"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?"