ry are also taught to be ready for
any emergency, the same as the boys are in Belgium?" he asked Rob, as he
watched the latter's nimble fingers, with considerable dexterity into
the bargain, draw the bandage tightly into place.

"Oh! yes," replied the boy, only too pleased to say a good word for the
thousands upon thousands of comrades in khaki whom he represented. "You
see, most of us camp out a good deal, and all sorts of accidents happen.
I've known a boy to cut himself so badly with an ax when he was chopping
wood that he would have bled to death long before they could get him to
a doctor, but it was easy for his mates to stop the flow of blood, and
do the right thing."

"It is grand, this teaching boys to be able to save human life,"
declared the middle-aged officer, who perhaps had sons of his own in the
army, "and yet it never came to me before that even in America they were
practicing these noble avocations. I have seen them in England, yes, in
France also, but in America--it is superb to think of it. And there are
other ways in which boys in camp could be injured, you are telling me?"

He had become so deeply interested that Rob only too willingly proceeded
to explain at greater length.

"Why, sometimes a boy is taken with a cramp when in swimming, and of
course he is saved by those who know just how to get him without being
pulled down themselves."

"And," continued the Belgian lieutenant, "if the poor fellow should be
nearly gone, what then? I myself once had a narrow escape that way, and
to this day it gives me a cold feeling every time I remember it."

"Oh! every scout, even when he's a tenderfoot, is supposed to learn how
to resuscitate a comrade who has swallowed lots of water, and come near
drowning. Unless he was pulled out too late, he will be brought back
every time. Then there are the bites from poisonous snakes and insects
that may happen; we are taught how best to counteract the effect of
poison, so as to save the victim."

"I am delighted to know all this," the officer told them. "It has been
quite a pleasure to have met you, although under peculiar conditions, I
admit. And the more I see of you, young messieurs, the more I am
convinced that you can look out for yourselves. At first I considered it
was a shame that three tender boys were allowed to travel over this
dangerous country. I no longer feel that way. If anybody should know how
to take care of themselves, I surely believe you know,