"Well you said--your leader said that lying isn't tolerated at this camp. That's as much as calling me a liar." Now he did advance, flushed and angry. "Cut it out," said Roy good-naturedly, seeing which way the tide was setting. "As long as you spoke of a scout's honor--" Holman began. "Cut it out, you blamed simp," said Ralph, his tone changing suddenly to disgust. "I'll remind you of law ten,* too," said Holman. * This law refers to bravery and standing up for the right. "Yere, we know all about it," said Ralph. "Don't tell us about scouting. We were here before you ever heard of this camp. You better learn to take a joke----" "Sure, that's another law," said Roy. "And as long as you're making such a fuss about lying," said Ralph contemptuously, "if you want me to make you out a liar, I'll do it. How about calling Florida a tramp? Who the dickens do you think you are, calling scouts tramps? _Wasting his father's money_; can you beat that? _Gee_, as long as you want to be serious, I'll say you were lying." This was intended more as a compliment to Danny, whom they all seemed to like, than as a slur to Holman. Certainly nothing was further from the minds of these young Silver Foxes than to start a quarrel. But the serious Holman always carried his "honor" around with him as he did his field book. He chose to take Ralph's remark as an insult and he struck him more from a sense of duty than from anger. Scarcely did the astonished Ralph realize what had happened when Danny sprang between, spreading his arms to separate the two. "That's enough, cut it out," he said. But indeed there was no chance of a fight. Holman having done his duty stalked into the dormitory. Warde and Roy, highly aroused by his act, followed him protesting. So there for the moment stood Ralph, his hand against his face with Danny standing before him saying, "That's enough, no more." Just at that moment Councilor Wainwright, carrying his big flat chart book and inspection record, came around the corner of the building and paused suddenly. "At it again, Bently?" he queried with grim cordiality. CHAPTER XVII THE MASQUERADER The councilor did not wait for an answer. "Not hurt much?" he commented rather than asked. "Suppose you come along to the office with me, Bently." To Ralph Warner's astonishment, Danny accompanied the councilor without so much as a word. When Warde and Roy presently reappeared, there stood Ralph recovering from his surprise rather than from the hurt, which was not serious. "He won't come out," said Warde, referring to Holman. "He did his duty--can you beat it? Where's Florida?" "Gone with Wainey," said Ralph. "He went before I knew it. I guess Wainey thinks he did it." "What did he want to go for?" Roy asked. "Search me," Ralph answered. "Come on, don't bother about Sharpy," said Warde. "Gee, I'm sorry Wainey had to come along just then. Honest, isn't that just like him?"