He thought he lost out by giving up his tracks to Alfred McCord, when he might have scared the life out of the little fellow and chased him back to camp.
"But all the time he had an extra badge and he didn't know it.
That's because he doesn't bother about the handbook and because he wins badges so fast he can't keep track of them.

He's an Eagle Scout and he doesn't know it.

He threw one badge away and caught another and he's coming up here now to stand still for two minutes if he can and listen to the paper that Mr.Temple is going to read to him.
Come ahead up, Hervey Willetts, or I'll come down there and pull you out of that tree and drag you up by the collar!".