oor caught fire. You would try to put out that
fire, wouldn't you, to save your own house from being burned up? Well,
that's England's position. If the Germans held Belgium or Holland--and they
would hold both, if they beat France and Russia--England would then be in
just as much danger as your house would be. So if we fight, it will be to
put out the German fire in the house next door.

"Now I want you to understand one thing. I'm talking as an Englishman. A
German would tell you all this in a very different way. I don't like the
people who are always slandering their enemies. Germany has her reasons for
acting as she does. I think her reasons are wrong. But the Germans believe
that they are right. We can respect even people who are wrong if they
themselves believe that they are right. There may be two sides to this
quarrel. And Germans, even if they are to be our enemies, may be just as
patriotic, just as devoted to their country, as we are. Never forget that,
no matter what may happen."

He stopped then, waiting for questions. None came.

"Then you understand pretty well?" he asked.

There was a murmur of assent from the whole circle.

"All right, then," he said. "Now there's work for Scouts to do. _Be
prepared!_ That's our motto, isn't it? Suppose there's war. Franklin,
what's your idea of what the Boy Scouts would be able to do?"

"I suppose those who are old enough could volunteer, sir," said Franklin,
doubtfully. "I can't think of anything else--"

"Time enough for that later," said Grenfel, with a short laugh. "England
may have to call boys to the colors before she's done, if she once starts
to fight. But long before that time comes, there will be a great work for
the organization we all love and honor. Work that won't be showy, work that
will be very hard. Boys, everyone in England, man and woman and child will
have work to do! And we, who are organized, and whose motto is _Be
prepared_, ought to be able to show what stuff there is in us.

"Think of all the places that must be guarded. The waterworks, the gas
tanks, the railroads that lead to the seaports and that will be used by the
troops."

A startled burst of exclamations answered him.

"Why, there won't be any fighting in England, sir, will there?" asked Dick
Mercer, in surprise.

"We all hope not," said Grenfel. "But that's not what I mean. It doesn't
take an army to destroy a railroad. One man with a bomb and a time fuse
attached to it can bl