of lying, Hervey?"

"Do you think I'd let anybody?"

"Hmm, well, I think you'd better bob that dare yourself. But of course
you ought to follow it up with the stunt."

"Oh, sure--only----"

"I'll give you the chance to do that. My sporting blood is up now----"

"That's just the way with me," said Hervey; "that's where you and I are
alike."

"Yes. I think we'll have to put this fellow Slade where he belongs."

"You leave that to me," said Hervey.

There was a pause of a few moments. The whole camp had turned in by n