"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."

Doubtless Tom Slade, scout, was gratified to receive this valuable
information. "And there's just the one way to get there, is that it?" he