Part 2 (2/2)

Hervey stared at him for a few seconds, then said, ”I don't care whether it's easy or hard, if that's what you mean. Is it true that there are wild cats up in these mountains?”

”Some,” Tom said.

”Well, if you were in my place, where would you go to look for a trail?

I mean a real trail, not a cow or a horse or Chocolate Drop's kitten.

[Chocolate Drop was the negro cook at Temple Camp.] If I can just dig up the trail of a wild animal somewhere, right away quick, the Eagle award is mine--ours. See? Can you give me a tip?”

Tom's answer was characteristic of him and it was not altogether satisfactory.

”I'm not so stuck on eagles,” he said.

CHAPTER V

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

”_You're not?_” Hervey asked in puzzled dismay. ”You can bet that every time I look at that little old gold eagle on top of the flag pole I say, 'Me for you, kiddo.'”

”I like Star Scout better,” Tom said, unmoved by his companion's consternation.

”Why, that means only ten merit badges,” Hervey said.

”It's fun studying the stars,” Tom added.

”Oh, sure,” Hervey agreed. ”But star and eagle, they're just names.

What's in a name, hey? Is that the badge you meant that I forgot about?

The astronomy badge?”

”No, it isn't,” Tom said. ”You're too excitable to study the stars. It's got to be something livelier.”

”You've got me down pat, that's sure,” Hervey laughed.

Tom smiled, too. ”Well, you want the Eagle badge, do you?” he said.

”You seem to think it doesn't amount to much,” Hervey complained.

”I think it amounts to a whole lot,” Tom said.

”When I get my mind on a thing----” Hervey announced.

”That's the trouble with you,” Tom said.

”There you go,” Hervey shot back at him; ”you've been through the game and walked away with every honor in the book, and you know the book by heart and you can track with your eyes shut and you've been to France and all that and you think I'm just a kid, but it means something to be an Eagle Scout, I can tell you.”

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