"I can tell you the reason," said Roy. "He's here because he's here. Am I right, Florida?" "Surest thing," laughed Danny. He was hugely entertained as he sat on the steps watching this show. "He's wasting his father's money," said Holman. "If that's any comfort to him." "How do you know his father's got any money!" Warde shot back. "He deduced it by deduction," said Danny. "If he'll let me help him on scout stuff, I'll be glad to do it," said Holman. "There's your chance, Florida," Warde and Ralph shouted together. "I don't believe I could make the grade," said Danny. "You could if you tried; you don't try," said Holman. "Hey, Sharpy," said Roy, "there's something we came here to see you about. Let's quit fooling. These two silver-plated foxes and myself were appointed a committee to come here and ascertain--did you get that word, _ascertain_? We have to find out if it's true what all the fellows are saying that you went down to Catskill with Tom Slade in his Ford and then came back and said that you crossed Valley Creek by means of a ford and then claimed the _new discovery prize_ on account of finding a way to get over Valley Creek not by the bridge. If you did that it was dishonest and conduct unbecoming to a scout. Are you claiming that prize or not? Yes or no--or both. Did you deliberately accidentally deceive the Council or not?" "You'd better look out how you talk about dishonesty and deceiving," said Holman rather heatedly. "I call your attention to law one on page something or other of the Scout Handbook," Roy persisted. "That's the wrong page," said Warde. "Then it's page sumpty-sump," said Roy. "A scout's honor is to be toasted--trusted. If he violates his honor by telling a lie--comma--or cheating--comma--he may be directed otherwise told to hand over his scout badge--period. Holman Sharpe of Pie Alley, if you did that we demand that you hand over your scout badge to this committee of solid-silver foxes. Lying cannot be tolerated in Temple Camp--unless you're lying down so as to relax and store up energy." By this time Danny was laughing aloud; there was just the faintest suggestion of Skinny about his countenance when he laughed. But Holman Sharpe was clearly ruffled and he advanced, not exactly menacingly, but with something in his manner which showed that he did not at all catch the humor of their reference to dishonesty and deception. He was a serious and literal boy and construed the use of these words in any case as a slur and an insult. "You said something about a scout's honor," he said. "It's on page thirty-four if you want to know where it is. You better look out how you talk about mine. The first thing you scouts know, one of you will get what he good and plenty deserves." Granted, this boy knew a good deal about scouting; but he did not know much about scouts. "If I said anything I'm sorry for, I'm glad of it," said Ralph.