ow
and distant voices had ceased. A cricket chirped somewhere close by. An
acorn fell from a tree overhead and rolled down the roof of the troop
cabin a few yards distant, the sound of its falling emphasized by the
stillness. Hervey hitched up his stocking again. Mr. Denny watched him.
Perhaps he was studying this wandering minstrel of his more closely than
ever before. It may have been that the silence and isolation were on
Hervey's side....

"Anyway, you don't have to keep me here, because--and I didn't come back
for that."

"Hervey, you spoke about a medal--the Gold Cross. You don't mean the
supreme heroism award, of course. Slade didn't try to lure you back with
hints about such a thing?"

"Hanged if I know what he meant."

"He sent a note after you? Have you it with you?"

"I made paper bullets out of it to shoot at lightning bugs on the way
home."

"Did he actually mention the Gold Cross?"

"I think he did--sure I never did anything to win that, you can bet."

"No. And I think Slade adopted very questionable tactics to get you
back. Doubtless his intentions were good----"

"I wouldn't let that fellow ruin _my_ young life--don't worry."

"Well, you'd better turn in now, Hervey, and don't stay awake thinking
about dares and stunts and awards."

And indeed Hervey did not stay awake thinking of any such things,
especially awards. In more than one tent and cabin on that Friday night
were sleepless heads, tossing and visioning the morrow which would bring
them merit badges, and perhaps awards of higher honor--silver,
bronze....

But the head of Hervey Willetts rested quietly and his sleep was sound.
He took things as they came, as he had taken the letter out of Gilbert's
hands. There was a mistake somewhere, or else Tom Slade had caught him
and brought him back by a mean trick and a false promise. But he did not
hold that against Tom. What he held against Tom was that Tom had made
him take a double dare. He knew he had done nothing to win so high an
honor as that golden treasure, so rare, so coveted.... What he had done
was already ancient history and forgotten. And it had no relation to the
Gold Cross. And so he slept peacefully.

The thing that he most treasured was his decorated hat, and so that this
might not get away from him again, he kept it under his pillow....

CHAPTER XXXI

THE COURT IN SESSION

From his conversation with Tom, Mr. Denny knew (if indeed he had not
known it before)