ctions speak louder than words."

"I never saw the stunt yet----"

"Well, here it is right now. I dare you. I _dare_ you," said Tom,
jumping down and looking right in Hervey's face, "I DOUBLE DARE YOU!"

Hervey grabbed his hat from the bench.

"A kid that gives a double dare
For shame and grins he must prepare."

he shouted.

"That's me," said Tom.

Before he realized what had happened, he heard the door slam and he
found himself alone, laughing. Hervey had departed, in wrath and
desperation, bent upon his next stunt.

CHAPTER XXX

THE DOUBLE DARE

Mr. Denny's troop had turned in with the warmth of the roaring camp-fire
still lingering in their cheeks when the black sheep went up the hill.
The scoutmaster, sitting in his tepee, was writing up the troop's diary
in the light of a railroad lantern. He showed no great surprise at his
wandering scout's arrival.

"Well, Hervey," said he. "Back again? I told you it would be better to
wait till morning. Missed the train, eh? You see my advice is sometimes
best after all." He did not look up but continued writing. If Hervey had
expected to create a sensation he was disappointed. "Better go to bed
and catch the nine fifty-two in the morning," said Mr. Denny kindly.

"I came back because Tom Slade sent for me. I've got to get a medal,
but I don't care anything about that."

"So? What's that for?"

"I always said that fellow Slade was a friend of mine, but I wouldn't
let him put one over on me, I wouldn't."

"You mean he was just fooling you about the medal?"

"Maybe you can tell," said Hervey. "Because anyway I didn't do anything
to win a--the Gold Cross."

Mr. Denny raised his eyebrows in frank surprise. "The Gold Cross?"

"I don't care anything about that, anyway," said Hervey; "but I wouldn't
take a dare from anybody; I never did yet."

"No?"

"He said--that fellow said--he said I wouldn't dare to come up here and
tell you that I can--do anything I want to do."

"That's just what you've been doing, Hervey."

"But you know I'm good on stunts? And he said--this is just what he
said--he said I couldn't do that kind of a stunt--staying here when I'm
told to. He dared me to. Would you take a double dare if you were me?
They're worse than single ones."

"N-no, I don't know that I would," said Mr. Denny, thoughtfully.

"He said I wouldn't dare--do you know what a four flusher is?"

"Why--y-es."

"He said I wouldn't _dare_ to come up h