If he was at all swayed by the sudden tribute, it was as an oak tree might be swayed in a summer breeze.

He knew what he wanted to say and he was going to say it.

He waited, he _had_ to wait, for at least five minutes, till Temple Camp had had its say.
Then he said, slowly, deliberately, with a kind of mixture of clumsiness and assurance which was characteristic of him.
"Maybe I haven't got any right to speak.

I'm not on the staff, and as you might say, I'm through being a scout----" "Never, Tomasso!" said a voice.
"But I saw something that none of you saw and I know something that none of you know about--except Mr.Temple, that I told it to, and the trustees.
"Since I been assistant to Uncle Jeb--that's two years--I saw the Eagle award given out twice----" "You won it yourself, Tomasso!" "I saw it given to a scout from Virginia and one from New York.

You always hear a lot of talk about the Eagle award here in camp.