BOY, SCOUTS IN CAMP.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 702, 30 December 1909, Page 3

BOY, SCOUTS IN CAMP.

CLAYING;:TKe| GAME \ Snuggled aw-ay ; 'in,the', most 'northerly' iorner of the Miraniar Valley'.- aro 'about mlf-a-dozen .bell-tents, .pitched more or' ess' ■expertly. 1 ) ■„,The 'casual: stroller, aniroaehingv the ;spot, from the direction it,the tram terminus,; has his attention |r , r ?u et k by i a ' : Co "Ple -of'. .Unioi: Jacks,. vlucb, flaunt. patriotically in,' tho breeze, mndry small figures, in khaki shirts and. i.e. hats, proclaim the faot that Glentvon' is. at. present the 'stronghold of the wy.seouts. -.Tho'eye,' wandering' over' the scene,: perceives;.' here and- there, tho vhlto tops of other surf of blue smoke .-from Van: invisible amp-ire.-: .A-very .'pretty- scene, reflects :m. viaitar,; \vha.;is suddcnlyb,brought to '■■ sarth by a voice: at' his elbow; '..- , "Like 'to ha-rs'.'a' look round,, sir P"-',The ipeakeris -."a scout of ;somo dignity and veight iu, the small •community, to judgo :rom , his, badge. : Under :such ; distinguished : auspices a stroll round the camp iirpleasant .and' instructive. :..-'■' -..-■ "Haying a good time?" asks' the visi--qr, encouragingly. : . ■. ■:■■ "Tip-top. .^..Nobody,/sick,'i plenty to eat; uid.any amount.: of fun." As if to testify to the, truth of. .the last: item.of in-, formation,.; a •': taalt; scout, 'perched ■'■ ginSjriy ,on. a[:phnk, ■. comes: sliding- down ' the slope,with an exuberant whoop. ■ ■ "They're having'.a'.sjell off, just, now," sxplains .the-r'guide,' ;,anxiou's : to'.-: remove "!>', impression .in the visitor's mind that sliding: down: hills .on precarious planks is tho chief /end and .aim of' boy scouts when in camp.",. . >.'•.•:•. ■ ."How., do,you fill in. your .time?" ■•"-•' "Signalling, tracking, . lmilding huts, scouting, and all:sorts.:. Come and have a. look Hat oilf water '.'supply." A' big drain-pipo has been sunk into the clav, tapping a cool, olear' spring,- which fills tho upper portion .'of tho pipe, ripples over .tho.:rim, 'and':trickles , down' the gleri. ":■. ■-..'••,■ :■:';■' -.- "Water.nlLright,' I suppose," asks tho visitor, .tentatively. !: • fr ßnther. Have'a drink." '.' • There is nothing' wrong with the water. Then, the touts are inspected. All are neat' and clean. ■' Thero us'.rio rubbish lyi ing about. AH camp ( refnso is disposed Df as per military,regulations, and the latrine .arrangements are' entirolv satisfactory.; Thero is no straw in tho tents. Boys aro handy little animals, and prefer, tho hard; ground, with a roll of blanket; and they /are .none the'.worse for these Spartan conditions: One company of Sybarites have planked their tent floor, and : thereby, incurred.-■ the. candid criticisms of.thoir less luxurious neighbours. At night, sentries are posted, for 'attempts, hitherto frustrated,: are made every night to raid the: camp. But; the wily adults 'ltfio,endeavoured to' slink past tho outposts,, have had to reckon with sharp eyes and ears.-' Lioiit.-Commander.'H. .N. ,-M'Lcod is in charge.f'of the.camp. : '..;-'. -:.