BOY SCOUT PASSENGERS 3 



for the honour of the free Canadian trip. The exami- 

 nation was open to all boy scouts in the British Isles, 

 and two Irish lads were amongst the winners. Of 

 the rest, English and Scotch were in about equal 

 proportion. Their skill in putting together and 

 taking to pieces a patent trek wagon was admirable. 

 This ingenious contrivance was a imdtiim in parvo^ 

 designed for sundry uses. In its entirety it com- 

 prised a road wagon drawn by ropes ; in pieces it 

 resolved itself into a sleeping tent, a water tank, two 

 ladders and a boat. The boys were divided into 

 companies which vied with each other in smartly 

 manipulating the patent. Alas ! there was an interval 

 of some days between the first and second practice. 

 Half the lads were hors de combat ; and some of 

 them had to be carried on deck and stretched on 

 mattresses to recuperate after the exhausting effects 

 of mal de mer. 



Towards the end of the journey, they took part 

 in a gymkhana of which the Chief Scout was an 

 interested spectator. 



The Boy Scout movement is designed to develop 

 manly and humane qualities. During the day each 

 lad took his turn in keeping guard over real or 

 imaginary baggage. The duty seemed to carry with 

 it a general surveillance of the passengers. On one 

 occasion a youth, essaying to climb the shrouds, fell 

 heavily on the deck. The guard in a moment left 

 his post, to apply first aid, a knowledge of which is a 



