And the wrinkles at the ends of
his thin little mouth showed very clearly as he smiled--oh, such a
smile.
Then the scouts of Temple Camp showed that their wonted disregard of
Skinny was only because they did not understand him, queer little imp
that he was. For cheer after cheer arose as he stood there in a kind of
bewilderment of joy.
"Hurrah, for the star tracker!"
"Three cheers for the sleuth of the forest!"
"No more tenderfoot!"
"Hurrah for S-S-S!" Which meant Skinny, second-class scout.
"I congratulate you, Alfred," said Mr. Temple, pleased at the ovation.
"You have the eyes that see, and this feat of tracking which I have
heard of is a fitting climax to all your efforts to win your goal--to
finish what you began. Let every tenderfoot follow your example. And may
the scouts of the second-class welcome you with pride."
Skinny saw Mr. Temple's hand raised, saw the fingers formed to make the
familiar scout salute--the _full_ salute. The full salute for him! He
saw this and yet he did not see it; he saw it in a kind of daze.
Then he went down and stepped upon the earth again and made his way back
to his seat. Those who saw him thought that he was walking, but he was
not walking, he was floating on wings. And the noise about and the big
trees in back, and the faces that smiled at him as he passed, were as
things seen and heard in a dream....
CHAPTER XXII
TOM RUNS THE SHOW
"William Conway, Anson Jenks, and George Winters, for Star Scout badge,
and Merritt Roth and Edward Collins for bronze life saving medals.
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